Throughout the story of David, Nabal, and Abigail in (1 Samuel 25), Abigail is clearly the one making the decisions and also the one initiating the actions. Abigail concentrates all her efforts to avoid violence. She knows that a serious moral wrong has been committed against David, and so she seeks forgiveness and mercy from him.
Being a pacifier, she herself is ready to accept responsibility for the wrong done to David (vs. 25). This moral strength enables her to take risks in order to achieve a restoration of the relationship with David by appeasing his resentment.
Abigail seeks reconciliation through words. When she speaks to David, she is confident in her determination to make a difference and change David's plans. In order to achieve David's change of heart, she seeks to open a dialogue with him. Her speech is persuasive but also honest. The language she uses is powerful and her arguments compelling.
In contrast to her husband, Abigail remains humble, addressing David as "my lord" and speaking of herself as "your servant." She frequently refers to the Lord and to what the Lord is doing through these events and situations. With almost prophetic authority she states that, through her, the Lord has restrained David from bloodguilt. In the same prophetic style, she announces a glorious future for David (vss. 29-31).
It is not surprising, then, that David accepts her offer of reconciliation by blessing her three times (vss. 32-33). May we all, like this wise woman, seek reconciliation through our words and our actions, that we might restore and build relationships that glorify our Lord and avoid conflict.
- 16 NOVEMBER -