I Samuel 25:23-44
“And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.” (I Samuel 25:23-25)
Knowing how offensive her husband could be, Abigail had rushed as much as she could to stop David before he started a fight and killed innocent people. She also knew that there was no point in talking to Nabal because he wouldn’t listen to anyone.
I Corinthians 13:6 says that love “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” Abigail did not deny what her husband was really like, but she didn’t want him killed. She volunteered to take the responsibility for what had happened because her husband was such a servant of Satan that he was incapable of making intelligent decisions., and she had not seen David’s men. She asked that David would at least listen to her before he proceeded.
Like other women married to selfish and domineering men, Abigail had probably spent a lot of time trying to smooth over other people’s anger and enable them to survive. Such bullies rarely realize that their success is because of their mate’s diplomacy and not their forcefulness.
“Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.” (I Samuel 25:26-28)
She pointed out that repeatedly God had promised to punish those who did wrong so that David should do what Paul instructs in Romans 12:19. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” By attacking and killing Nabal and his servants, David would be doing evil himself. Instead she asked to be forgiven for not having been able to stop Nabal, and that David accept the things she had brought. By doing so, he would not bring God’s judgment on himself, and God would bless him.
“Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.” (I Samuel 25:29-31)
She made it clear she understood David was being unfairly persecuted and that it was understandable that he would react violently to further unfair treatment, but he needed to remember that God had promised to make him King over Israel, If he went on and killed Nabal, he would have to live with the regret for the rest of his life, and Nabal simply wan’t worth it. Her final request was that when God fulfilled his promise, David not forget she had helped him. Apparently she had had to bail Nabal out before, and thought she might need David’s help in the future.
“And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.” (I Samuel 25:32-35)
David thanked her for stopping him from doing something in the heat of anger he would later regret. As he said, in his anger, he had intended to kill not only Nabal, but every man among them that very day. Instead he was going to accept what she offered with thanksgiving and not kill th family.
“And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.” (I Samuel 25:36-38)
When Abigail got home, Nabal was holding a party, gloating about how he had lorded it over David’s men. He was very drunk so she didn’t try to explain what had almost happened. The next morning, when he had sobered up, She told him what David’s response had been and how close he had come to getting the whole bunch killed. Realization of what could have happened caused him to have a massive stroke, leaving him paralyzed, and about ten days later he died.
“And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.” (I Samuel 25:39)
When David heard about Nabal’s death he thanked the Lord for giving him what he deserved, and that Abigail had stopped him from living with the regret of having killed him over such a minor thing.
“And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.” (I Samuel 25:39b-42)
Knowing that Abigail was beautiful, and Impressed with her good sense and kindness, David decided to marry her, particularly since Saul had taken Michal and married her off to another man. Knowing that David would listen to reason, Abigail was glad to go with him for a change, even if it was just as a menial servant. Almost anything looked good after putting up with Nabal. She gladly accepted his offer of marriage.
“David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.” (I Samuel 25:43)
There was no prohibition against marrying more than one wife, although a man who did so was required to treatr them equally in every way, so David also took a second wife.
“But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.” (I Samuel 25:44)
Saul didn’t love his children, he just used them as political pawns. Originally, he had promised Merab to David, but had married her off to some one else when he got angry over the people bragging about David’s accomplishment in killing Goliath. Later, he used both daughters as bait when he offered to take her back from her husband or give David Michal if he’d kill a hundred Philistines in and attempt to get David killed.
Michal loved David and helped him escape from Saul, but she had no doubt he’d kill her if he thought she’d willingly helped David, so she accused David of threatening to kill her if she didn’t. Saul believed her because that’s what he’d have done. After David fled, Saul forced Michal to marry another Phalti in an effort to ensure his loyalty. History is replete with stories of power hungry leaders using their children as pawns to form alliances.
In offering to take Merab away from her husband, and in taking Michal away from David, Saul usurped God’s authority. In Matthew 19:5-6, Jesus said, “…For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” God has not given authority over marriage to any man or government or church.
“And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.” (I Samuel 25:23-25)
Knowing how offensive her husband could be, Abigail had rushed as much as she could to stop David before he started a fight and killed innocent people. She also knew that there was no point in talking to Nabal because he wouldn’t listen to anyone.
