Another Wednesday, good morning. I hope the first half of your week has been productive.
Today we read 1 Samuel 25-27.
Marriage
We will meet another of David’s wives, Abigail. Polygamy was a common practice in those times and within that culture.
I have had four wives, but never more than one at a time. A man can only deal with so much. The thought of multiple wives is more than I can comprehend.
My current wife has been married to me for 32 years. She is the only one I was married to in the presence of a pastor.
We have learned to worship the Lord together and made God a central focus of our lives. This separates our marriage from the previous ones.
When you live for the Lord, the daily challenges are easier to handle. Temptations and your own desires become less pressing.
Wisdom
We read how Nabal disrespected David and his men. To keep face and show his men he supported them, David was going to massacre all of Nabals’ family and servants.
Abigail was Nabals’ wife. Verse 25:3 describes her as beautiful, but her intelligence and wisdom impress me. Her compassion towards her people is also clear.
She overrides Nabals’ actions, which is a risky move. Society did not afford women the same respect as men in those days. He could have put her away and no one would have stopped him.
God was with her. He led her to intervene and dispel the threat that David and his men presented.
How we present ourselves
Nabal was gruff and insulting. Treating people with respect and diplomacy is important.
Others often describe me as grumpy. One of my coworkers admitted to being afraid of me.
This is not the image I seek to portray. I hope that when people look at me; they see Jesus.
Instead, because I wouldn’t smile, they always assumed I was mad.
I love people and never get mad. My wife jokes about how even keeled I am.
Even when someone does me wrong, I try to pay back good for evil.
This was not Nabal. He paid back evil for good. (v25:21)
Abigail brings a peace offering and smooths things over. This must have impressed David. Ten days later Nabal dies (see v25:38), and David asks her to marry him. (see v25:40)
Demons persist
We learn Saul had given Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel (v25:44). Marriage was much different in that culture.
Along with giving away David’s wife, Saul has had another change of heart is back to pursuing David.
Some of my worst traits never seem to leave me. I obsess about things which happened long ago.
I forgive, I try to forget, but in my mind they play on a loop.
To drive them out, I tell myself to stop thinking about them, but that just makes me think about them.
Saul needed to move past his animosity toward David. It could have cost him his life in the cave.
But, he doesn’t. Perhaps he can’t.
He gathers up three thousand men and sets out to find him again.
This time David seeks into his camp and instead of slaying him, he takes his water jug and spear.
Demonstrating that he could have killed him again, but didn’t. He convinces Saul to call off the search.
Violence
Then David goes to Gath and begins raiding the other tribes. It seems there was little else for people to do in those times, so they fought.
We have become so consumed with activity in our culture that it is hard to fit anything else into our schedules.
Although wars and conflicts remain in the headlines, most of us live in peace.
There is still conflict, but we have made violence into entertainment.
The practice of conquering kingdom after kingdom has subsided.
This gives us hope for a future.
God wants us to have peace. He gives us His peace (John 14:27). It is not His desire that we live in fear, but the news tries to keep us there, anyway.
Inspired by Abigail’s wisdom and beauty, we must be fearless in our actions. Seek peace with those around you for the sake and safety of your household.
Show kindness and love your enemies (Matt 5:44).
