David and his army had been fighting the Philistines, one of the enemies of the Israelites. He found himself in the wilderness of Paran where there lived a very wealthy man. I Samuel 25:1 (KJV) says of Nabal, “And the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats.”

David heard that this man, Nabal, was shearing his sheep. Nabal was in Carmel, and his shearers were in the fields where David had been.  David and his men were in need of provisions, and he sent a message by ten of his men to Nabal. He thought that since he had treated Nabal’s shearers kindly that Nabal would provide him with some provisions and a place to rest.

When the young men arrived in Carmel, they greeted Nabal in the name of David, the future king of Israel. Instead of assisting them, Nabal told them, “Shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?”

Nabal’s selfishness struck David the wrong way, and he was ready to do battle with him and his men. While David was preparing his men, one of Nabal’s young men told Nabal’s wife, Abigail, what happened. He told her how David and his men had treated them and how they protected the shearers and their sheep.

Abigail wasted no time gathering bread, wine, meat, corn, raisins, and figs to feed this army that would surely come to destroy them. She sent her servants to deliver the provisions, but she also rode down to meet David and his army.

When Abigail arrived, she fell before David and bowed herself to him and begged forgiveness for her wicked husband. She even called Nabal a man of Belial, which means wickedness or ungodliness. Abigail praised David and acknowledged that the Lord was with him and would make him king over His people.

Abigail won David over! David’s response was, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me.”  David received the food she offered and sent her home with his blessing.

Nabal knew nothing of what Abigail had done until later. He threw a big party and became very drunk. The morning after the party, Abigail told Nabal what had happened, and the scripture says, “His heart died within him, and he became as a stone.” About ten days later, God took his life.

What a sad ending to a man who had everything. He  was a wealthy man. I Samuel 25 says, his wife was, “A woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” It also says, “The man was churlish and evil in his doings.” He had it all, but he threw it all away because he was selfish.

Remember Nabal’s statement to David’s young men. He talked about, “my bread, my water, my flesh, my shearers.” All he could talk about was what belonged to him. He had it all, and he planned to keep it all to himself. In truth, nothing belonged to him. It all belonged to God.

Abigail certainly understood that it was important to share with those in need. In the end, she had it all. When Nabal died, the word of his death reached David. David determined that he wanted this woman for himself, so he sent for her. Her response was priceless! She said, “Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”

Abigail had just been offered a place in King David’s palace. She would be the king’s wife, yet she considered herself a servant.

Jesus would later say in Matthew 23:11-12 (KJV), “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant, And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

May we as Christian women have the attitude of Abigail and be just servants in the Lord’s kingdom.

–Sandra Oliver