I Corinthians 13:6 says that love “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” Abigail did not deny what her husband was really like, but she didn’t want him killed. She volunteered to take the responsibility for what had happened because her husband was such a servant of Satan that he was incapable of making intelligent decisions., and she had not seen David’s men. She asked that David would at least listen to her before he proceeded.
Like other women married to selfish and domineering men, Abigail had probably spent a lot of time trying to smooth over other people’s anger and enable them to survive. Such bullies rarely realize that their success is because of their mate’s diplomacy and not their forcefulness.
“Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.” (I Samuel 25:26-28)
She pointed out that repeatedly God had promised to punish those who did wrong so that David should do what Paul instructs in Romans 12:19. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” By attacking and killing Nabal and his servants, David would be doing evil himself. Instead she asked to be forgiven for not having been able to stop Nabal, and that David accept the things she had brought. By doing so, he would not bring God’s judgment on himself, and God would bless him.
“Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.” (I Samuel 25:29-31)
She made it clear she understood David was being unfairly persecuted and that it was understandable that he would react violently to further unfair treatment, but he needed to remember that God had promised to make him King over Israel, If he went on and killed Nabal, he would have to live with the regret for the rest of his life, and Nabal simply wan’t worth it. Her final request was that when God fulfilled his promise, David not forget she had helped him. Apparently she had had to bail Nabal out before, and thought she might need David’s help in the future.
“And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.” (I Samuel 25:32-35)
David thanked her for stopping him from doing something in the heat of anger he would later regret. As he said, in his anger, he had intended to kill not only Nabal, but every man among them that very day. Instead he was going to accept what she offered with thanksgiving and not kill th family.
“And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.” (I Samuel 25:36-38)
When Abigail got home, Nabal was holding a party, gloating about how he had lorded it over David’s men. He was very drunk so she didn’t try to explain what had almost happened. The next morning, when he had sobered up, She told him what David’s response had been and how close he had come to getting the whole bunch killed. Realization of what could have happened caused him to have a massive stroke, leaving him paralyzed, and about ten days later he died.
“And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.” (I Samuel 25:39)
When David heard about Nabal’s death he thanked the Lord for giving him what he deserved, and that Abigail had stopped him from living with the regret of having killed him over such a minor thing.
“And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.” (I Samuel 25:39b-42)
Knowing that Abigail was beautiful, and Impressed with her good sense and kindness, David decided to marry her, particularly since Saul had taken Michal and married her off to another man. Knowing that David would listen to reason, Abigail was glad to go with him for a change, even if it was just as a menial servant. Almost anything looked good after putting up with Nabal. She gladly accepted his offer of marriage.
“David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.” (I Samuel 25:43)
There was no prohibition against marrying more than one wife, although a man who did so was required to treatr them equally in every way, so David also took a second wife.
“But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.” (I Samuel 25:44)
Saul didn’t love his children, he just used them as political pawns. Originally, he had promised Merab to David, but had married her off to some one else when he got angry over the people bragging about David’s accomplishment in killing Goliath. Later, he used both daughters as bait when he offered to take her back from her husband or give David Michal if he’d kill a hundred Philistines in and attempt to get David killed.
Michal loved David and helped him escape from Saul, but she had no doubt he’d kill her if he thought she’d willingly helped David, so she accused David of threatening to kill her if she didn’t. Saul believed her because that’s what he’d have done. After David fled, Saul forced Michal to marry another Phalti in an effort to ensure his loyalty. History is replete with stories of power hungry leaders using their children as pawns to form alliances.
In offering to take Merab away from her husband, and in taking Michal away from David, Saul usurped God’s authority. In Matthew 19:5-6, Jesus said, “…For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” God has not given authority over marriage to any man or government or church.
It is good to see NT doctrine in action, so to speak, in the OT. Again we see how the NT isn't something "new" it's just a much clearer light that God has given us to see by. As one man once said: the OT is the house God built; the NT is when He added in the windows.
ReplyDeleteAs I Corinthians 10 says, all these things were written for our examples so we didn't repeat their mistakes.
ReplyDelete