Presenter: Rev. Dr. JoAnne P. King
Date: June 23, 2024
Praise the Lord, and welcome to the last sermon in a series of God’s Heroines in the Old Testament. The background for Abigail the Peace Maker is set around the time that King Saul is searching and committed to killing David because he envied David from the time the women sang, ascribing less glory to him than to David. (1 Samuel 18:8-9) In fact, he attempted 21 times to kill him. These attempts are as follows:
- Attempted to slay David by a javelin. (1 Sam. 18:11)
- Attempted again to slay him by a javelin. (1 Sam. 18:11)
- Plotted to have David killed by the Philistines. (1 Sam. 18:16-19)
- Plotted again to have him killed by the Philistines. (1 Sam. 18:20-30)
- Gave command to execute David without cause. (1 Sam. 19:9-10)
- Attempted to slay David by a javelin. (1 Sam. 19:9-10)
- Sent soldiers secretly to kill David at his home. (1 Sam.19:11-14)
- Sent soldiers to bring David even though sick, so he could personally kill him. (1 Sam. 19:15-17)
- Sent soldiers to take David. (1 Sam. 19:20)
- Sent soldiers again to take him.
- Still again sent soldiers to do the same thing. (1 Sam. 19:21)
- Went again himself to kill David. (1 Sam. 19:22-24
- Waited patiently to kill David. (1 Sam. 20:24-25)
- Again, waited to kill him. (1 Sam. 20:26-29)
- Commanded Jonathan to send for David so he could kill him. (1 Sam. 20:30-32)
- Cast a javelin at his own son hoping to kill him because he pled for David. (1 Sam. 20:33-34)
- Raised up an army to fight and destroy another innocent city trying to get David and kill his men. (1 Sam. 23:8-13)
- Sought to murder him daily. (1 Sam. 23:14)
- Plotted with Ziphites to destroy David. (1 Sam. 23:15-24)
- Sought David with his whole army, expecting to kill him. (1 Sam. 23:25-29)
- Sought him again with his whole army, hoping to kill him. (1 Sam. 24:1-2)
- Sought David another time with his army, to kill him without cause. (1 Sam. 26:1-25)
Samuel the prophet died and all Israel mourned him. He was buried in the house (tomb) of Ramah. It is not clear whether David attended the funeral of Samuel. It was clear that with Samuel’s death came the removal of the last restraining power in Saul’s life. So, he departed further from Saul. He went down to the wilderness of Paran, which was south out of Judea and into the country of the Amalekites in the Negev, a triangular shaped region, from Beersheba on the north to the Gulf of Aqaba in the south and Egypt on the west.
David and his men settled in Carmel about 2 miles from a small city called Maon. “There was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel. He was very rich, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel” (1 Samuel 25:2).
“The man’s name was Nabal and the name of his wife was Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish (hard, cruel, stiff-necked, stubborn, sore, grievous, heavy, obstinate, hardhearted) and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb” (1 Samuel 25:3).
“David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. So, David sent ten young men to Nabal and greet him in my name: and you shall say the following to Nabal that liveth in prosperity,”
- Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
- I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
- Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore, let the young men find favor in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
- And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
- And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
- Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
- So, David’s young men turned their way, and went again and came and told him all those sayings.
- And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword; and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred stayed by the stuff. (I Samuel 25:4-13)
- Now David had said, Surely, in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
- So, and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. (1 Samuel 25:21-22)
[This was the first act of judgment by David upon anyone who had insulted and mistreated him among his own people. He did not seek judgment upon Saul or Doeg, of the cities of Keilah and Ziph who had all betrayed him but Nabal was so surly and insulting to those who had befriended him that David decided to take a stand against such ungodliness in Israel with punishment. He took 400 of the 600 men with him. Indicating that Nabal undoubtedly had many men with him at the feast he was making and went to administer the punishment. 200 men stayed by the stuff; that is, the camp, the women and children.]
- But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master: and he railed on them.
