The fool and his wife

They say behind every great man is a tremendous woman. Sometimes in front of a great woman is a scoundrel. Filtered in among the barely mentioned death of Samuel, one of Israel's greatest prophets, and sandwiched between the conflict of David and Saul, we find an independently thinking heroine whose actions stopped the recklessness of one man and revealed the foolishness of another.

Abigail -- whose name means "her father's joy" -- is described in the Bible as being full of discretion and beauty. The first cannot exist without the other. The Bible also describes her as being married to Nabal. Nabal -- whose name means "fool" -- chose to honor the reputation of his name.

David, the future king, was running in the company of his mighty warriors from the present king. These men found themselves living out among the shepherds in the open field, Nabal's fields. The warriors could have held to the custom of the day and easily taken from these men what they wanted. They chose, under the leadership of a former shepherd, to protect these men, surrounding them as a great wall. When these men returned to shear their sheep, David sent a request for food that was sharply denied. Nabal revealed the nature of his name by responding in rhetorical questions of ignorance.

Enter Abigail, the woman of great discernment and skills of diplomacy. She learned of the requests and the facts behind them. Upon hearing the response and the now pending onslaught, she acted. Not for her sake, but for the sake of the innocent who took no role in a fool's decisions but were about to take the brunt of the onslaught. She took David and his men a feast. By doing so, she protected the innocent by heading off an army ready to obey their king who was full of vengeance. Her action revealed the stony and calloused heart of her husband. When he learned what could have happened because of his foolish decision, and what his wife had done, he fell into a coma like state and the Lord took him home.

Ladies, strive for your discernment to exceed your beauty and thereby demonstrate the fear of the Lord in your life. Men, the Lord has given you the women in your life for a reason. Listen to their insight. They might just keep you from making rash or foolish decisions.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father and serves as the associate pastor at the First Baptist Church in Jackson.