I have always loved the story of Abigail, always wondering why David searched any further for any other woman when he seems to have found the "perfect" woman for him in her.
Her first husband is a fool and everyone who knows him knows it, including her. It could have been easy for her to pull into her own cocoon of dashed hopes and unmet longings for what she lacked in a husband. We see no evidence of this attitude in her. Instead on the day of perhaps his greatest folly when he basically "spits in the face" of the man who is largely responsible for preserving all the lives of the people of Israel and in the words of the people has "slayed his ten thousands," she maintains complete presence of mind. She intercepts the warrior David as a woman with no weapons and as the wife of the one who has offended him exceedingly. She in turn saves the household, her own life and the lives of all of the servants and stewards of the house. Certainly, Abigail is a heroine in the great stories told in the pages of Scripture.
What I never saw until recently are the words Abigail offered David to encourage his soul and to pronounce Divine Promise upon his life. She speaks to David words of great faith and hope in God recognizing that he is not fighting his own battles but the Lord's. (I Samuel 25:28) She goes further and speaks beautiful words of promise "...the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God." (v. 29)
David had been running from Saul who chased him all over as he sought to undo the inevitable future. He knew David was going to be king. He still pursued. David has already been anointed by Samuel but much fleeing from his enemies has ensued since that anointing. We know from the Psalms that David was full of anguish and great doubt at times. He was tired and now this ridiculous Nabal was daring to deny a meal to men who had protected him and the lives of his workers. Aside from the rage that now was sure to consume David, he must have wondered if the things Samuel spoke would really come to pass. Perhaps he would indeed die before he ruled as king.
This beautiful picture of being bound in the bundle of the living reflect an ancient custom of binding valuables in a securely and in such a way so that they would not be harmed. The protection was certain because of how they were bound and the valuable items were so arranged because they were precious.
David's life seemed anything but precious to so many others. He had little value as a nomad and not yet king. On this day, he had no concern for his reputation. He was exhausted and hungry and did not feel like he was safely bound anywhere. Yet, here is this woman of grace not only turning aside his rage and sparing her own life and the lives of her household but pronouncing promise to David that his life would be kept safe despite what things seemed around him.
We have that same protection as children of the living God. David was the man after God's own heart who would conquer all of God's enemies and finish the work that God had marked out for him as warrior and conqueror. There is work that God has for each of us. There is so much to fear in this world but we have a secure promise to make our own here. Our lives are kept safe as the ancient valuables were. "We are invincible until our work on earth is done." (Spurgeon)
Hallelujah!
Whom shall we fear?