- But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything as along as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
- They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
- Now therefore know and consider what thou will do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. (1 Samuel 25:14-17)
After hearing what the men said, “Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures of parched corn, a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
“And she said to her servants, go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
“And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
“When Abigail saw David, she hasted, lighted off the ass, fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
“And fell at his feet, and said, upon me, my lord, upon me, let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
“Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
“Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
“And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
“I pray thee forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
“Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be found in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall be sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
“And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel:
“That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
“And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
“And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
“For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
“So, David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, go up in peace to thine house; see, I have harkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person” (1 Samuel 25:22-35).
Abigal went to Nabal, and he was holding a feast fit for a king and was drunk with wine, therefore, she told him nothing. However, the next morning, she told him everything and his heart died within him, and it turned to stone. Ten days later, the Lord smote Nabal and he died.
When David heard that Nabal had died, he said: “Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath: returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head” (1 Samuel 25:39).
David sent his servants to Abigail to tell her that he was taking her unto him as his wife. After the proposal, Abigail bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. She went after the messengers of David and became his wife.
Now, we will observe the life lessons learned from Abigail. Abigail shows us to be people that take action quickly, to humble ourself when necessary, be knowledgeable, be approachable, and know when to speak to people.
BE A PERSON THAT TAKES ACTION
The first life lesson learned from Abigail is to be a person that takes action quickly. In other words, don’t be a procrastinator. After the servant told Abigail what had happened between David’s messengers and Nabal, the servant said “think it over and see what you can do.”
Abigail acted quickly, in her mind, there was nothing to think over. The solution was obvious, she quickly gathered up the food for David’s army and went out to meet him. And, it was a good thing that she did because as she and her servants went out to meet him, they met David and his men coming toward them. Imagine what would have happened, if she didn’t act quickly.
She may have decided what she was going to do, but the slightest procrastination in carrying it out could have caused David and his men to reach their home, giving her no chance of stopping them. Her quick action in that instance wasn’t by chance. Abigail’s ability to take action quickly was a part of her character. Remember, when she met David and his army on the road, “she quickly got off her donkey and bowed.” (1 Sam. 25:23)
Again, at the end of the story after Nabal died, David sent messengers to ask her to become his wife, “she quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife” (1 Sam. 25:42). Taking action quickly was clearly how she operated.
Learning from Abigail, in life, we should develop the habit of taking action quickly. Naturally, some things require thinking before action, but in some situations like Abigail’s when the answer is clear, we should not delay.
The timing of our actions can be the difference between life and death or missed opportunities and success. Don’t be a procrastinator, take action quickly when it makes sense.
HUMBLE YOURSELF WHEN NECESSARY
The second life lesson to learn from Abigail is to humble yourself when necessary. The issue that David had with Nabal wasn’t Abigail’s fault, despite that, the Bible indicates that when she saw David, she bowed down saying, “Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be” (1 Sam. 25:24).
Then after making her case, in verse 28 she says “forgive the trespass of thy handmaid.” The statements that Abigail made show that she humbled herself before David in an effort to make peace with him.
Abigail’s humility eventually led David to change his mind about killing Nabal and all the men in his entire household. Did you get that? Although it was not her fault, her humility saved them! Abigail could have easily said “Nabal needs to deal with that, I am tired of making excuses for him.” If she did, that attitude could have cost many innocent people to lose their lives.
Likewise, in life, a problem may not always be your fault, but you may have to humble yourself to solve the problem. Having the attitude that the person that caused an issue should own up to it could cause you more than if you simply humbled yourself and took the issue on.
If you work in a store, that may mean mopping up a spill you didn’t make, so that a customer doesn’t get hurt. Whereas, ignoring it, could lead to a lawsuit ultimately causing you to lose your job.
In your relationships, it could look like apologizing for a miscommunication even though you felt like you communicated clearly to avoid a drawn-out argument. In whatever stage of life you may be, learn from Abigail and humble yourself when necessary. In the grand scheme of things, it may be the smaller price to pay.
