1 Samuel 25:23-35 (NRSV)
Abigail pleads for life
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and alighted from the donkey, fell before David on her face, bowing to the ground. She fell at his feet and said, "Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. My lord, do not take seriously this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, since the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be like Nabal. And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your servant; for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. If anyone should rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living under the care of the Lord your God; but the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. When the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, my lord shall have no cause of grief, or pangs of conscience, for having shed blood without cause or for having saved himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant."
David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand! For as surely as the Lord the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there would not have been left to Nabal so much as one male." Then David received from her hand what she had brought him; he said to her, "Go up to your house in peace; see, I have heeded your voice, and I have granted your petition."
Reflection
I wonder how many times Jesus had to go before the Father to plead for me, to save me from my own foolishness? Jesus pleads to the Father for life, for your life and for mine. Jesus offers, as a sacrifice for our lives his own life. How wonderful is this act that Abigail took for her people. Out of a love for others, Abigail took a chance and went to the King to plead for life.
Jesus pleads for our life. Have I learned to plead for the lives of others? Do I act in compassion and love to and for the poor, those in prison, the lonely, the ill and all those that God shows to me each day? This is the acts of Abigail and the acts of Jesus. Thanks be to God for the lessons taught by Abigail. And thanks be to God for the actions taken by Jesus on our behalf.
Prayer
Lord, when I see you in those people who come to me in need this day, guide me in the wise compassion and love that I need to have. Keep me from foolishness and selfishness and make me willing to take action on behalf of what is the just action to take in your name. For you gave your life for me. May I give my life and take the stand for the ones you give to me. In your name I pray. --- Amen
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