April 21 - 1 Samuel 25:17

Nabal's servants said to Abigail,

"You need to ... figure out what to do,

for there is going to be trouble ...

[Your husband / our master] is so ill-tempered

that no one can even talk to him."

1 Samuel 25:17

 

One time, David's men had provided a service for Nabal's shepherds -- "16 day and night they were like a wall of protection for [them] and the[ir] sheep." David, in turn, had humbly requested a kindness in response, "8 Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us."

 

But Nabal was ill-tempered. Indeed, he was so hard-headed and prideful "that no one c[ould] talk to him." Therefore, this wealthy cad "sneered" at David and his request.

 

And that's where Abigail comes in. In the days of arranged marriages, Abigail got the short end of the stick. While Nabal was "3 crude and mean," Abigail was "3 sensible and beautiful." She interceded on behalf of her husband, forestalled David's anger, and won both peace and a blessing from the servant of the Lord.

 

Now, I could easily talk about several things ...

• Learn the beatitude: Blessed are the peace-makers (see the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5).
• Grab hold of the intended blessing of marriage -- that together we're stronger, making up for the shortcomings of one another.
• Show hospitality -- what does scripture say about entertaining angels unaware? (Heb 13:2)
• Be willing to turn from your pride and anger -- that's what Abigail's kindness got David to do.  
• And maybe the most important piece of advice is ... Don't be like Nabal! Don't be so hard-headed and so hard-hearted that "no one can even talk to you." Listen. Be humble.

By the way, there's one more reason not to be like Nabal ... When Abigail returned home, Nabal, proud over rebuffing David, was celebrating like a drunken pig. (It almost says just that in verse 36). And when Abigail told him what she'd done, the bloated fool had a stroke and soon died.

 

The moral of the story is: Don't be so hard-headed that your brain explodes and your beautiful, sensible wife marries the future king -- as Abigail did with David.

 

In Christ's Love,

Abigail's husband

(a guy who's thankful to be married

to one who's "sensible and beautiful,"

and has rescued me from many troubles)