BE KNOWLEDGEABLE
The third life lesson to learn from Abigail is to be knowledgeable. There is no doubt that Abigail was knowledgeable. After all, the Bible explicitly described her as intelligent. Her knowledge stood out when she approached David.
Unlike her husband who arrogantly asked “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse?” Abigail knew who David was. That knowledge enabled her to persuade David through statements like:
- “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” (v. 28)
- And “When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself…” (v. 30-31).
Because of her knowledge of who David was, she was able to say very specific things that mattered to him, ultimately causing him to cool down and change his mind. The Scriptures say that a “soft answer turneth away wrath.”
Like Abigail, we too should become knowledgeable, as it can also help us solve our problems. The more we know, the more solutions we have to choose from when issues arise. The key is to learn as much as you can, so you can be as prepared as you can, for whatever comes.
Surely, if Nabal knew what Abigail knew about David, he would have responded to the messengers who came in David’s name differently. Instead, that lack of knowledge got him into trouble, and caused his death.
Again, the Scriptures say: “that my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.”
BE APPROACHABLE
The fourth life lesson to learn from Abigail is to be approachable. What does it mean to be approachable? It means to be the type of person that is open-minded and willing to listen to the advice of others. Being approachable doesn’t keep people back from telling you things that can help you in the long run.
Abigail was approachable in that the servant was comfortable going to her to explain the potential disaster that was about to take place. In contrast, Nabal was not approachable. The same servant that spoke to Abgail said he is “a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”
Abigail’s approachability ultimately saved lives. After Nabal, she was likely the only person in the household that had the power to do something about the situation and if she was anything like her husband, the servant may have avoided talking to her.
Imagine how many opportunities that are missed by people who aren’t approachable. How many people have you avoided all together because they were too argumentative or the know-it-all type person?
You can be known as an approachable person or a person that’s hard to get along with, the choice is yours. However, being approachable like Abigail allows others to quickly come to you with information that can possibly save your life or the life of a loved one.
SPEAK TO PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME
The last life lesson to learn from Abigail is to speak to people at the right time. For example, when Abigail came back from meeting David, the Bible states that when she went to Nabal, “he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk, so, she told him nothing at all until daybreak…”
One might argue that since he was drunk, it wasn’t a good time to talk to him. Since the Bible mentions this, let’s learn from it. Because there are times in life when it is not obvious that it’s not a good time to bring up an issue.
For example, a person may not be drunk, but in the same way that a person is out of their right mind when drunk, they may be angry, hungry or distracted. If you decide to speak about certain issues at such times, it may not be received well.
In the workplace, this could mean scheduling a meeting with your boss to discuss a concern rather than surprise them with it in the hallway. In a marriage, this could mean making sure your spouse had something to eat before correcting them on a fault.
If you received some good news personally, sharing it with others when they are upset will not be received the same as when they are in good spirits. As Abigail illustrated in life, it’s important to speak to people at the right time. It makes a difference.
In closing, Abigail was quite a woman; she was a prophetic woman. Abigail spoke prophetic words to David. David realized this and as a result much bloodshed was averted that day. She was a faithful woman. She believed in God and spoke forth His message to David. She was rewarded for her faithfulness. She became David’s wife; the future King.
We can ask ourselves: are we willing to display the integrity and courage in our lives that Abigail displayed in hers in carrying out the Lord’s will?
Now, we are ready for our second female heroine in the Old Testament whose name is Huldah who was a Prophetess and a saver of the Law written by Moses.
During Israel’s long history, whenever there was a chance that they might be defeated in battle and end up being invaded, the high priest and those in authority would hide their holy items. That’s why from time to time, you hear of different things being discovered. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls which were Old Testament scriptures hidden in pottery that were accidently found in caves by young boys. To this day, they have not found the Ark of the Covenant, the anointing oil and some necessary artifacts needed for Temple worship but they will be found before the time of Jesus’ Second Coming.
Because of the Israelites idolatry, they were invaded and many of them scattered to the lands of their captors. So, to set the background for today’s message you need to know: what the Israelites did that God allowed them to be conquered?
