Malayalee Christian

Posted by Dr. Johnson Cherian

David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you

today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me

from bloodshed this day and from avenging me with my own hands. (1 Samuel

25:32, 33)

Nabal, a wealthy man of Maon had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he

was shearing in Carmel.

While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. So he sent ten

young men and said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. Say

to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all

that is yours! "'Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were

with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of

theirs was missing. Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable

toward my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and

your son David whatever you can find for them.'" When David's men arrived, they gave

Nabal this message in David's name. Then they waited. Nabal answered David's servants,

"Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their

masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have

slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?" David's

men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. David

said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So they put on their swords, and David put on his.

(1 Samuel 25:4-13)

A servant of Nabal told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, of all that had happened and also that David

was marching towards them to kill everyone.

She acted quickly, and rode herself to David carrying gifts and talked wisely when she

met David, praising him for his goodness and kindness.

David here blesses Abigail for her good judgment. Abigail’s husband had acted foolishly

towards David and now the only hope of saving her family from annihilation was pleading

for mercy from David. She did not think of her family status here; just fell at David’s feet

and asked for forgiveness for her husband’s arrogance.

Good judgment and a humble attitude. Abigail had both.

If both husband and wife act childishly and are proud and unrelenting, it will only lead to

the destruction of the family.

The Bible says, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one

tears hers down.” (Proverbs 14:1)