patriarchs and prophets-第174章
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have heard that thou hast shearers： now thy shepherds which were with us； we
hurt them not； neither was there aught missing unto them； all the while they
were in Carmel。＇* NOT MOUNT CARMEL； BUT A PLACE IN THE TERRITORY OF JUDAH；
NEAR THE HILL TOWN OF MAON。＇ Ask thy young men； and they will show thee。
Wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes； for we come in a good
day： give； I pray thee； whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants；
and to thy son David。〃
David and his men had been like a wall of protection to the shepherds and
flocks of Nabal； and now this rich man was asked to furnish from his
abundance some relief to the necessities of those who had done him such
valuable service。 David and his men might have helped themselves from the
flocks and herds； but they did not。 They behaved themselves in an honest
way。 Their kindness； however； was lost upon Nabal。 The answer he returned to
David was indicative of his character： 〃Who is David？ and who is the son of
Jesse？ There be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his
master。 Shall I then take my bread； any my water； and my flesh that I have
killed for my shearers； and give it unto men； whom I know not whence they
be？〃
When the young men returned empty…handed and related the affair to David； he
was filled with indignation。 He commanded his men to equip themselves for an
encounter； for he had determined to punish the man who had denied him what
was his right； and had added insult to injury。 This impulsive movement was
more in harmony with the character of Saul than with that of David； but the
son of Jesse had yet to learn of patience in the school of affliction。
One of Nabal's servants hastened to Abigail； the wife of Nabal； after he had
dismissed David's young men； and told her what had happened。 〃Behold；〃 he
said； 〃David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master； and
he railed on them。 But the men were very good unto us； and we were not hurt；
neither missed we anything； as long as we were conversant with them； when we
were in the fields。 They were a wall unto
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us both by night and day； all the while we were with them keeping the sheep。
Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do； for evil is determined
against our master； and against all his household。〃
Without consulting her husband or telling him of her intention； Abigail made
up an ample supply of provisions； which； laded upon asses； she sent forward
in the charge of servants； and herself started out to meet the band of
David。 She met them in a covert of a hill。 〃And when Abigail saw David； she
hasted； and lighted off the ass； and fell before David on her face； and
bowed herself to the ground； and fell at his feet； and said； Upon me； my
lord； upon me let this iniquity be： and let thine handmaid； I pray thee；
speak in thine audience。〃 Abigail addressed David with as much reverence as
though speaking to a crowned monarch。 Nabal had scornfully exclaimed； 〃Who
is David？〃 but Abigail called him； 〃my lord。〃 With kind words she sought to
sooth his irritated feelings； and she pleaded with him in behalf of her
husband。 With nothing of ostentation or pride； but full of the wisdom and
love of God； Abigail revealed the strength of her devotion to her household；
and she made it plain to David that the unkind course of her husband was in
no wise premeditated against him as a personal affront； but was simply the
outburst of an unhappy and selfish nature。
〃Now therefore； my lord； as the Lord liveth； and as thy soul liveth； seeing
the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood； and from avenging
thyself with thine own hand； now let thine enemies； and they that seek evil
to my lord； be as Nabal。〃 Abigail did not take to herself the credit of this
reasoning to turn David from his hasty purpose； but gave to God the honor
and the praise。 She then offered her rich provision as a peace offering to
the men of David； and still pleaded as if she herself were the one who had
so excited the resentment of the chief。
〃I pray thee；〃 she said； 〃forgive the trespass of thine handmaid： for the
Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house； because my lord fighteth the
battles of the Lord； and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days。〃
Abigail presented by implication the course that David ought to pursue。 He
should fight the battles of the Lord。 He was not to seek revenge for
personal wrongs； even though persecuted as a traitor。 She continued： 〃Though
man be risen up to pursue thee； and to seek thy soul；
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yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord
thy God。 。 。 。 And it shall come to pass； when the Lord shall have done to
my lord according to all the good that He hath spoken concerning thee； and
shall have appointed thee prince over Israel； that this shall be no grief
unto thee； nor offense of heart unto my lord； either that thou hast shed
blood causeless； or that my lord hath avenged himself： and when the Lord
shall have dealt well with my lord； then remember thine handmaid。〃
1 Samuel 25：29：31； R。 V。
These words could have come only from the lips of one who had partaken of
the wisdom from above。 The piety of Abigail； like the fragrance of a flower；
breathed out all unconsciously in face and word and action。 The Spirit of
the Son of God was abiding in her soul。 Her speech； seasoned with grace； and
full of kindness and peace； shed a heavenly influence。 Better impulses came
to David； and he trembled as he thought what might have been the
consequences of his rash purpose。 〃Blessed are the peacemakers： for they
shall be called the children of God。〃 Matthew 5：9。 Would that there were
many more like this woman of Israel； who would soothe the irritated
feelings； prevent rash impulses； and quell great evils by words of calm and
well…directed wisdom。
A consecrated Christian life is ever shedding light and comfort and peace。
It is characterized by purity； tact； simplicity； and usefulness。 It is
controlled by that unselfish love that sanctifies the influence。 It is full
of Christ； and leaves a track of light wherever its possessor may go。
Abigail was a wise reprover and counselor。 David's passion died away under
the power of her influence and reasoning。 He was convinced that he had taken
an unwise course and had lost control of his own spirit。
With a humble heart he received the rebuke； in harmony with his own words；
〃Let the righteous smite me； it shall be a kindness： and let him reprove me；
it shall be an excellent oil。〃 Psalm 141：5。 He gave thanks and blessings
because she advised him righteously。 There are many who； when they are
reproved； think it praiseworthy if they receive the rebuke without becoming
impatient； but how few take reproof with gratitude of heart and bless those
who seek to save them from pursuing an evil course。
When Abigail returned home she found Nabal and his guests in the enjoyment
of a great feast； which they had converted into
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a scene of drunken revelry。 Not until the next morning did she relate to her
husband what had occurred in her interview with David。 Nabal was a coward at
heart； and when he realized how near his folly had brought him to a sudden
death； he seemed smitten with paralysis。 Fearful that David would still
pursue his purpose of revenge； he was filled with horror； and sank down in a
condition of helpless insensibility。 After ten days he died。 The life that
God had given him had been only a curse to the world。 In the midst of his
rejoicing and making merry； God had said to him； as He said to the rich man
of the parable； 〃This night thy soul shall be required of thee。〃 Luke 12：20。
David afterward married Abigail。 He was already the husband of one wife； but
the custom of the nations of his time had perverted his judgment and
influenced his actions。 Even great and good men have erred in following the
practices of the world。 The bitter result of marrying many wives was sorely
felt throughout all the life of David。
After the death of Samuel； David was left in peace for a few months。 Again
he repaired to the solit