- They broke the covenant that they had with Jehovah God.
- They started worshipping Baal and his priests. They placed vessels used in worshipping Baal, the grove, the sun, moon, planets and all the host of heaven in Jehovah God’s Temple.
- They set up Sodomite houses. [This is the sin that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for.]
- They set up high places of idolatry.
- They set up fire worship to Molech where they made their sons and daughters to pass through the fire to Molech.
- They set up sun worship and dedicated horses and chariots for this purpose.
- They set up idolatrous altars in two courts of the house of the Lord.
- They set-up altars for all of these other idol gods.
Set up Jeroboam’s altar and high place at Bethel.
Set up high place in Samaria along with priests.
Discontinued the Passover, etc.
Of course, all of these things were an abomination to Jehovah God. The Israelites did these things over and over again. The high priest during this time seems to be missing in action or certainly not doing his job!
Today’s message focuses on the original copy of The Law written by Moses found in the house of the Lord in Jerusalem by Hilkiah, the high priest, and how Huldah, King Josiah and the Israelites responded. The book of the Law was found as they were getting ready to restore the Temple. They also found enough money in the house of the Lord to restore it.
Hilkiah told Shaphan the scribe what he had found and gave the book of the Law to him to take to King Josiah. Shaphan takes the book of the Law to King Josiah and reads it to him. (2 Chron. 34:14-18)
When the King had heard the words of the law, he rent his clothes. He commanded: Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the King’s saying,: “Go enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the Word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in the Book” (2 Chron. 34:20-21).
“And Kilkiah, and they that the King had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college [second ward]” (2 Chron. 34:22). They asked her to inquire of God about the wrath that had come upon Israel. [It seems that more and more the prophets and prophetesses were being depended upon for the message of God instead of the high priest, maybe because he seemed to be missing in action during the apostacies. Huldah was as efficient as any of the men seers, and gave a message as quickly.]
And she answered them, thus saith the Lord God of Israel, tell ye the man that sent you to me, [The following 4 predictions which were fulfilled:]
- I will bring evil upon this place and the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the Book they have read to the King of Judah (2 Chron. 34:24).
- My wrath shall be poured upon this place, and shall not be quenched (2 Chron. 34:25).
- To the King of Judah: Because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and the inhabitants thereof, and you did rend your clothes and weep before Me, I have heard you; I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace (2 Chron. 34:26-28).
- Your eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and the inhabitants (2 Chron. 34:28).
So, they returned to the King and delivered Huldah’s prophecy. After receiving the reply of God, the King sent for all the elders and people to the Temple to have them do something about the threatened wrath of God (2 Chron. 34:29-30). Josiah made a covenant with God to keep the law, and also made Israel to conform to it; this they did all the days of his life. The seven-fold covenant made with Jehovah was:
- To walk after the Lord.
- Keep His commandments.
- Keep His Testimonies.
- Keep His statutes.
- To do this with all the heart.
- To do it with all the soul.
- To perform the words of the covenant as written in the Law. (2 Chron. 34:31)
Josiah and his people kept the Passover and feast of unleavened bread in a fashion never kept in Israel since the days of Samuel (2 Chron. 35: l, 18). He also made many reforms and set up the whole program of 24 courses for the priests, Levites, and other services of the Temple. (2 Chron. 35: 2, 6)
The people were taught the Word of God (2 Chron. 35:3). [This will always be the first fundamental of any revival or religious reform in any generation.] I love the fact that all the days of Josiah’s life, Israel conformed to the covenant Josiah and the people made to God.
Now the time has arrived to look at the life of Huldah and glean lessons from her life. In the biblical text, emphasis was placed on her title as “prophetess” before mentioning her husband’s name or position, suggesting her prophetic role took precedence.
