Abigail the Peacemaker

Abigail the Peacemaker
Words of Faith 12-9-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Samuel 25:23-35
[23] When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. [24] 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 has to say. [25] May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name--his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent. [26] "Now since the Lord has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. [27] And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you. [28] 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. [29] 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. [30] When the Lord has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel, [31] my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord has brought my master success, remember your servant."
[32] David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. [33] May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. [34] Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." [35] Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request."

Abigail interceded on behalf of her family and the entire house. She approached David in the ravine, bringing the feast she had prepared. Still, she also came with words of conciliation seeking peace. Abigail made her offering to David in humility.
Abigail did not make any excuses for her husband. "Pay no attention to that wicked man, Nabal. He is just like his name-- his name is Fool, and folly goes with him." Some might argue that this was dishonoring to her husband, but the reality was that he had not acted with honor toward his own house or toward outsiders. He had acted as a fool.
Abigail asked forgiveness for her husband's offense by taking it upon herself. Please forgive your servant's offense, for the Lord will make a lasting dynasty for my master. Abigail was willing to carry the burden of her husband's offense for the sake of the others in danger. She was willing to pay the price of her husband's folly.
David's heart was softened by Abigail's offering and manner. In fact, he realized that her good judgment had saved him from shedding blood in an act of vengeance. He sent Abigail home in peace and granted the forgiveness that she had sought on behalf of her husband and the house of Nabal.
While this may not be a model that can be followed in every situation, we can see the power of interceding in a conflict that has the potential for disaster. Nabal had acted as an arrogant fool, and this was not a time for Abigail to respond with similar pride. She humbled herself and brought about a peaceful resolution to the situation. Centuries later, Someone we know well would say-- Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God (Matt. 5:9).
Abigail also opened a door for Nabal to make some changes. When he heard about this, he would have the opportunity to recognize the terrible risk that he had put his wife and family into. He would have the opportunity to see the remarkable sacrifice that his wife had been willing to make on his behalf to save their household. He would have the opportunity to repent and change his ways-- to turn away from the stubborn and vile direction he had been acting out. We will see.
Perhaps the personal lesson here is not to let pride get in the way. Abigail could have refused to intervene. She could have let Nabal experience the deadly consequence of his foolish actions. Instead, she set pride aside, humbled herself, and saved many. Though she was not a general like Deborah or a Queen like Esther, she acted bravely as a peacemaker.
We can keep our eyes open for the God-opportunities that are intended for us. We can watch for the situations in which God wants us to make an offering and seek to be a peace-maker. We can walk with humility and trust knowing that God can use our offerings and efforts in powerful ways.

Father God, I want to be a peacemaker. Drive pride from my heart that I may walk into the places of reconciliation that You have planned for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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