David and Abigail

In 1 Samuel chapter 25, we read about a wealthy and foolish man named Nabal. David and his men had protected Nabal's shepherds, but when David requested provisions, Nabal rudely refused. This angered David, who set out to take revenge. However, Nabal's wise wife, Abigail, intervened. She brought David and his men food and humbly pleaded for David not to shed blood and avenge himself. David listened to Abigail and blessed her wisdom. Soon after, Nabal died, and David eventually took Abigail as his wife.

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe Nabal's character based on his actions in this chapter. Why do you think he treated David's messengers so poorly?
2. How did David react to Nabal's refusal? What does this reveal about David's state of mind at this time?
3. Describe Abigail's character and her actions when she heard how Nabal had treated David. What motivated her to intervene?
4. What did Abigail say to David that convinced him to change his plans? What were the key points of her plea?
5. How did David respond to Abigail's wisdom? What did he acknowledge about her actions?
6. What happened to Nabal after Abigail returned home? How might we understand this event in light of the story?
7. How did David honor Abigail after Nabal's death? What does this tell us about David's view of her?
8. What lessons can we learn from this chapter about pride, foolishness, wisdom, humility, and the consequences of our actions?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we thank you for the contrasting examples of Nabal and Abigail in this chapter. Help us to recognize foolishness and pride in ourselves and others, and to strive for wisdom and humility. Give us the discernment to listen to wise counsel and the strength to turn away from anger and revenge. We pray for wisdom in our relationships and for the ability to honor those who act with understanding and grace. Amen.

This discussion is based on The One Year Bible Storybook by Virginia Muir.