IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Abigail: a Woman of Faith and Wisdom

Date: Jul. 2, 2018

Passage

1 Samuel 25:14-31 (ESV)

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. 16 They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.”

18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 19 And she said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them. 21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. 22 God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.”

23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26 Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 29 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30 And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31 my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 25:28

Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.

1. Abigail's decisive action (14-22)

In contrast to Nabal, Abigail was his wise, beautiful and intelligent wife (3,33). She didn't know about David's request. She clearly knew the LORD and God's word (Gen 33). When she learned of Nabal's folly, she acted quickly in wisdom and humility to dispel David's anger. She prepared a generous gift (which David had wanted) and went out to meet David and his 400 men. David had just voiced his frustration and made a murderous oath (21-22).

2. Abigail's words of wisdom (23-31)

Abigail humbly called herself from first to last "your servant," apologized for her husband's folly, and asked for forgiveness. She gave a generous gift. Most of all, she mentioned the LORD seven times. The LORD had kept him from needless, vengeful bloodshed (26,31). She knew the LORD would make David king (30). She helped David to look at God and remember his promises.

Prayer: Lord, when I'm feeling angry, help me to look at you and remember your word, your goodness and your mercy. Help me to point others to you as well.

One Word: Remember what the LORD has done, is doing, and will do

Daily Bread

Joseph Before Pharaoh

Genesis 41:1-36

Key Verse: 41:28

It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

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