Abigail

A Lesson From Abigail

9:00 AM

 



_Have you ever felt the sudden shock of betrayal and wondered why, or how could they have done that?

_What have you done with those who seem to have rejected you and followed after more favorable pursuits? Did you let them go?

 Until recently, I’ve been guilty of all the above. That is until the words in Matthew 5:9 began repeating in my head: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons/daughters of God.” 

I went back to have another look at what is often referred to as the “Beatitudes”. They’re found at the very beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5) Jesus opens up with these, not only to gain His listeners attention I believe, but also because they were so important, for they are at the very heart of God!

The Amplified Bible defines the word, “blessed” as "enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions". Just imagine enviable joy and happiness no matter what the circumstances you find yourself in.

A “peacemaker” is both a maker and maintainer of peace, which means to be a peacemaker takes work! It’s an active role more than a passive one and a title that fits well on Abigail.

The story of Abigail begins in 1 Samuel 25, during a time when David and his men are fugitives running from King Saul, and have been helping Nabal's servants and expect Nabal to offer some kind of payment for their kindness and service. 

However, Nabal, who is described as “surly and mean,” insults David’s servants, saying, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? 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?” He denied their request for food, and when David learns of it he becomes angry and decides to kill Nabal and all his men. 

David gathers 400 men and heads toward Nabal’s camp. BUT when Abigail, who is described as a beautiful, intelligent woman who was in an arranged marriage to Nabal learns of this, she quickly gathers the food supplies and loads them on a donkey and heads out to meet David in hopes to stop the confrontation that is about to happen. 

When Abigail meets David she falls down before him and offers him gifts of wine and grain and pleads with him to show mercy, “Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means fool, and folly goes with him.”

Abigail’s words and actions save the day. David thanks Abigail for stopping his own foolish and rash decision to slaughter Nabal’s men. In fact, David knows that Abigail’s intervention was a blessing from God and he sends her home in peace.

There is so much more I'd love to add about Abigail. We really don't know much about her, but her actions truly do speak volumes! I only have time to share a few thoughts, but I hope you'll add your thoughts as well in the comments. 

Abigail's actions convey to us that:

1.) We should Never Allow Fear to Keep Us from Doing What We Know is Right in God's Eyes. “Abigail lost no time…” (1 Samuel 25:18))

I know some might argue that Abigail went over or around her husband rather than submitting to his wishes, but in doing so she saved many lives.  Abigail showed great wisdom I believe in acting quickly, swiftly, and speaking honorably to David. She took control of the situation that was potentially dangerous for them all. She didn’t just sit wringing her hands and blaming her husband; she knew what the right thing was to do and she acted even risking her own life.

2.) We should always be humble and kind, seek peace from those around us. “When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: “My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you, hear what your servant his to say…” (1 Samuel 25:23-24)

 Abigail had the courage to shoulder the blame for something she wasn't responsible for, and God used that moment to show David how wrong it would be to take revenge. 

3.) We should remember that our words and actions can be very powerful when we go with God. “Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the Lord’s battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.” (1 Samuel 25:28-29)

4.) We should also remember we are never alone. God will always fight the battle for us if we allow Him to. 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 myself with my own hands.” (1 Samuel 25:32-33)

God wins and is glorified when we look to Him and step out in faith. 

I don't know the struggles you are facing at the moment, but I do know we all face them from time to time and often when we are faced with difficult battles, we may feel abandoned and all alone; as though no one cares. But that's not true; God is always with us, ready to lead us through His Spirit of wisdom and discernment; blessing us with His strength and grace, and reminding us that with Him nothing will ever be impossible. 

I want to encourage you today to keep following His leading. Keep pressing in close to His presence. Keep looking to Him and don't give up. He is faithful!
He will give you the grace you need for each day, and the power you need to walk through the most difficult of times. Your journey together is not over yet! He is able to bring greater beauty and strength through every hard moment. And your sisters are here to help you through our prayers.

Blessings, 
 Sue 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once again my post didn't end the way I intended when I started writing, but I believe it's exactly the way the Lord intended it to end. If we can be praying for you during this time, I pray you would let us know in the comments. 

1 Peter

On Submission and Peacemaking {1 Peter 3}

4:48 AM



In 1 Peter 2:13-17, Peter advised readers to have such good behaviour that unbelievers will have nothing bad to say about the gospel. Peter admonishes us all to be subject, for the Lord’s sake, to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as set by him. In other words, keep the speed limits, pay your taxes, and be respectful toward policemen and senators.

Then in 2:18–25, Peter addresses the household servants (oiketai) in the church and admonishes them to be submissive to their masters with all respect, both to the kind and to the overbearing.

To set a good example, Christians should submit to civil authorities, and slaves should submit to their masters. He now continues this theme by addressing wives and husbands.

“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1-2).

When Peter says “in the same way,” he means that women are to submit just as men should, each to the appropriate authorities. 

Women by setting a God example can cause husbands to see that God’s grace makes wives to be cooperative rather than rebellious, that way they may be more willing to listen to the gospel, and eventually follow their wives into the faith.

A changed life speaks loudly and clearly, and it is often the most effective way to influence husbands who are not born again (or any other family member for that matter).



Peter’s next advice: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (verses 3-4).

This does not mean that Christian women should be sloppy; it is great to look after one self and look one’s best but is far more important to develop an inner spirit of godliness. True beauty begins inside.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.- (Prov 31:30)

The Wider Virtue Of Submission

In Peter 3:1–6, Peter instructs the wives to be submissive to their husbands, including the husbands who are unbelieving. Then, in verse 7, he instructs husbands to live considerately with their wives as fellow heirs of the grace of life. Finally, in 3:8–12, Peter tells the whole church to have unity and sympathy and love and tender-heartedness and humility toward one another, and not to return evil for evil. In other words, submit to each other and serve each other. So, as we saw in Ephesians 5, submission is a wider Christian virtue for all of us to pursue, and it has its unique and fitting expressions in various relationships.
What submission is:
Submission is voluntarily cooperating with someone, first out of love and respect for God and then out of the love and respect for that person. Submitting to unbelievers can prove difficult, but once again it is a vital part of leading them to Jesus Christ. We are not called to submit to nonbelievers to the point that we compromise our relationship with God, but we must look for every opportunity to humbly service in the power of God’s spirit.

1 Peter 3 (VS 8-22)

Responding to evil …Called to be peacemakers




In verse 8, Peter gives a general appeal to all the believers: “All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (verses 8-9).
If someone treats us wrong, we are to respond by doing good, not by getting revenge. God set the example for us by doing good to us even though we had done evil to him. Peter supports this advice by quoting Psalm 34:12-16: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10-11).

Too often we see peace as merely the absence of conflict, and we think of peacemaking as a passive role. But an effective peacemaker actively pursues peace. He or she builds good relationships, knowing that peace is a by-product of commitment.
The peacemaker anticipates problems and deals with them before they occur. When conflicts arise, he or she brings them into the open and deals with them before they grow unmanageable.

Making peace is hard work, but it results in God’s blessings.

Peter has already pointed out that Jesus did not retaliate with threats against his persecutors (2:22-23); here he repeats the need for us to keep our words and our actions in control. Peter asks, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (3:13). Unfortunately, some people persecute those who do good, so Peter adds, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed” (verse 14). Persecution itself is not a blessing, but God rewards those who suffer unjustly.
Have a blessed weekend!


Angie