Have you ever gotten yourself into a horrific mess that was dragging you toward certain ruin? Have you made an atrocious choice that would hurt other people?
Did you ever decide to carry out something you knew was wrong, something you could never undo—but it felt so good at the time?
Most of us have carried out—or tried to carry out—any number of vile things and now, when we look back, we’re sickened to recognize the appalling things we’re capable of doing! We’re horrified at how hard our hearts can become.
Well, we are not alone. Even David—yes, the David of the Bible, the guy God called a man after His own heart—committed despicable things.
On one occasion, David decided to slaughter a bunch of people but God intervened: He sent Abigail to persuade David to change his mind (1 Samuel 25).
Let me tell you about Abigail. While you read, put yourself in David’s shoes.
David and his men moved to a wilderness where a wealthy man, Nabal, owned thousands of sheep and goats. Because Nabal and his flocks were vulnerable to thieves and other dangers, David and his men watched over them.
When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep—a time when Nabal would have had plenty of money from selling the wool—David sent ten men to Nabal on a feast day, a day most people showed extra generosity to others.
David told his men to say to Nabal, “Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! ….When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was stolen from them. Ask your own servants and they will tell you. So would you be kind toward my young men…. Please give your servants and your son David whatever provisions you can find for them.”
One of Nabal’s men verified the character of David’s men: “David’s men were very good to us and we never suffered any harm from them; in fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep, and nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us.”
Now, Nabal is described in various versions of the Bible as being surly, mean, uncouth, churlish, stubborn, ill-mannered, harsh, evil in his doings, and dishonest. Read on and you’ll see why!
Nabal replied to David’s men, “Who is this guy David? Who is this son of Jesse?” (Saul had just acknowledged that David would be Israel’s next king!) Nabal continued, “Lots of servants these days have run away from their masters. Why should I take my bread and water and meat and give it to a gang of outlaws coming from who knows where?”
Imagine David’s surprise. His shock turned to insult. His sense of unfairness led to anger that led to a vow to take revenge that would lead to mass murder: David told his men, “Get your swords!” David strapped on his own sword and took 400 men and marched toward Nabal. David said, “He has paid me back evil for good. May God curse me if even one of Nabal’s household remains alive by
tomorrow morning!”
Nabal’s wife, Abigail, is described in the Bible as intelligent, sensible, a woman of good understanding, and full of wisdom. (What a contrast to her husband Nabal!) She got word of David’s plan so she immediately set out to stop him and his men before they got to Nabal.
As she rode her donkey down a trail, she saw David riding toward her. She got down and bowed before David with her face to the ground.
“Please don’t pay attention to what my husband said. He is a bad-tempered fool, just like his name means.” (In Hebrew Nabal means “fool.”) By her presence and her words, she tried to stop David
from killing Nabal and his entire household. She said, “The Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands.”
Abigail knew David still wanted to kill Nabal so she spoke a second time, “Let no wrongdoing be found in you.”
Abigail must have sensed she still hadn’t convinced David so she tried a third time.
“When the Lord has made you king of Israel, you don’t want this to blemish your record. You don’t want on your conscience the staggering burden of being a murderer.”
Finally, after three tries, Abigail persuaded David to change his plans.
Who is your Abigail? Who persuaded you not to carry out a sinful act? Who urged you to refrain from wrongdoing? Who begged you to think of your record, reputation, and future?
Who helped you turn away from a particular sin and start living in a new, better way?
Maybe, like Abigail, it took him or her two or three attempts, or more, but that persistence helped you choose right over wrong.
Like David, have you acknowledged that God Himself sent that person to you?
How is your life different today because of that person’s influence in your life?
Write your story! Someone needs it.
