Devotional Series: The Crown within the Cross
Lessons from the life of Abigail- The ultimate Source
Placed within the heart of each one of us is the desire to feel secure, loved and valued. These are all God given, legitimate and necessary needs that enable us to truly live well. As with everything God has created and formed, He is the one who knows how to properly take care of His creation. Everything He creates, He sustains. Everything He sustains, He provides for, and everything that is provided is good. He alone can truly fulfil these three legitimate human needs. As is His nature, the bestowal of His gifts is an expression of the love He has for us. Love at it’s very core, is selfless, giving. Whilst God wants us to only look to Him for the true fulfilment of these needs, that is not to devalue the role that true, healthy loving relationships can have in helping us feel a sense of love, security and importance. Yet, we cannot rely upon these relationships as the source of our happiness. People fail and hurt us in life, and we can and do, fail people. Friends and family alike can be there today and gone tomorrow, but Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He doesn’t drop us in an instant because He has us in graven on His heart, He understands us more than we understand ourselves, He’s there at our worst and He gives us the strength and favour to shine at our best. It’s that consistency friends, that we can never truly get from a human being. His consistency is what makes Him a necessity. Aside from the fact that we love Him because He first loved us, we need Him. If there is anything that the past 12-16 months has personally taught/teaching me, is just how much I need Him in my life. I need to know and experience His love to truly know what that looks and feels like. I need to know His promises in order to experience peace and stay grounded, I need to find my identity in Him or else I’m going to become confused. Whilst it’s a joy and blessing that we get to have this experience with Him if we choose, we still need to know our need or else we’ll go to the wrong place to try and access the blessings that only come from Him.“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ”
Abigail knew her need at the crisis moment in her life. After her husband Nabal’s arrogant, provocative response to David’s polite desperate plea for aid in 1 Samuel 25, revenge was the only thing on David’s mind. Given the help and assistance David had previously provided to ungrateful Nabal, death and destruction at the hand of David now seemed to be the sure end of Nabal and his household. 1 Samuel 25: 10-13
10 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.
11 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 they be?
12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
As the news was swiftly carried to Abigail, no doubt the gravity of the matter became apparent. Alone to face this unfathomable situation, Abigail exercised and applied, what she already had learnt through the years. In life, character is often revealed in a crisis and is formed through our everyday responses to the events of life. She practiced under pressure, what she had learned during times of peace. Dependence on God and not man in times of difficulty and times of ease, paved the way for Abigail’s triumph against adversity. Although, the person who was meant to provide her with a form of stability, security and love had failed her, this did not lead to the failure of her faith. Even with no guarantee that her efforts to appease David’s irritated temper would be successful, what was guaranteed was God’s unfailing love and watch care over her life. Can you imagine, the life of your entire family at stake or your own personal life hanging in the balance all because of the poor decisions and judgment of another person? Maybe you have been in a similar position, where you have literally been alone, cut off from all your known friends/loved ones, leaving you to pick up the pieces and sift through the mess? The mental strain this can cause, when coupled with feelings of isolation and exclusion from human support and aide can feel like an overwhelming battle.“She practiced under pressure, what she had learned during times of peace. Dependence on God and not man in times of difficulty and times of ease, paved the way for Abigail’s triumph against adversity. ”
1 Samuel 25: 14-17
14 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.
15 But the men were very good unto 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:
16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
17 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.
Notice in verse 17, the expectation that was placed on Abigail to find a solution, to think of something and to think about it quick! Whoa, talk about rising to the occasion! I don’t think that it would be too far-fetched to say that Abigail was more than likely, known for her wisdom and sound judgment. Just think, in a time of crisis you go to those experienced individuals that are most likely to be helpful, right? Infact, earlier in verse three we are told that Abigail was a woman of good understanding. She was a woman that knew how to read a situation and then move with wisdom and discretion. In Proverbs 4:7 we are told that in all our desires and aims to acquire wisdom which can only come from God (James 1:5), we should be just as diligent to ask for understanding. Furthermore, Solomon in Proverbs 2:11 and Proverbs 28:5 states how good understanding and judgment is evidence of an individual following the Lord which will, ultimately ensure they are kept in safety. The fact that Abigail was known for her wisdom and understanding, highlights the close intimate relationship she had with God. Even when all other earthly support was cut off basically overnight, her depth of character did not. Most importantly, her God did not fail her. Throughout this trying hour, Abigail acted out of faith, courage and wisdom. She was not paralysed with fear at the thought of an uncertain future, nor did she become bitter and resentful towards those who had acted a part in bringing about the crisis of her life. She moved with grace and in her mouth was the law of kindness and Christian courtesy that sweetly soothed David’s passion and saved not only her life, but the life of Nabal himself. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”
Abigail knew the One who created her and gave her meaning, identity and purpose. She knew the Source who met all of her needs. Even when human beings failed her, God did not and because she knew this to be true, she could still serve others during her crisis hour. The desires she had to experience the warmth of human friendship and companionship, was placed in her heart by God. Jesus Himself while on earth, desired human company and support during His darkest moments. He understood how Abigail must have felt to be in a crowd of people but yet, so alone. He understands how you feel as you navigate the challenges of life because He felt it all too. However, through much prayer, struggle and even tears, He overcame so that we can too. When we feel the tug to seek the fulfilment and longings of our soul, let us learn as Abigail did to look and lean on Him. Jesus can handle anything we give to Him. Anything we surrender He can sort out. Whatever challenge or difficulty surrounds our lives, the crosses we bear or are placed upon us, will eventually lead to our victory, triumph and crown. One day, our crosses will be exchanged for a crown, and the pain of sorrow and disappointment will usher in the beginning of everlasting joy. 