Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

2. she points backward to his defeat of Goliath and perhaps forward even to a time in which he willneed mercy, when Uriah dies at his command3. when the heat of the moment inflames our passions and we consider doing evil, it is such awonderful and rare blessing to hear the gentle voice of an Abigail saying, slow down and reconsiderF. David’s Reaction (First Samuel 25:32-35)1. David immediately recognizes the providence of God in this chance rendezvous2. he praises her advice that kept him from becoming a murderer in the Wilderness of Paran andfrom taking the staff of Jehovah to play God himself3. often, we study about the wickedness of being a stumbling block, but what of this example of onewho keeps another from stumbling into sin?4. after Nabal’s death, Abigail became David’s wifeII. Practical LessonsA. Do Unto Others (Matthew 7:7-12)1. it is known as the golden rule, for if all would follow it, mankind would share a treasure on earthbeyond all conception2. do unto others as you would have them do to you3. when you see someone in need or trouble, imagine yourself in his shoes and consider what youwould desire from a neighbor or a stranger or a brothera. it is hard to imagine gossiping about someone if you know that doing so is an implicit requestto have the same done to you, isn’t it (James 3:6-10)?b. from Peter, we learn a better way (First Peter 3:8-12)1. return blessing when cursed and act upon your eternal hope of heaven2. seek peace and pursue it and then pray for strength4. how many times do we catch ourselves saying and doing things to others that would offend andinfuriate us if someone did it to us?a. on the highway, at the grocery store, in school and at workb. you’ve got to be a golden rule Christian wherever you are!B. Good Advice is Valuable1. lucky for David, Abigail felt compelled to speak her mind2. the old expression “two heads are better than one” saved David from committing a sin he wouldhave regretted forever3. constructive criticism is the one of the greatest gifts that my wife can give to me (if I am smartenough to accept it and use it to my own benefit (Proverbs 12:1)4. men with wives like Abigail are very fortunate (cf. something Nabal never learned, but Daviddiscovered quickly)a. the calm, godly mind of a woman can often counter the headstrong, proud heart of a manb. we understand that the husband is the head of the household, but Abigail is a prime example ofthe wife’s invaluable input to a home (Proverbs 14:1)C. Preventing Sin1. in Matthew 18, we learn that a person who causes another to stumble into condemnation wouldbe better off if he tied a stone around his neck and plunged into the sea2. Abigail is the exact opposite of a stumbling block (she is sometimes a crutch, sometimes aninterpreter, sometimes a conscience-stirrera. for her husband Nabal, she extended the hospitality of their home he was too foolish to dob. for her next husband David, she stayed his hand from murder and plunder (Galatians 6:1-5,James 5:19-20)ConclusionLet our ladies be daughters of Abigail and our men be smart enough to heed their wisdom.2! Jeff S. Smith