How the practice of listening can keep us from disaster – 1 Samuel 25, Part 4

David is in a rage, believing a man named Nabal has disrespected him. David and his men, armed to the teeth, are advancing on Nabal to slaughter Nabal and his servants. But suddenly, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, shows up and pleads with David to stop. In the previous post, we observed Abigail’s genius diplomacy and communication skills. But will it be enough to stem the tide of David’s vengeance? Will Abigail succeed in averting disaster? We find out in 1st Samuel 25, verses 32-35,

“David said to Abigail, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.’ Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, ‘Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.’”

David chooses what is right.  He listens to Abigail.  He admits that he was wrong, that he was headed for a disastrous choice.  What we see in David is astounding. I’m referring to his willingness to publicly admit fault and change course.  That is difficult for any of us.  But it might have been even more difficult for David. Why? Because he is a man in a patriarchal society listening to a woman, receiving her correction, and learning from her.  What David does is rare.

I wonder if any of David’s men were thinking, “What???  You’re listening to a woman?  Let’s go attack her foolish husband and get his food!”  Then again, they were probably too busy eating all the food Abigail brought them as a gift (see previous post).  But still, David could easily be viewed by many as a weak leader in this story.  His men could say that he should not give in to diplomacy.  Especially diplomacy from a woman.  They would rather David do what he said in verse 22, “May God deal with me ever so severely if I don’t kill them all.”  There is a cultural pressure on David to act like a man, and to act like a strong leader who does not allow anyone like Nabal to disrespect him.

In verse 22 that is exactly how David had initially responded, even making it seemed like God affirmed a course of action that was actually flowing from David’s rage and lack of self-control.  We can do that, can’t we?  We can make it seem like God is on our side, even when our attitude and action is nothing like God’s heart.  We can believe we are right to use vindictive, warlike methods that do not resemble the Fruit of the Spirit.  We even sometimes believe that if we are pursuing God’s mission, we don’t need to use God’s methods.  We call that “the ends justifying the means.” 

But notice how David has changed his tune in verse 32, “Praise be to the Lord who has sent you today.”  Because of Abigail’s courage and excellent logic, David finally sees the major roadblock I’ve been referring to in this week’s series of posts. That major roadblock is David himself.  He now sees that his rage and vengeance were not of the Lord, but from within himself.  David now realizes that in his pursuit of God’s mission, he had jettisoned God’s methods. We can do the same, and we’ll talk about that further in the next post.

For now, notice verse 34.  In verse 34, David points to God as the one who is keeping him from committing evil.  David has had a total change of heart and mind, and it was all because Abigail stuck her neck out, pleading with David to consider God.  David sees God as working through Abigail. Because of Abigail’s courage, quick-thinking, and creative diplomacy, she has pointed out the major roadblock, David himself, and David has removed the roadblock.  Disaster averted.  The unnamed servant and Abigail are heroes.  David and Abigail part ways in peace.

But this story is not done.  It has a surprise ending that we will learn about that in the next post.

Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash