1 Samuel 25:21-31: a reflection

21Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him. He has returned me evil for good. 22God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.” 23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off her donkey, and fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground. 24She fell at his feet and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your servant. 25Please don’t let my lord pay attention to this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent. 26Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has withheld you from blood guiltiness and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies and those who seek evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the LORD’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days. 29Though men may rise up to pursue you and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God. He will sling out the souls of your enemies as from a sling’s pocket. 30It will come to pass, when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

David, insulted by the churlish Nabal, is riding out in a fury to take violent revenge, having sworn to destroy every male of Nabal's household. But Nabal's wife Abigail meets him on the way, and with wisdom and humility pleads with him to stop; and David is turned from his rash purpose. Later he blesses her, saying she kept him from bloodshed and from avenging himself with his own hand. A wise voice stopped David from a vengeance he would have deeply regretted.

Notice what Abigail did, and what David was saved from. David was set on rash revenge, about to shed blood in his anger, to avenge himself with his own hand. And Abigail's wise intervention stopped him, turned him from the wrong he was about to do. David himself later recognized it as a rescue: she had kept him from bloodshed and from avenging himself. He was restrained, by a wise voice, from a vengeance that would have stained him and that he would have regretted. The wise voice that stops us can save us from great wrong.

That is worth taking to heart in two ways: to welcome the voice that restrains us, and to be such a voice for others. When we are set on rash revenge or wrong, in the heat of our anger, a wise voice that stops us is a gift, saving us from what we would regret, as Abigail saved David. Do not despise the voice that restrains you when you are bent on rash revenge or wrong; it may be saving you, as Abigail saved David from bloodshed he would have regretted. Welcome the wise counsel that stops you before you do wrong; and be willing, like Abigail, to be that restraining voice for others set on a rash and harmful course. The wise word that stops us in our anger is a mercy; receive it when it comes to you, and offer it, with Abigail's wisdom and humility, to those you see rushing toward a vengeance they will regret.

Lord, David, insulted by the churlish Nabal, was riding out in a fury to take violent revenge; but Nabal's wife Abigail met him on the way, and with wisdom and humility pleaded with him to stop, and David was turned from his rash purpose. Later he blessed her, saying she had kept him from bloodshed and from avenging himself with his own hand. A wise voice stopped David from a vengeance he would have deeply regretted. Show me what Abigail did, and what David was saved from. David was set on rash revenge, about to shed blood in his anger; and Abigail's wise intervention stopped him. David himself later recognized it as a rescue. He was restrained, by a wise voice, from a vengeance that would have stained him. The wise voice that stops us can save us from great wrong. Take that to my heart in two ways: to welcome the voice that restrains me, and to be such a voice for others. When I am set on rash revenge or wrong, in the heat of my anger, a wise voice that stops me is a gift. Keep me from despising the voice that restrains me when I am bent on wrong; it may be saving me, as Abigail saved David. Help me welcome the wise counsel that stops me before I do wrong; and make me willing, like Abigail, to be that restraining voice for others, Lord. The wise word that stops me in my anger is a mercy; help me receive it, and offer it with wisdom and humility to those rushing toward a vengeance they will regret.