1 Samuel 25:23-31
23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face in front of David and bowed herself to the ground.
24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the blame. And please let your slave speak to you, and listen to the words of your slave.
25 Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and stupidity is with him; but I your slave did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
26 “Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, since the Lord has restrained you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now then, may your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord, be like Nabal.
27 And now let this gift which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who accompany my lord.
28 Please forgive the offense of your slave; for the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil will not be found in you all your days.
29 Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; but the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling.
30 And when the Lord does for my lord in accordance with all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel,
31 this will not become an obstacle to you, or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord’s having avenged himself. When the Lord deals well with my lord, then remember your slave.”
Abigail’s Interceding
Abigail bowing on the ground
Abigail fell before David and spoke words of intercession. Her words were truly moving. Here are the key points: (1) She first confesses her own sin. She says that her failure to notice David’s young men was her fault. (2) Then, she attempts to make amends by offering gifts. This is in gratitude for what David and his men have done. (3) Furthermore, she asks for forgiveness for her own sin. Regarding her husband, she pleads, “Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal.” (4) She acknowledges that David is fighting the battle of the Lord. “The battle of the Lord,” here refers to the battle against the Philistines. (5) She also emphasizes that fighting Nabal cannot be considered “the battle of the Lord.” Engaging in battle with Nabal would merely be an act of revenge and would tarnish David’s reputation. (6) Abigail is confident that David will become the king of Israel. She says, “The Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house.” (7) Finally, she advises David not to ascend to the throne with hands stained in blood. This was the best advice for David, who was overcome with emotion at the time. Had David attacked Nabal’s household, it would have left a significant stain on his life.
The intercession of the Lord Jesus
Abigail’s words of intercession are deeply moving. What a wise, decisive, and persuasive woman she was. She offered gifts to David and interceded for her husband and his household. Our intercessor is the Lord Jesus. He offered His life and interceded for us before the righteous heavenly Father, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Because of this intercessory prayer, we are forgiven of our sins and made children of God. And now, as our High Priest, the Lord Jesus continues to intercede for us in the Most Holy Place in heaven.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the Savior Jesus. Today, I will continue to walk trusting in You. I pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.