Abigail - David’s Perfect Match {M.F.E.O.}

1 Samuel 25:3 “The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.”

The root word for “understanding” is שׂכל skl. This same root is used to described David in 1 Samuel 18:5,14,15 and 30 “he behaved wisely”.

She was a beautiful woman. David was depicted using the same Hebrew word (יָפֶה yā·p̄ě(h)) in 1 Samuel 7:42 “a youth, ruddy and good-looking”

Nabal - not so much

The Conflict

1 Samuel 25:4–9

David is going to solicit Nabal for

“Protection Services”

1 Samuel 25:10-12

Nabal’s reply is

Insulting, Insolent, and going to Instigate

a violent response from David.

1 Samuel 25:13 “Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.”

David’s plan

was instant, violent, and unrelenting

A Voice of Reason

1 Samuel 25:14–17 :16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.

1 Samuel 25:17 “Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.””

Nabal is a “son of Belial”

David meets Abigail

Rewarded evil for good

1 Samuel 25:21 “Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good.”

1 Samuel 24:17 “Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.”

Psalm 109:5 “Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.”

Proverbs 17:13 “Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.”

Abigails Response

1 Samuel 25:23–24 “Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.”

David was angry

Ephesians 4:26 ““Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,”

Psalm 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.”

Proverbs 14:29 “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.”

Proverbs 19:11 “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.”

Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.”

Matthew 5:22 “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”

Situation - Reaction (Anger or Control) We cannot always control what the other person does to us; but we are in absolute control of how we respond to what the other person does?

Abigail hears what her foolish husband has done and jumps into action to mitigate the damage.

1. She gets together “food”

2. She makes a plan to save her husbands life

3. She herself takes the blame!

She refers herself as David’s “handmaid” six times and call him “ my lord” fourteen times.

She is humble, honest, and bold.

4. She offers a time to take a deep breath

5. She reminds David seven times about YHWH his anointer, his Lord

Proverbs 11:22 “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.”

the opposite is the truth. Good judgement is an admirable quality in a woman. Abigail is David’s equal in wisdom.

David’s Decision honors Abigail

1 Sa 25 32-35 Blessing, respect, peace

1 Sa 25 36-39 Nabal dies anyway

1 Samuel 25:39b And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.”