Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

A Wise Woman
Read 1 Samuel 25:1-44

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Proverbs 4:6

Every Mothers’ Day, grateful children share how their mothers single-handedly raised them and their siblings to be high achievers. And that too with the little money the women earned from tapping rubber or washing dishes. How did these women do it? They were wise women!

Abigail was a wise woman but her husband, Nabal, was a fool. Hospitality is as important in Middle-Eastern culture as it is in our Asian culture. But Nabal was the exception. He did not believe in sharing–not even with people who had provided protection for his servants and sheep (vs 15-16). What he believed in was insulting people (vs 10-11).

Now, let’s meet another fool–David! How quickly he changed from a merciful and forgiving hero who used to 'inquire of the Lord' to a vengeful idiot (vs 13, 21-22). Abigail was wise enough to know how to deal with both these fools. Knowing her husband, she did not consult him on matters of urgency (vs 17, 19b). She preferred to do what was right and then inform him at the appropriate time. But when she did tell him that she had freely given away his food, his selfish heart gave way and he died (vs 36-38). Thus ended a most mismatched marriage!

As for David who was in a murderous rage when Abigail met him, she pacified him with fine food, an apology and some godly advice (vs 23-31). Her strategy, coupled with her beauty (v 3b) turned David around completely (vs 32-34). Then, when he heard that Abigail had become a widow, he proposed marriage to her and she accepted. It is just as well that Abigail was wise. How else could she have lived with David’s weakness for women (vs 43-44)?

Not all men are fools, neither are all women wise. But if we desire wisdom, all we have to do is to ask God for it (James 1:5)