Human Response 447: Stop and Listen to Others

1 Samuel 25:34-35 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hast hasted and come to meet me, surely there had been nothing left to Nabal….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 hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

Nabal, a rich man, had refused to help David’s men when they came and asked for it. When David heard the report, he was ready to bring his men and take vengeance upon Nabal. But Abigail, Nabal’s wife, came to David bearing many gifts, begging mercy that David would not attack Nabal and his men.

David stopped long enough to listen to Abigail’s plea. If he had ignored her he would have been guilty of taking vengeance into his own hands. No matter how right we think we are, we should be careful to stop and listen to others. The effort can save us trouble. He listened to her and accepted her gifts, and he did not attack Nabal.

As it turned out, Nabal died a few days later, and David took Abigail as his wife. But it was Abigail’s begging for mercy that saved her husband and prevented David from taking vengeance. We also would do well to stop and listen to others. Taking a little time to listen may save trouble later.

Abigail is to be commended for her thoughtful response to the threat that David posed. She brought gifts, but pleaded with David and begged for mercy. This is our stance before God: we come as beggars begging for mercy. We bring gifts to God, the gifts of Jesus’ blood and merit. But this gift is first given to us by God Himself. Our faith pleads the blood of Christ. For Christ’s sake, God is merciful and stays the punishment we deserve. And He ends up marrying us.