Sunday’s Blessing – 11/23/2025 – Abigail
In the study of the life of David, this week we looked at the encounter with a man named Nabal and his wife, Abigail. Nabal’s name means, “fool.” Apparently it fit him well. Everyone around the man referred to him as an idiot. However, he was very rich. The Hebrew word describing how rich he was means, “heavy.” In other words, Nabal was loaded.
David was holed up in a cave with his six hundred mighty men. His men spent their time roaming the wilderness regions of Israel protecting the shepherds and their flocks from marauders who would raid the fields and rustle the flocks. In return for this protection, which was offered at no charge, the owners of the flocks would share from the profits they made from the livestock.
When the time came to cash in on their herds, David got the news and sent a few of his men to greet Nabal and request compensation for their protection. Even though Nabal’s men spoke very highly of David’s men, he refused to pay them anything, and even insulted them and David, the future King of Israel.
David became so angry at Nabal’s refusal, and even more so of his mockery, that he ordered four hundred of his sword-wielding men to follow him to take this man down.
In comes Abigail. She was both very wise and very beautiful. She got word that David was on his way to kill her husband, Nabal. Even though she was not even aware of what Nabal had done, she took quick action to try and keep David from killing her husband. She mounted up donkeys ladened with food, enough to feed a small army, and went to head off David at the pass. Her humility and tact, as well as her respect for David, convinced him to call of the slaughter of Nabal.
David was willing to change his mind (repent, if you will) of his plan to murder a man because he was dishonored and in doing so, saved himself from ridicule and loss of respect from the people of Israel. His reign as king would have most certainly suffered.
Now for today’s blessing:
May you find the courage to change your mind when presented with Truth
So you, like David, can keep from becoming shipwrecked by poor decisions
So you may become a vessel the Lord can use
And fulfill your purpose given you by the Creator
May the Lord send those like Abigail to speak the Truth to you at critical times
To give you understanding of which path to take
Which will lead to your promotion and not your demise
So God may be glorified in your life
