By Joyce Tilney

“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.” (1Sam. 25:3, NKJ)

When Abigail was a young girl her parents chose her husband-to-be, and at first he looked pretty good. I’m sure her parents thought they were doing her a favor, as he was a very rich man.

It didn’t take Abigail long to find out he was an abusive drunk. There were probably many times in her life that she cried out to God for help in her time of need.

Her life speaks of a woman with Godly character who knew and understood the challenges of life. She was a victim, but she did not allow her situation to rule her.

 During her marriage she probably had to mend many relationships with family and friends due to her husband’s abuse, but when word reached Abigail through one of the servants that her husband had turned down a request from David, she listened attentively.

David’s men had helped the shepherds in Nabal’s fields protect their large herds of sheep and goats. It was expected that these men would be welcome at feasting time, but in his usual rude manner, Nabal sent them away (1 Sam. 25:10).

  Abigail understood that a strong-minded man like David would be angered and would not let her husband’s rude act go unpunished. There was no way she could discuss the matter with Nabal.

Instead, she went to work preparing food and saw that it was mounted on donkeys to deliver to David and his men. She then mounted a donkey and went to meet David.

Abigail was a woman humble enough to listen to a servant, with enough character and courage to meet David face to face. She was attractive, intelligent, wise and did not panic in a crisis.

When she came to David, she immediately bowed before him and began to intercede for her husband and apologize for his actions. She admitted that he was a fool.

Abigail understood the blessings that God had endowed on David up to this point were small compared to what the Lord still had planned for the future king. She was driven by a deep motive from her love for God to stop the revenge in David’s heart. He was about to commit a sin he would always regret. The stain of blood from the innocent would be on his hands. She reminded David of the favor of God he had been enjoying and the future that awaited him as Israel’s next king. She didn’t reprove David; she only reminded him of the potential consequences of rash action.

David had to be impressed by this beautiful woman and her wisdom. She had put God first and saw things in light of the future. Her plea had been based on what was best for David, not her own household. “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel who sent you this day to meet me. And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand”(25:32-33). David received what she had brought and sent her home in peace. “Go up in peace to your house, see, I have heeded your voice and respected your person” (25:35).

Abigail had completed her mission. She did not loiter, but quickly mounted her donkey and started back home. I can only imagine David watching her until she was out of sight, as he continued to think how close he had come to sinning against the Lord.

Abigail had read the situation correctly. She knew God would punish her husband, but she didn’t know the details. When she told her husband the next day what she had done, his reaction of fury caused his heart to die within him and he became like a stone. Ten days later he was dead (25:37-38).

When David heard this he showed what an unforgettable impression Abigail had made on him by asking her to become his wife. She agreed. Was her life happy ever after? We don’t know, but being one of eight wives had to have challenges along the way!

One of the most impressive things about Abigail was that she did not show a false front. David saw her as she really was, a real woman, not putting on airs or trying to be something she was not. There had been no time to call for advice or go to others. She could not pretend to be different than who she was. The storms of life always blow away any cover-up from a person that is not secure in her life.

Abigail had been a victim of circumstances. She had been abused and mistreated without deserving it. Self-pity had to knock on her door, but she realized that attitude would not help her, and had the potential to harm her further.

As women of God we should take Paul’s advice, “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,” (Phil 3:13). Don’t allow your past to rob you of your future.

Joyce Tilney is founder of Women of God Ministries and the author of the book, Leah, The Substitute Bride. Visit the website at: www.wogministries.com.