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Magnificent Lady “ABIGAIL”
1 Chronicles 3:1 Now there was
a man in Moan, whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich
he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing
his sheep in Carmel and the name of the man was NABAL.Though he was
wealthy and rich man materially He was harsh and evil in his doings his
own servant named him as a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him (1 Sam
25: 17) Riches makes men look great in the sight of the world. The passage mentions Abigail was a woman of good understanding and beautiful in appearance.” Brain and BEAUTY” When Saul was king of Israel he sinned so greatly that God rejected Saul to be the king of his chosen generation so God took away his kingdom from his family and anointed David as to be the next king over Israelites. Saul knew this so he this envy caused him to spend the rest of his life hunting for David. to take his life. During this brief period David gathered six hundred man and wandered in the wilderness of Param . At this time when David heard in wilderness that Nabal of Carmel was sheering his sheep. David sent his ten men with a request to Nabal to provide food to him and to his men who were with David. 1 Sam 25:5-9. When David’s young men approached Nabal and told according to the words of David. Nabal answered them rudely and refused to help David and also he lied to them that he does not know any David. When Nabals insulting refusal was reported to David, David was furious 1Sam 25:21. David vowed to kill Nabal and every male of his household. David and his four hundred men got ready with their swords and started their journey towards Nabals house. In this mean time one of the Nabal servants told to Abigail how Nabal rejected David’s request the servant told to Abigail to consider this matter wisely and take action on this Critical situation. As soon as Abigail heard this she, did not waste any time took abundant food supply such as two hundred bread loaves, two skin of wine, five dressed sheep, five bushels of roasted grain, A hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs and loaded on the donkey and followed the servant into the wilderness to meet David. When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before him, with her face on ground. And pleaded David To forgive Nabals rejection and accept her food and gifts. (1 Sam 25:23-31) Her gentle reasoning made David to send her in peace to her home. David praised her for good judgment and for helping him to keep him away from blood shed. At home Nabal was having a feast of a king and Nabal’s heart was merry within himself for he was very drunk, therefore Abigail when she returned she did not tell Nabal anything until morning light. In the morning when Abigail told Nabal the entire story Nabal was scared to death his heart became like stone, later when God struck him he died after ten days. Dear reader ! here in this whole passage we see three roles. Nabal represents the World. Making merry with worldly things ignoring the word of God and rejecting the call of Jesus to come to him with confession and to be saved from perishing but one day this world will come to an End . Abigail represents a believers life. King David represents our Lord Jesus Christ. Abigail meets David and she offered him the gifts and honor as a believers is our heart gifted to our savior? Are we honoring him with that reverence and fear. Are we preparing to meet him one day in mid air? Abigail prepared to meet David she quickly prepared all she could to meet the mighty future king of Israel! How are we preparing are we quickening each day to prepare to meet Lord Jesus in our lives( In prayer in word and deed). When she met David she showed respect and honor. Let us examine how our heart what situation we are in . One thing reminds me Though Abigail was a rich woman’s wife but she humbled before David. And she pleaded to forgive Nabal are we pleading for this perishing world and perishing souls how could we forget the complete sacrifice made by Lord Jesus on the cross to save us? By the coming of Jesus this world one day will become speechless and becomes like a stone. Abigail represents the heavenly bride. When the world like Nabal died King DAVID redeemed her. Same in us if this worldly nature and attractions will be killed in us then only we can meet our Bridegroom in heaven. Abigail the noble woman did not leave her godless husband, but remained as a loyal wife. She protected his life, for she had accepted him for better or worse till death departed them. She possessed “ The ornament is a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God a great price” (1 Peter 3:4) True to her name, she experienced in God her father there was a source of joy which enabled her to go on her miserable life. She maintained peace; Learning to deal with different people is a great art. Wisely she dealt with her husband who was a “son of Belial”When she heard that David was coming to kill her husband, she could have withdrawn to a place of safety and let him suffer the consequences of his folly. She pleaded for mercy “ A word fitly spoken is like apples if gold in setting of silver” (Prov 25:11) Abigail was a woman of great understanding; wisdom is better than weapons of war. It was her wisdom, what she did to save her family. Some can be taught and others can be led by a good example, but some cannot be won by word or by example as their hearts are hardenend.Thouh Nabal lived with an outstanding wife, his ways were far different. Jesus said the parable of the seed and the sower,the trouble was not in the seed or the sower, but the trouble was in the soil which represents the human heart. Lets us all separate ourselves from this world and prepare to meet our king Lord JESUS to be with him for ever. AMEN.
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