Heart Check VII

‘Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.” 1 Sam.25:35

A lot of people vow or make decision to do the wrong thing. Then God in His mercy sends them an Abigail but they will insist on following through with the decision they have made because of pride even to the detriment of their souls.

When I read the story in 1 Samuel 25, I was saying to God that Abigail is not loyal to her husband. How can she say ‘I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent’ 1Sam.25:25. Or does it not come across as that? But I understood that she was actually saving his life. What loyalty can be greater than that? But she was saying the truth also. Some women are so foolish, truth is stirring them in the face but they refuse to see the truth. Abigail was not just saying those things to flatter David; she believed so much in what she was saying. And Abigail said ‘And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!’ 1 Sam.25:31. David must have laughed and left. Abigail got home, Nabal was throwing a party, drinking himself to stupor and she left him. In the morning when the effect of the alcohol had worn off, Abigail told Nabal what David was going to do to him and Nabal had a heart attack just from hearing that David was coming for him. Ten days later, the Bible says that God smote Nabal and he died.

Many of us are trying to fight our battles ourselves. Ten days, God will kill all the Nabal’s. Many of us are trying to take the war into our hands and God is saying “don’t even reduce yourself to that level – the battle is the Lord’s”. And I can’t but conclude the story, when Nabal died and David heard, David thanked God for fighting for him. And David sent his boys to Abigail to find out if she really meant what she said. Abigail responded, ‘I am ready to wash your shoes. I am even ready to be your servant. To be your wife is going to be a promotion’ and she quickly packed her bags and went to meet him. David married Abigail, don’t judge, a wise woman knows a great man when she sees one. David had a listening heart. I pray that God will make our hearts the hearts that actually listen, in the mighty Name of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, please give me a heart that actually listens, in Jesus Name.