In 1 Samuel 25 there is the account of Abigail, Nabal, and David. At the beginning of 1 Sam. 25, we are introduced to a man by the name of Nabal. Although he is a man who owns much, his name, Nabal, means “dolt.(2)” (In modern language, dolt means “a stupid person”(3)) Nabal is also referred to in this passage as “churlish” (severe(4)), “evil in his doings,” and a son of “Belial” (worthlessness(5)). As the season comes to a close, Nabal has gone to Carmel to sheer his sheep. David (a type of the Lord), and his army live in the countryside surrounding Carmel and make their living by protecting local sheepherders from robbers. When sheering time comes, David expects a sort of freewill offering from the sheepherders as a payment for their services. David sends men to Nabal to ask for his offering. The man is drunk when David’s men arrive to make their request and the answer he gives is intended to insult. Obviously he knows who David is (he knows that David is the son of Jesse), and he knows that David is running from Saul: 1Sam. 25: 10-11 “And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then 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 be?” Nabal thought he was both in control and self-sufficient. He is like many who live in abundance, who neither recognize God’s protection nor are they grateful for His blessings. Nabal sends David’s men away empty handed with no fear of retribution. However, one of his servants knows what will happen and goes to Nabal’s wife, Abigail, to tell her what her husband has done: Vs. 14-17 “But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields; They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household; for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.” This is where Abigail could have made a big mistake. She could have decided she was just plain tired of living under authority of “a son of Belial.” She COULD have said, “Go ahead, Lord, and judge him for being such a fool. He’s a mean-spirited, stupid, drunk and he deserves what ever judgment You send.” She could even have considered how much better off she’d have been without him in the picture anymore. But Abigail (a true intercessor of like character as Moses & Jesus) was wise enough to realize that everyone under Nabal’s sphere of influence was going to suffer for Nabal’s actions. She realized David was a soldier with a mighty army that could make mincemeat out of Nabal and his men and take what was left as spoil. (And in truth, when David heard what Nabal said, he decided he was going to kill every male- from toddler up- in the encampment.) Abigail quickly moved to rectify the situation. The following is a list of things she assembled and sent ahead to David as gifts before she was headed his way: Vs. 18 “Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves…” Bread is the symbol of the Word of God.(6 )Abigail had two hundred loaves stored and ready for use…how much of the Word of God is stored in you? (vs.18 contd.) “…and two bottles of wine…” In Scripture, wine is linked with blood, (7) and with the filling of the Holy Spirit. (8) It‘s only by the blood of the Lamb we can enter into the presence of the King. It’s the Holy Spirit within us, who has searched the hearts of men and can intercede according to the will of God.(9) (vs.18 contd.) “…five sheep ready dressed…” Spiritual “meat”-rightly understanding/ using the Word- is for the mature in the Lord ( 1 Cor. 3:2, 10:3). These have trained themselves in discernment (Heb.5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”) (vs. 18 contd.) “five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs…” Abigail was quick to give an offering out of the abundance of fruit of the harvest of her household. Now, she was ready to meet with David. PRINCIPLE #1. We have a right to intercede for anyone God puts in our lives whether they are saved or unsaved. In Job 20:30, God says that because of the cleanliness of my hands He will give me even the unclean(10). This very moment, I can wash my hands in the Blood of Jesus, hold them up before God and ask for the souls even of the unsaved. 1 John 5:16 says that if I see my brother committing anything but a sin unto death,(11) I can pull some from the fire. PRINCIPLE #2. Although many will often quote Scriptures about how God puts people in authority, (12) Scripture also says that when authority asks that we disobey God, we must go with God. This isn’t rebellion; it’s obedience to God.(13) Did Abigail go to Nabal (who many would consider her “authority”) and say” I think you made a mistake…”? No. It was already obvious he had no fear of consequences. PRINCIPLE #3. Praying contrary to someone’s “will.” God gave people freewill- the right to choose good or evil. Was it within Abigail’s scope to intervene for Nabal’s forgiveness when he’d already “chosen” judgment and wouldn’t want her intervention? First of all, freewill is the right to choose evil in our hearts, not the right to commit an evil act. Abigail made no attempt to impede Nabal’s choice, just its consequences. Jesus said to pray this way: (14) “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth (15) as it is in heaven.” He didn’t say to pray, “Thy will be done, but only in those who walk with You…” Rather, intercession is praying God’s will everywhere-and