12 LESSONS OF ABIGAIL

THE 12 LESSONS OF ABIGAIL – 2 SAMUEL 25:2, 3

“A very rich man was in Maon, whose possessions and business were in Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 The man's name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail; she was a woman of good understanding, and beautiful. But the man was rough and evil in his doings; he was a Calebite”. AMP

1.    Abigail though married to a fool, maintain her personal character. verse 3

“His wife Abigail was beautiful and intelligent, but he was a mean, bad-tempered man.

TEV

2.    She was approachable by all even her servant. Verse 14

“One of Nabal's servants said to Nabal's wife Abigail, "Have you heard? David sent some messengers from the wilderness with greetings for our master, but he insulted them. TEV

3.    Despite her wealth, she was humble enough to hear the advice from servant. Verse 17

“Please think this over and decide what to do. This could be disastrous for our master and all his family. He is so mean that he won't listen to anybody!" TEV

4.    Though beautiful, she was not too proud to bow and knell before David. Verse 23, 24a

“When Abigail saw David, she quickly dismounted and threw herself on the ground 24 at David's feet, and said to him, TEV

5.     She defended the husband though the husband was wrong. Verse 24

“at David's feet, and said to him, "Please, sir, listen to me! Let me take the blame. 25 Please, don't pay any attention to Nabal, that good-for-nothing! He is exactly what his name means — a fool! I wasn't there when your servants arrived, sir. TEV

6.    She is a hard working woman. Verse 18

“Abigail quickly gathered two hundred loaves of bread, two leather bags full of wine, five roasted sheep, two bushels of roasted grain, a hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred cakes of dried figs, and loaded them on donkeys. TEV

7.    She is a generous woman. Verse 18

“Abigail quickly gathered two hundred loaves of bread, two leather bags full of wine, five roasted sheep, two bushels of roasted grain, a hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred cakes of dried figs, and loaded them on donkeys. TEV

8.    She knows how to organize the family well. Verse 18

“Abigail quickly gathered two hundred loaves of bread, two leather bags full of wine, five roasted sheep, two bushels of roasted grain, a hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred cakes of dried figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she said to the servants, "You go on ahead and I will follow you." But she said nothing to her husband.

9.    She knows how to talk, when to talk and what to talk. Verse 24-31

“at David's feet, and said to him, "Please, sir, listen to me! Let me take the blame. 25 Please, don't pay any attention to Nabal, that good-for-nothing! He is exactly what his name means — a fool! I wasn't there when your servants arrived, sir. 26 It is the Lord who has kept you from taking revenge and killing your enemies. And now I swear to you by the living Lord that your enemies and all who want to harm you will be punished like Nabal. 27 Please, sir, accept this present I have brought you, and give it to your men. 28 Please forgive me, sir, for any wrong I have done. The Lord will make you king, and your descendants also, because you are fighting his battles; and you will not do anything evil as long as you live. 29 If anyone should attack you and try to kill you, the Lord your God will keep you safe, as a man guards a precious treasure. As for your enemies, however, he will throw them away, as a man hurls stones with his sling. 30 And when the Lord has done all the good things he has promised you and has made you king of Israel, 31 then you will not have to feel regret or remorse, sir, for having killed without cause or for having taken your own revenge. And when the Lord has blessed you, sir, please do not forget me." TEV

10.She is a savior. Verse 32, 33

“David said to her, "Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me! 33 Thank God for your good sense and for what you have done today in keeping me from the crime of murder and from taking my own revenge. TEV

11.She was intelligent in her ways. Verse 2

“His wife Abigail was beautiful and intelligent, TEV

12.She did not shift blame. Verse 28

“Please forgive me, sir, for any wrong I have done.