She Acted With Discretion - "Blessed Be Your Sensibleness" Conclusion

 Before long, Abigail met up with David and his men. Again she hastened , this time to descend  from her donkey and humble herself before David.  (1 Samuel 25:20, 23)   Then she poured out her heart at length, making a powerful plea for mercy in behalf of her husband and her household. What made her words effective?  

She took responsibility for the problem and asked David to forgive her personally. She realistically acknowledge that her husband was senseless as his name implied, perhaps suggesting that it would be beneath David's dignity to chastise such  a man.  She expressed her trust in David as Jehovah's representative, recognizing  that he was fighting "the wars of Jehovah."  She also indicated that she knew of Jehovah's promise regarding David and the kingship, for she said: "Jehovah . . . certainly will commission you as leader over Israel." Further, she urged David not take any action that might bring bloodguilt upon him or that might later become "a cause for staggering"- evidently referring to a troubled conscience.  (Read 1 Samuel  25:24-31.) Kind, moving words!

And how did David respond?  He accepted what Abigail had brought and said:  "Blessed be the God of Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me! And blessed be your sensibleness, and blessed be you who have restrained me this day from entering into bloodguilt."  David praised her for bravely hastening to meet him, and he acknowledged that she had restrained him from incurring bloodguilt.  "Go in peace to your house," he told her, and she humbly added:  "I have listened to your voice." -  1 SAMUEL 25:32-35. 

Next time: She Acted With Discretion - "Here Is Your Slave Girl"

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