A Woman of Good Understanding (2)

I Sam. 25:1-4

Welcome to Mothers Day here at out MVBC. We are so thankful for every mother who is in attendance and also thank for those who could not be in attendance. We are richly blessed to have mothers in our service today. As you leave today, we have a Nothing Bundt Cake for every mother in the back lobby.

In a world that is broken and messed up, God has given us mothers to help us find true life which is found in Jesus Christ. Their love and compassion demonstrate God’s love to us. Every mother wants the best life for their children. Thank you, mothers, for being who you are. A mother wears so many hats that we don’t even realize. She is a nurse a doctor, teacher, counselor, comforter, baker, chef, chauffeur, psychologist, maid, referee, seamstress, and laundromat attendant just to name a few.

In the passage we just read, we learn about a mother. She has many qualities we learn about but there is a phrase that describes her as a stand out lady. In verse 3, “she was a woman of good understanding.” Even though she is not yet a mother here at this time in her life, she possesses the qualities that make a mother of understanding.

The word good means merry, pleasant, efficient, and morally good. She was a wife who was morally good. Her name means father of joy in the sense of being a leader of joy.

Understanding means insight and comprehension. Abigail is a mother who has morally good comprehension.

It has been said that mothers have a sixth sense of things. Mothers can see things and comprehend what is good and best. They have a great instinct given to them by God for their children’s welfare. Their continual desire is what is best for you.

There are three particular insights of understanding we find in Abigail’s life.

Insight 1. . .

Understanding of the times

Abigail’s incredible insight into the times is best to understand what was happening in this particular event. David was in Masada (the stronghold) when Samuel died (24:22), and he and his men left there for the wilderness of Paran, more than a hundred miles south of Masada. David was the heir apparent to the throne of Saul and David was protecting himself.

Maon was a place of refuge near the Dead Sea where David had been before 23:24. The events occur near Carmel and this seems to indicate the hiding place for David. He knew that Judaean desert well and during his stay in Maon near Carmel, his men had been a wall of protection for Nabal’s flocks and caring for them. Nabal was very wealthy but also very selfish.

When David returned to Nabal’s neighborhood, it was a festival of a shearing time. A time of joy and celebration . He had hoped Nabal would help his men by feeding them or sharing some of his resources. A couple of sheep or goat might be just enough to feed a meal to his hungry men.

His request seemed reasonable because Nabal had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, he could easily spare a few animals to feed 600 men who guarded his wealth and physical protection. Nabal did not care to help or look after David’s men. His interest was for himself.

Nabal reacted to the request by railing on David and his men. He insulted David and refused to respond to his request.

Abigail was watching this go on and realized the situation. Her understanding was kicking into high gear. She was reading the circumstances like a newspaper. Here we find Abigail understood the times in which she lived. She recognized the difference between wisdom and foolishness. Mothers are gifted much like that where God has given them a discerning spirit.

Children should listen to their mothers because they see things and discern things that we cannot discern. They discern what can endanger us like bad friends, or bad places to go or evil influences. While it is hard to accept No, yes to the wrong things would be much worse. I am thankful for a mother who protected me from many dangers that could have come my way.

You can thank God today for mothers who bring so much insight into the situations we find ourselves in.

Insight 2. . .

Understanding of true wisdom

David was very angry from Nabal’s reaction to his request and wanted to kill Nabal and his men. The name Nabal means a fool or worthless. In verse 17, 25 one of his servants and even Abigail called him a son of Belial which means worthless or worthlessness.

Jesus says Luke 6:44–45 “For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

When the servant came to give the report of David, he knew he couldn’t talk to Nabal so he went to the wise and prudent Abigail. Nabal is just not approachable. Parent are you approachable? Can your children talk to you or ask you advice? Abigail gave very wise and astute advice to David’s servant which was God honoring and saved David’s future.

In those days, the parents arranged the marriages for their children, so we aren’t surprised to see a wise woman married to a foolish man. Even today, some marriages are like that. Abigail had great wisdom. Wisdom comes from God and the wisest thing a person can do is to accept Jesus Christ is his or her personal Savior.

This means we recognize we are sinners and Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. He only can take care of our sins. He paid for them by dying, He was buried, but He arose taking care of our sins. Romans 10:13.

True wisdom comes from God. Abigail had a great wisdom, life-changing wisdom because she received it from God.

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

She sought to extinguish David’s anger and bring gentleness to the situation. Warren Wiersbe said, “ She put together enough food for David’s men but said nothing to her husband. She was the mistress of the house and could dispose of the family provisions as she saw fit. Nabal would have opposed her though she doing it for his own good. She wasn’t stealing from her husband; she was paying a debt he refused to pay.”

Wisdom is using the knowledge God gives us about Himself and about His Word. What a blessing to have a mother as a great example of wisdom.

Publius Syrus Wisdom is knowing less but understanding more.

Anonymous

Wisdom and understanding are gifts of God, but they must be cultivated in order to become effective.

Frederick Fyvie Bruce (Professor)

Insight 3. . .

Understanding of God’s purpose

Abigail was a woman who believed God and she knew David was God’s king. She wanted to contribute to David’s life a road to obeying God’s will. She had a tremendous Godly perspective on things. You noticed even at the end of the chapter, her focus was on David as the future king. In vv. 32-34 she showed David that the Lord had stopped him from ruining his future. She wanted God’s will for David to be a sure house for the Lord.

She knew God had a purpose and plan for our lives. She focused in her reaction to the situation, to steer everyone to God’s will rather than their will.

Her concern was for David’s safety no matter what Saul had planned to do to David. God would protect David for His future calling.

The story is told of a very Godly mother who was severely enjoyed in a car accident. Her injuries were life threatening. As they rushed her into the ER, her family waited nervously to get a report from the doctor. Her husband, her 13 year old, 15 year old, and 17 year old all gathered in the waiting room with fear she may not make it out of surgery. After a lengthy surgery, they moved her into ICU. She made it through two nights and they moved her to a private room where her family sat by her as she was still sedated from her painful injuries.

As the family waited, one of her teenage sons, asked dad, “Why did this happen to mom? Why did it happen to one of the best? About that time, mom woke up and said, “So that all of you would come back to Jesus.” She went on to say, “Sometimes God’s purposes are veiled in tragedies.” She understood the purpose of God.

David listened to the Godly advice of Abigail. he was humble enough to hear her Godly Word. Godly mothers want the will of God for their children. They pray for their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual protection for their children. She impressed David so much that he married her after Nabal died and become the mother of his children. This woman of great understanding is a great example of motherhood found in Scripture.

As we close today, thank you mothers for having insight into our lives that often we cannot or will not see. Thank you for your prayers, your help, and your encouragement. Your influence is profound.

Do you know Christ today? I cannot think of a better time than today to accept Jesus as your Savior. Will you turn to Him today?