1 Samuel 25:2-35
In the wilderness David relied on the generosity of God’s people. There was a rich man and his wife in Carmel named Nabal and Abigail. She was beautiful and intelligent, but he was harsh and evil. The name Nabal means fool. When David heard Nabal was shearing his sheep [a festive day] he sent men to request provisions for the kindness he showed to his shepherds. Nabal’s response was not simply a refusal, but an insult. When David’s men informed him of Nabal’s response, he vowed to kill every male among them. When the shepherds informed Abigail of her husband’s foolish response, she took a good amount of provisions and went out to meet David taking full responsibility for her husbands craziness. David’s mindset was that Nabal had returned evil for good and God was on his side in this issue. Not only did Abigail bring provisions, she brought a prophetic word [David received it as such]. She asked David for forgiveness and assured him of God’s ongoing protection until his appointment as the ruler of Israel. She also told him he would not want this bloodshed on his conscience during his reign. David responded to Abigail saying, “…and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.” (33). Here we see God using a wise woman to guide and instruct David in his wilderness. We must not miss God’s word of guidance even when it comes through unlikely sources.>
