Truly I am Your servant, LORD. I serve You just as my mother did. You have freed me from my chains….I run in the path of Your commands, for You have broadened my understanding….I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out Your precepts. (Psalm 116:16; 119:32,45)
Notes from a women’s Bible study, “Christ is Everything to His Followers,” and used counseling and prison work. If you missed the last post, you can go back and read Christ-like Qualities in Abigail (Part 1)
Intelligent and Beautiful
Abigail was an Old Testament woman of faith and the second wife of King David. We read about her in 1 Samuel chapter 25. Abigail was an articulate, wise, diplomatic, and sympathetic person who made the best of a difficult situation. Her first husband, Nabal, was harsh, foolish, and a drunkard. Despite Nabal’s shortcomings, Abigail was a great wife, protecting him when he was unwilling to act wisely. I won’t recount the facts of her story, but here are some Christ-like virtues Abigail exemplifies.
Be Kind
Abigail was very kind to all the people in the Bible’s account and that’s the truest mark of a person’s greatness. “The best exercise for strengthening your heart is reaching down and lifting other people up.”1 Scripture says: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue….Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you….As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.2
Be Humble
Meekness is not weakness, but is personal strength under the Holy Spirit’s control. The Christian is like ripening corn. The riper she grows, the more lowly she bends her head.3 Scripture says: All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted….Humility is the fear of the Lord. Its wages are riches and honor and life….Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.4
Trust and Obey God
This is especially important when outcomes are uncertain, as they were for Abigail. “What is obedience? Yielding my will to the Lord I trust.”5 Scripture says: Without faith it is impossible to please God. We must believe that the Lord exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him….We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose….The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.6
Be Resourceful, Creative, and A Quick Thinker
Abigail was an example of all these Christ-like qualities. She was a resourceful person who saw opportunities when others might only see obstacles. By her swift action and skillful negotiation, Abigail kept King David from taking revenge against Nabal and others. She looked beyond the short term crisis, saw the big picture, and was a wise peacemaker who saved lives.
Scripture says: What are human beings that you are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of Your hands. You put everything under their feet….In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….God created humankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them. Male and female He created them….I can do godly things through Christ who gives me strength.7
Protect Your Family
Safeguarding others (even foolish ones) from harm is honorable. Not doing so is cowardly. Abigail did all she could to keep her husband out of trouble. Scripture says: A wife of noble character is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her….She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life….Her children arise and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her….The Lord protects the unwary (simple, foolish, inexperienced). When I was brought low, He saved me….Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8
Be Loyal
Let’s be devoted to people, even foolish ones, without being blind to their faults. Loyalty is the strongest glue which makes a relationship last for a lifetime.9 Scripture says: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity….One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother….Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.10
Be Submissive When Appropriate
This does not mean passivity, being a doormat, or enduring abuse. Submission does not mean living or acting in fear. Submission means willingly coming under the authority of God and other people, when it’s right. The new heart that God gave us when He saved us and adopted us, makes us obedient to Him. If we don’t surrender to Christ, we surrender to chaos.11
Scripture says: Let everyone be subject to governing authorities….They have been established by God….Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.12 This last sentence troubles many women. But God calls husbands to an even higher standard. He calls us to give up our lives (sacrifice) for our wives. See also John Piper’s “Six Things Submission Is Not.”13
Prayer
Father of love, wisdom, mercy, and compassion, make us like Jesus. Transform us so that we are helps to others, not hindrances, in furthering Your plans and purposes. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we can proclaim Your good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners and oppressed people, and recovery of sight for the blind. Help us to imitate all that is good in Bible characters and to avoid all that is bad in them. Help us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow You, so that we may truly live as Your disciples. Make our walk to match our talk. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
Go in peace, beloved. Walk with King Jesus today and be a blessing to others!
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Notes (various Bible translations): 1 Ernest Blevins. 2 Prov 31:26; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12. 3 Thomas Guthrie. 4 Luke 14:11; Prov 22:4; 1 Peter 5:6. 5 Andrew Murray. 6 Heb 11:6; Rom 8:28; Psalm 28:7. 7 Psalm 8:4-6; Gen 1:1,27; Phil 4:13. 8 Prov 31:10-12;27,28; Psalm 116:6; 1 Cor 13:7. 9 Mario Puzo. 10 Prov 17:17, 18:24: 1 Cor 16:13-14. 11 E. Stanley Jones. 12 Rom 13:1; Titus 3:3; Eph 5:21-22. 13 desiringGod.org.