God is not willing that any should perish (16). In verse 19 we see that, without consulting Nabal, Abigail went out to meet David in the wilderness. She was choosing what God wanted over what man wanted (and even over what she herself may have wanted-remember, as far as she knew, if she succeeded in stopping David, Nabal would be free to go on doing what he’d always done and might even punish her.) PRINCIPLE #4. In 1 Timothy 2:1-3, we have a God-given call to intercede for others. So often we hear the term “stand in the gap” when we are being asked to pray. But most of the time the request made without understanding of what the term “stand in the gap” really means. Ezekiel 22:30 (17) says God was looking for someone to “stand in the gap.” What for? To get between sinners and God, to block the punishment that was rightfully due them! To beg for mercy. In so doing, the intercessor would not only please God, and possibly buy time for sinners to repent, but also save multitudes who would get the “ripple effect” of the punishment God would have sent. Look up 2 Peter 3:3-9 Vs. 20 “And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.” “The covert (18) of the hill (19)” Literally this means “under the covering or protection of the mountain, mountain range or hill (country). Mountains are one of the most common places we find in Scripture where people met with God and heard His voice. It was here; in this “covered” place that Abigail met David. There is a lot of discussion about “coverings” these days. Certainly, God isn’t looking for “lone rangers” who are moving in their own understanding for the benefit of their own little kingdoms…but if you don’t have GOD’S covering, the blessing of men won’t avail you much. If you have God’s covering, men can only add an “amen” to it. Read Psalm 121. Vs. 23-24 “And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.” The only way to “stand in the gap” is on your face (humility). Vs. 25 “Let not my lord {David}, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord {David}, whom thou didst send.” (Name in brackets added for clarity) She doesn’t “gloss over” Nabal’s sin or make excuses for him. She admits a mistake was made and takes the blame for it. What gave her the right to do this? PRINCIPLE #5. Taking on the sins of others.
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someone’s spouse, you are viewed as “one” with them by God-you can stand and
ask for forgiveness Abigail asks forgiveness, then sets David in remembrance of God’s promises: Vs. 28…30 “I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord {David} a sure house; because my lord {David} fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days…And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord {David} according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel. That this will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my lord {David}…” (Italics added, name in brackets added for clarity) PRINCIPLE #6. True intercession consists, in part, of reminding God of His promises. (It’s not that He has forgotten, it’s kind of a test FOR US.) Look at some of the intercessions of Moses, (23) He reasoned with God according to what the Lord had said…and saved an entire nation more than once! Vs. 35 “So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.” These last words mean literally “I have accepted thy face-the part that turns. (24) Abigail hadn’t turned to legalism (“He deserves what he gets!”), or to pride (“It’s not my fault!”). She humbly went to seek forgiveness…Her voice was heard, but she was not punished. She was accepted. Vs. 36 “and Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.” Abigail waited until her husband was sober (in his right mind) to share these things with him. Vs. 37-38 “But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal that he died.” Nabal still received God’s judgment, but even this we see ten days that Nabal had to think about his life and repent before God. Although Nabal lost his life, the rest of the camp was spared the judgment that would have come without Abigail’s intervention. As we consider our families, our churches, our communities, our nation, our world, we need to be wise enough to recognize that calamity can come to ALL when we don’t stand in the gap. Remember, Lot was righteous and he was “grieved” (25) by the sin around him, but there is no record of his cries before God for Sodom and Gomorrah. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day worked at keeping themselves and the temple separate from the defilements of the world, (26) but to what avail? The Zealots of Paul’s day were willing to use violence and die as instruments of God’s justice against infidels who were polluting the land and the temple, (27) but did their sacrifice make a difference? Lot, the Pharisees, and the Zealots probably all had something in common: at some point, they each probably thought it would be “good” if God judged the sinners around them… Terry Craig’s latest book, GATEKEEPER, was published by Creation House Publishers.
Endnotes will carry Scripture references not listed in the text. Bracketed [ ] reference numbers are given in endnotes for Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1).
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