Abigail?Wise and Determined...Continued from page 6

Apparently, the stress of his foolishness, which nearly brought death to him at the hand of David, becomes too great. The description of his heart failing and becoming like a stone is probably what we would call a heart attack or stroke. He lingers for 10 days, and then dies.

Verse 38 helps us put Nabal's death in perspective. God strikes the health of this man and takes his life. The failure of Nabal isn't just rudeness and hoarding. It's his insulting and dismissing the servants of David, who is God's anointed to be the next king of Israel.

C. Abigail's Future (vv. 39-42)

(1 Samuel 25:40-42 is not included in the printed text.)

39. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

News of Nabal's death stimulates David to once again offer praise and thanksgiving for God's intervention. He recognizes the contempt and insult of Nabal deserved retaliation, but not in the way he was going to accomplish it. Instead, God allowed Nabal's own surliness to be the cause of his death.

Wasting no time and apparently with no hesitancy, David begins the negotiations for Abigail to become his wife. Following the custom of sending an intermediary, David sends his servants. However, they aren't really asking; she is expected to accept. She does, with great humility. Her bowing and offering to wash the servants' feet shows her character (v. 41). It also shows her willingness to become David's wife.

Abigail doesn't delay in going to David. There appears to be no lengthy time of putting the household in order or taking care of business. With her five maids, Abigail immediately joins David (v. 42).

We do not know the rest of the story. Becoming David's wife definitely provides a change. Instead of living in an established home in one location, Abigail now becomes part of a group who move from place to place avoiding the forces of Saul. Plus, she will not be the only wife of David. However, Abigail apparently knows the position of being David's wife is better than any of the alternatives. The woman who stopped David from making a disastrous decision is now placed under his loving care.

CONCLUSION

This brief glimpse into the life of Abigail speaks so loudly as to the impact a wise woman can have on the life of a man. She protected both her current husband and the man who later would become her husband. Abigail seized the information given, understood what needed to be done, and then did it.

GOLDEN TEXT CHALLENGE

"A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH: BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS STIR UP ANGER" (Proverbs 15:1).

Will we respond to the angry person positively or negatively - pleasantly or bitterly? Will we be gentle and conciliatory, or will we cause more bitterness and anger?

"A soft answer" is not a weak one. Often the most powerful response is given in the mildest tone. Even though the substance is firm, the language and spirit are gentle. Such an answer is hard to resent or refute.

When we use a soft answer, wrath is turned away. Anger is silenced. These negative emotions or attitudes cannot burn without fuel to feed them.

What are the effects of using grievous or bitter words? Hatred, cruelty and misery. Bitterness is more powerful than wrath. While rage thunders, bitterness stabs. It creates more ill will than the angry words that provoke it.

To learn more about the annual Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary, visit www.pathwaybookstore.com.