Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 25:14-17, 23-28, 32-35
What is wisdom? I’ve heard it said like this, “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.” Spurgeon elaborates on the relationship between knowledge and wisdom in a more spiritual and serious way, “To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is wisdom.”
Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge. Abigail is a wonderful example of living out godly knowledge. We can learn a great deal from her interaction with David in I Samuel 25.
One of the most excruciating parts of seminary was having your sermons evaluated. The professor would give an assessment tool to the class which would be used to grade an individual’s exposition. It was a tough 40 minutes watching yourself preach and hearing your peers scratching away on the assessment document, seemingly emptying their pens of ink.
All of that to say, assessing Abigail’s example of wisdom would be easier with a tool. Fortunately, God is clear with what wisdom is like in James 3.
Bosak
In James 3, verses 17-18 say, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Let’s use parts of this inspired description as a way to assess Abigail’s interaction with David in I Samuel 25.
Peaceable — From the very first parts of Abigail’s appeal to David we can see that she is ultimately seeking peace. She is hoping to resolve the dispute between her husband and David’s men. Abigail was willing to take upon herself the responsibility for actions she did not do in order to avoid conflict. Abigail created an environment where peace was possible through her humility and selflessness. Nabal did the opposite. In fact he is a prime example of the earthly, demonic wisdom we find in James 3:13-16. His selfishness led to disorder and conflict.
Sincere — Abigail recognized the power and position that David held and responded appropriately. David was the Lord’s anointed and was worthy of honor. When David came into sight, Abigail “quickly got off the donkey and knelt down with her face to the ground and paid homage to David” (I Samuel 25:23). Later in their conversation Abigail sought to bless David because “he fights the Lord’s battles” (v. 28). Abigail used her words in an appropriate way considering the circumstances with David’s position. Again, Nabal seems to exemplify perfectly worldly wisdom. Instead of sincere words of honor Nabal “screamed” at David’s men (v. 14). Nabal played the fool by speaking out of selfish ambition.
Impartial — Abigail did not try to convince David of her innocence, nor did she try to justify Nabal’s foolish actions. She simply asked that David forgive them (v. 28). She assessed the situation for what it truly was with impartiality. She did not let her emotions cloud her judgment or inhibit her humility. The assessment of Abigail’s wisdom could go on and on. It seems like she would know not to put a tomato in a fruit salad. Nabal, not so much. B&R
