Wisdom

Wisdom

David replied to Abigail, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murdering the man and carrying out vengeance with my own hands. For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would be alive tomorrow morning.”

1 Samuel 25:32-34

Abigail, a wise woman, was married to Nabal, a perverse and immoral man. David, God’s choice to be the future king of Israel, was running from King Saul and asked Nabal for food for himself and his men. Nabal refused rudely, and David was very angry. David impulsively threatened to kill Nabal and take all his possessions, but when Abigail got wind of the plan, she exercised great wisdom. Losing no time, she bypassed her husband and took food to David. She assumed a servant’s posture before David, tactfully advising him that his plan would cost needless bloodshed. David listened, and the outcome of the situation was amazing: when Nabal heard what Abigail had done, he had a stroke and died, and David asked Abigail to become his wife.

Wives and husbands whose marriages are united by the common goal and purpose of honoring Christ are rich indeed, because both spouses are building on the same foundation. But as with Nabal and Abigail, even if only one spouse chooses to cooperate with God, God’s grace continues to work out his good purposes nonetheless. An uncooperative spouse is not too big a problem for God.

For any mom who is concerned about questionable patterns of behavior in her husband or children, here are some encouraging words: “Never let the difficulties in your home lead you to abdicate your throne. Do not step down to the level of your circumstances, but live these to your own high calling in Jesus Christ.”^a

God,

Please give us great wisdom in dealing with family members whose lives seem to be headed in the wrong direction. May we spend much time in prayer and in your Word so we can live out a biblical balance of truth and grace. Amen.