As usual, they list the husband’s lineage and not hers. Her lineage is quite remarkable because Huldah is identified as a descendent of Rahab and Salmon, who are in Jesus’ lineage, as well as, a relative of Jeremiah. I found it interesting that Jeremiah was living at the time the messengers came to her for a Word from God and not him. Some commentators said that many seeking God’s Word would go to prophetesses rather than prophets because women’s hearts were more tender and able to touch the heart of God easier.
In this exploration of one of the Bible’s unsung heroines– Huldah the Prophetess, we find valuable lessons that are as significant today as they were in ancient times.
Huldah is a biblical figure whose story is often overlooked but presents valuable lessons that resonate with us today. Despite the brief account of her life in the Books of Kings and Chronicles, she left an indelible mark as a prophetess during the reign of King Josiah. To fully comprehend Huldah’s significance, it’s crucial to consider the period in which she lived. During this, time, the Kingdom of Judah was grappling with spiritual and political turmoil as mentioned above. When we delve into Huldah’s prophecy, we find that it was a powerful proclamation of truth—a truth that was crucial in a time of religious and moral ambiguity.
In conclusion, here are some things that we learned from prophetess Huldah’s life:
- Faithfulness to God’s Calling:
Huldah’s life demonstrates the importance of being faithful to one’s calling and responsibilities as a prophetess. She faithfully served as a prophetess during a critical time in Israel’s history. Despite her relatively unknown status, Huldah’s prophecy had a profound impact, initiating a period of reform led by King Josiah. - God’s Use of Women:
Huldah’s existence and role as a prophetess highlight that God can and does use women in significant ways in His plan. She was consulted by King Josiah for her wisdom and insights. She put her stamp of approval on the Book of the Law written by Moses without even reading it. As a prophetess, she received the Word from God that it was His Words contained in that book along with everything else she said. - Importance of seeking God’s Guidance:
Huldah’s example underscores the importance of seeking God’s guidance and wisdom in every situation because your response(s) could affect generations to come. - Power of God’s Word:
Huldah’s response to the King revealed her deep respect for the Word of God. She emphasized the authority and consequences of God’s Word, underscoring the importance of obeying them. - Prophetic Boldness:
Huldah’s confidence in delivering God’s message to the King without fear or hesitation demonstrates the prophetic boldness required to speak God’s truth even to those in positions of authority. - Moral and Spiritual Reformation:
Huldah’s prophecy played a pivotal role in initiating a moral and spiritual reformation in Judah under King Josiah. Her message led to the restoration of proper worship, obedience to God’s commandments and a time of peace during King Josiah’s lifetime as prophesied. - God’s Faithfulness to His Promise:
Huldah’s words confirmed God’s faithfulness to His promises. She acknowledged the judgment that would come due to disobedience but also affirmed God’s mercy and grace for those who turned to Him. - Influence on Future Generations:
Huldah’s legacy as a prophetess influenced future generations in understanding the importance of God’s Word and obedience to His commands. - Role Model for Women in Ministry:
Huldah serves as a role model for women in ministry, showing that women can be used by God to deliver His messages and contribute significantly to His work. - Humility and Service:
Huldah’s willingness to serve in her role as a prophetess with humility and obedience to God’s will sets an example for all believers in serving God faithfully.
How is Huldah’s story relevant today?
Huldah’s story is timeless. Her story underscores the notion that the divine call can come to anyone, regardless of their societal status or gender. Her teachings on the transformative power of truth, the necessity of obedience to divine commands, and the importance of embracing our unique roles remain relevant. Furthermore, her example as a female leader continues to inspire and influence women in leadership roles today.
In understanding what we can learn from Huldah, we can gain insights that enrich our personal, communal, and spiritual lives. The lessons gleaned from Huldah’s story serve as a roadmap, guiding us towards a path of truth, wisdom and obedience. May each woman today listening to this message and to those who may read it, may you be encouraged to do mighty exploits for God when called upon. May your life leave a living legacy for those who are non-family and family members who have observed your life. And may they be encouraged to reach higher heights and deeper depths in our Lord and Savior than you. Then, your living truly will not have been in vain! Praise the Lord and Amen!