Ok. So this is where the rubber meets the road. It’s substantially easier to submit your will to a godly man who is trustworthy. So what if I am married to a jerk? Then I can complain, nag, chastise and undermine him… right?
This morning I was reminded of the story of Abigail found in 1 Samuel 25. Let’s go there.
This man’s name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was crude and mean in all his dealings… When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, he sent ten of his young men to Carmel with this message for Nabal:“Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own… Would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David.”
David’s young men gave this message to Nabal in David’s name, and they waited for a reply.
“Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
So David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said. “Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
A servant tells Abigail of Nabal’s foolishness… “You need to know this and figure out what to do, for there is going to be trouble for our master and his whole family. He’s so ill-tempered that no one can even talk to him!”
Abigail sets to collecting an offering for David. She sets out and finds him. Then she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say. I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him… And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men. Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles… don’t let this be a blemish on your record…
Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.”
Despite the fact Nabal was a first-class jerk who risked the life of all his household by insulting David, Abigail comes to his rescue. She covers his sin and saves his life.
She didn’t berate him. She didn’t complain about him. She didn’t reject him. She covered his sin.
Ladies, part of stepping up to the plate of being that ezer kenegedo, his help and shield, that we talked about yesterday, may come down to covering your husband’s sin. It isn’t about being right, being justified, or getting your way. It is about SHOWING him there is something amazing called grace.
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. 1 Peter 3:1
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