P meet 16/01/2013 Godliness - Abigail - I Sam 25.14-31; Juliet [virar] Intro: Godliness is of gr8 value = I Tim 4.

4.8 rhPuKaw;rp mw;g

gpuNah[dKs;sJ@ Njtgf;jpahdJ ,e;j [PtDf;Fk; ,jw;Fg; gpd;tUk; [PtDf;Fk; thf;Fj;jj;jKs;sjhifahy; vy;yhtw;wpYk; gpuNah[dKs;sJ. 2 Pet 3.11 in last days all question Second coming vv1-10 so Be Godly. ,g;gb ,itfnsy;yhk; mope;J NghfpwjhapUf;fpwgbahy; ePq;fs; vg;gbg;gl;l ghpRj;j elf;ifAk; Njtgf;jpAk; cs;sth;fshapUf;f Ntz;Lk;! 1 Tim6.6 G is gr8 contenment. Ps 1.1-3 = Way of Righteous. 3 Character traits of Abigail that make her an example of Godliness [ nabal rich but not Rich inCharacter]

1. Wisdom (intelligent) a) Took advice (v.14-17 - he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.) unlike Nabal (v.8-10) v.17 implies that the servant did not feel he could talk to Nabal = son of Belial * Are you easy to approach with advice? Words emotional scars??? -- Nabal failed in Listening & and also Talking = Hitler oratory evil.Creation by Word. b) Accepted blame that wasnt hers (v24 [ paadagam yen mel sumarattum -- v28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant.) -and gave gifts to appease David (v.18 ) * Are you willing to take blame for something you didnt do and let your reputation go? c) Knew when to talk to Nabal (v.36 sober after feast) & not to (before she took action when he could have stopped her - v.19) d) Knew how to speak persuasively (v.26 before David makes a decision to stop pursuing Nabal, she speaks of it in the past tense, and she also attributes her action to God: because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt, v. 31 my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause, even speaking of a slingshot v.29). It seems God tends to naturally gift women in speech. This gift can be used for good or for evil. See how Abigail used it for good! Wisdom is good, but it can lead to pride when a person feels able to meet the challenges of life without God by their own wits and when a person thinks himself better than others. Not so with Abigail. Her wisdom was tempered with humility. 2. Humility (servant attitude) a) Haste - mentioned 4 times in this one chapter (v. 18 in preparing the food, v.23, hurried down from her donkey upon first seeing David, v.34 - David speaks of her haste in coming out to him, v.42 - she hurried to David when he asked to marry her.)

b) Bowing, calling David lord and herself servant (v.23-24 her face and bowed to the ground. On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak) c) Wash feet (v.41 And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, * Would you be willing to wash 600 soldiers feet for the rest of your life? Abigails wisdom and humility are wonderful, but - one more essential ingredient to her character. There are, many wise and humble people who will not be in heaven because they do not have faith in God . Abigails faith completes the picture of an exemplary woman. 3. Faith a) in God as sovereign over: Actions: God has held you back v.26 fh;j;jh; ckf;F ,lq;nfhLf;ftpy;iy Justice: (v. 26 ck;Kila if ePjpiar; rhpf;fl;lTk; v.31 my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord taking vengeance himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant. = I Chron 3:1 her son is named Daniel God is my judge.) Life: (v.29 the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling.) beautiful picture here! * Do you really believe God is sovereign, or do you worry and work to make sure things turn out right? b) in Gods anointed sided with David, trusting in Gods promise (v.30 appointed you prince over Israel), instead of with Saul as her husband had done (v.10 Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.) * Jesus was also called the anointed/Christ. Like Abigail we have the choice: do we look to the world and the ones who have power for our leadership - as Nabal looked to Saul, or do we trust in Jesus and His promise to come through for us, to provide for us, to save us?

Nabal = Fool failure;