Today's Blessings
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Annually on November 29
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)