In order to understand the entire story, I encourage you to stop, pause, and read the entirety of 1 Samuel 25. In it, you will read first about the death of Samuel, then the interaction between Abigail, Nabal, and David, and lastly the mention of the wives of David. But this reflection here will focus on the works of Abigail in saving the household of her husband Nabal and her interactions with David.
Abigail was a wise woman.
David was in the wilderness with 600 men. I can’t imagine trying to feed all those guys! The time came for sheep to be sheared, and Nabal, a very wealthy man in the Carmel region, had 3000 sheep and 1000 goats. David and his men were hungry, and so David sent ten to request food.
Apparently, the flock of Nabal was known to David. While David’s men had been camping, they helped protect the sheep, never taking one for their own. And so, David sends an envoy to Nabal asking for his favor, since it was a festival time, and seeking provisions for his men. Nabal said “no” (selfishness is not a good move!).
When David hears about this, he assembles 400 men with swords to go and destroy every male in the family (perhaps including animals). David was going to seek retribution for being rejected by Nabal.
Now enters Abigail, the wife of Nabal. She saves her husband by bringing an elaborate amount of food, grains, wine, sheep, and cakes to David. (Just reading the list makes my mouth water. Here it is: “Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.”)
The way Abigail responded to her husband’s unwise response to David saved her family and her livelihood. Unfortunately, ten days later, the Lord struck down Nabal, and Abigail became the second wife of David. A good move for them both!
But generosity matters. Not simply in giving of our resources but our time. The kindness we show others when we have nothing to gain from the conversation, the twenty dollars we hand someone on the street corner, the love we offer to our friends and family members all reflect the grace and generosity of God. If Abigail had not shown generosity mixed with wisdom, her entire world would have suffered.
God gives us the chance to show kindness today. I am at a Global Methodist Church conference with many young clergy. I am no longer a young clergy, but the wisdom God has given me, the experience in ministry, and the encouragement I can offer others can be a gift from God. The Spirit works in such a way. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” If God gives generously, without finding fault, so can we.
Allow the Spirit to flow through you this day as you pour into others. Listen to them, pray for their needs, allow the Lord Jesus to be present in your actions. Seek to be holy and set apart as the Lord is holy so that He might be glorified in all you do.
“O Lord God, you are good. Thank you for loving me and giving me your grace. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your love and power. Cleanse my mind, discipline my spirit, allow me to walk in newness and grace. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen