Daily Devotional for Thursday 18th January
The Path of Graciousness
What do you think Nabal’s wife Abigail, a wise woman, whom scripture also describes as “intelligent and beautiful in appearance” (v.3), thought when she heard how Nabal had insulted David and his men and sent them away empty-handed? She was appalled!
Their servants came and told Abigail what Nabal had said and done, scorning them and sending them away empty-handed. The servants also bore testimony as to how David and his men had helped them in the wilderness, “they were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the time we were with them tending the sheep” (v.16). They also said to her, hurry up and decide what to do before something bad happens, “for he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him” (v.17).
Abigail hurried and prepared food and provisions in abundance to take to David and his man, and she did not tell her husband what she was doing. She took all she had prepared and went herself to meet David. David and his men were on their way to revenge themselves on Nabal and his people, and he said of Nabal, “he has returned me evil for good. In vain I have guarded all that his man has…” (v.21).
Abigail and David’s meeting was significant. Abigail greets David with humble, gracious words, as well as with her large gift of food and provisions. She does not excuse Nabal for what he said and how he treated David’s men, but instead apologizes for any upset and beseeches David to show restraint and to remember her when he comes into his kingdom.
She also has this to say about David himself, in verses 28-29, “The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.”
This sounds like a blessing, and is probably prophetic about the course of David’s life with God, and it certainly is gracious words out of the mouth of a wise woman.
Time to reflect…
The bible itself says that the LORD God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 103:8). How can we walk His path of graciousness ourselves this week? Who can we be kind to? Or overlook a fault?
Pause to pray…
Dear Father God, please may our hearts align with Yours and be ready to show compassion, kindness and gracious words to the people You bring our way this week. May we, too, seek to bless and not to curse without tongue, and be ready with acts of kindness like our Saviour. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
