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Noble Spirit of David
427
Nabal’s Wise Wife Saves the Household
Without asking her husband, Abigail put together a good sup-
ply of food, which she sent forward in the care of servants, and
started out herself to meet David. 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! Please let your maidservant
speak in your ears.’” Abigail spoke to David with as much reverence
as though she were speaking to a crowned monarch. She tried to
soothe his irritated feelings with kind words. Full of God’s wisdom
and love, she made it plain that the unkind course of her husband was
certainly not premeditated, but simply the outburst of an unhappy,
selfish nature. She then offered her rich provision as a peace offering
to the men of David.
She said, “The Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring
house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is
not found in you throughout your days.” Abigail implied that David
ought to fight the battles of the Lord. He was not to seek revenge
for personal wrongs, even though persecuted as a traitor. “And it
shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to
all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed
you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of
heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or
that my lord has avenged himself.”
The Abigail’s faith, like the fragrance of a flower, breathed out
all unconsciously in her face words, and actions. The Spirit of God
was living in her soul. Her speech, seasoned with grace, carried
a heavenly influence. David trembled as he thought of his rash
intentions. “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called
the children of God.” (
Matthew 5:9
KJV). May there be many more
people like this woman of Israel who would soothe irritated feelings,
prevent rash impulses, and stop great evils by words of calm wisdom.
David’s anger died away under the power of Abigail’s influence
and reasoning. He was convinced that he had lost control of his own
spirit. With humble heart he received the rebuke, in harmony with
his own words, “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil.” (
Psalm 141:5
).