She Acted With DIscretion

 "Here Is Your Slave Girl"

After she took her leave, Abigail could not help thinking aboutthat meeting, nor could she have failed to notice the contrast between them that faithful. kind man and the brute to whom he was married.  But she would not dwell on such thoughts.  We read:  "Later Abigail  came in to Nabal."  Yes, she returned to her husband as determined as ever to carry out her role as his wife to the best of her ability. She had to tell him of  the gift she had given David and his men.  He had a right to know. She also had to tell him-before he  learned of it elsewhere to his even greater shame-about the danger that had been averted. She could not tell him now  though. He was feasting like a king and was drunk as could be. - 1 SAMUEL 25:36. 

Again showing both courage and discretion, she waiting until the next morning when the influence of the wine had ebbed.  He would sober enough to understand her, yet possibly more dangerous in his temper as well.  Still, she approached and told him the whole story.  No doubt she expected him to explode in fury.  Perhaps violence.  Instead, he just sat there, not moving.- 1 SAMUEL  25:37. 

What was wrong with the man?  "His heart came to be dead inside of him, and he himself became as a stone." Perhaps   he suffered some form of stroke.  However, about  ten days later, he end came-and not strictly for medical reasons  The account tells us: "Jehovah struck Nabal, so that he died." (1 Samuel 25:38) With that righteous executions, Abigail's long nightmare of a marriage was over.  While Jehovah does not step in with miraculous executions today, this account is a fitting reminder that no case of domestic tyranny or abuse escapes his notice.  In his own time, he will always bring about justice. - Read LUKE 8:17. 

Besides the release from a bad marriage, Abigail had another blessing in store.  When he learned of the death of Nabal David sent messengers to propose marriage.  "Here is your slave girl," she responded, "as a maidservant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." Clearly, she was not changed by the prospect  of becoming David's wife: she even offered to be a servant to his steward.  Then we read again of her hastening, this time to ready herself to go to David. - 1 SAMUEL 25:39-42.

This was no fairy tale ending; Abigail's life with David would not always be easy.  David was already married to Ahinoam, and through God permitted polygamy  at the time, it surely  presented special challenges to faithful women back then. And David was not yet king; There would be obstacles and hardships to surmount before he served Jehovah in that way.  But as Abigail helped and supported David along life's road, eventually bearing him a son, she learned  that she had  a husband who valued her and protected her.  On one occasion he even rescued her from kidnappers.  (1 Samuel 30:1-19)  David thus imitated Jehovah God, who loves and values such discreet, courageous and faithful women.  

Next time: PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST/ Cyrus  the Great

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