Daily Treasure

“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

As we sum up the life of Abigail, let’s consider highlights of this amazing woman’s life. She was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman.  This woman was beautiful on the inside and out. She knew beauty would fade. She understood it was far important to love and fear the Lord.  I believe faith in God helped her endure her marriage to the evil Nabal.

In the face of danger when she had to display great courage, God helped her overcome her fears. Though she was a humble woman, she deserved to be praised.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Choose one Proverbs 31 characteristic you want to emulate. Pray that God would build this virtue in your life.

“Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king, Should the king show such kindness to a dead dog like me? he exclaimed”  (2 Samuel 9:8 NLT).

Ever felt like a dead dog?

Every day I borrow Mephibosheth’s line in response to my King’s gifts.  Another sunrise.  A brand new, “Good morning, Mom.”  Another dandelion in my path.  My very breath.

He knows me more intimately than anyone else.  He knows the sins of my heart, the ones He’s forgiven and the ones He’s still attempting to purge from my spirit.  He knows who I was before I met Him and how far I am from who He intends me to be.  He knows the skeletons hiding in my closet, and He’s watched as I try to balance on a pedestal of my own making.  He is fully aware of my ulterior motives.  He knows all about me, and still continues to pour blessing upon blessing into my life.

Me, a dead dog.

‘My Gracious Redeemer, My Savior are thou-
If ever I loved thee, My Jesus, ’tis now.’
-Wm. Featherston

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. Prepare your heart for His coming.

“…For some time now, he told them, you have wanted to make David your king.  Now is the time”  (2 Samuel 3:17 NLT).

Lately I’ve noticed something in our newspaper’s obituary column. There is no age limit on death.

In recent weeks, there have been listings for 90 year-olds, 60 year-olds, 40 year-olds, a 19 year-old and a 3 year-old.  The readings have led us to understand some have passed after long battles, while some were suddenly taken.

You and I, no matter how healthy, regardless of all we have planned and despite our age, have no clue as to how much time we have left to do anything.  That ominous fact got my mind moving as I read today’s Scripture.

I’m not sure what it is you want to do in life, get out of life or leave as a legacy, but let’s be blatantly honest. If you don’t go ahead and do it, you might never get it done.

Do you have a goal to reach?  Do you have a dream you’ve put off until a better time?  Got a bucket list?  Is there that something you’ve always wanted to do, but the time was never right?

Do you know how many days you have left?  Do you know how long the “dash” of your life will be?  Are you privvy to the information only God holds?

May I suggest something you really need to do first?  You really, desperately, hopelessly and undoubtedly need Christ as your Savior.

You tell me you’ve done just fine without Him.  You present me with a list of reasons why you don’t.  You shake your head, preferring to stay the way you are.

Now is the time.

You show me a picture of your family, your lovely home and a very pretty vehicle.  You point toward a rather healthy paycheck.  You direct my attention towards the spots of importance you hold in the community.

Now is the time.

You have me take a look at your planner.  You offer me a peak into your checkbook.  You invite me to a party you’re throwing.

Now is the time.

All you have will be given to someone else.  All you are will be remembered in a few snapshots and a nice little article written about your life.  All you’ll leave is a tombstone and a mound of dirt…unless you make Christ your King.

Now is the time.  NOW, is the time.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for MKs apart from family during this holiday weekend.

“And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife” (1 Samuel 25:29b-32).

We don’t know how much time had elapsed, but, Abigail received some news that changed her life.  Obviously Abigail’s godly lifestyle made quite an impression on David.

He sent his servants to bring her to him. They talked things over, and he asked her to be his wife. She and  David had so much more in common. They held a mutual love for God and each other.

With the exception of her being taken captive by the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 30,  the rest of Abigail’s days appear happy ones. (David’s army defeated these captors and she was rescued.) We find in 2 Samuel 3:3 that Abigail and David were blessed with a son named Chileab.

It is evident God blessed her life because of her faithfulness and obedience to Him.

Next week we wrap up our study of Abigail. When it comes to the women in David’s life, we often think of Bathsheba or even his first wife, Michal.  Abigail may not have been as notorious, but she shines brightly as a “hidden jewel.”  Through the fires of adversity, she achieved the brilliance of a priceless ruby.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Going shopping? Don’t forget the fruit. Pray that you would show forth the Fruit of the Spirit in all you do and say.

“And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal,  and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head…”  (1 Samuel 25:39a).

When word got around to David concerning Nabal’s death, he wasn’t at all surprised.  He praised God for taking care of the situation.  It wasn’t that he relished the news, but he felt God’s will had been done.

We should never glory in the fact that someone got what was coming to them.  God sees the total picture and determines what is best.

Tomorrow we see how God rewarded Abigail for being a beautiful person inside and out. She would be given another opportunity to find marital bliss.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Make a list and share it with someone. Credit the Source as you share.

“……that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.  And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died” (1 Samuel 25:37b-38).

Abigail related to Nabal how close he and his household had been to extinction.  She had played the part of a diplomat and they were all spared.  Instead of flying into an angry rage, (like Abigail surely thought would be the case) Nabal apparently had a heart attack. He didn’t die immediately. Ten days later, “the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.”

I’m sure Abigail had mixed emotions.  One of them had to have been relief.  Nabal had been such a difficult man to live with.  She kept her vows and lived an exemplary life in spite of  her plight.  She was alone now and life wasn’t going to be easy.  Sadly, she might as well have been alone all the years she lived with Nabal.  It’s always sad when a person lives her life in hopes a mate will change, and, he refuse sto do so.  Abigail’s godliness didn’t seem to phase her husband.

Abigail may not have known what tomorrow would hold, but, she held on tight to the hand of the One who holds the future.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for travelers—especially college students headed home today.

“But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things…” (1 Samuel 25:37a).

The time had come for Abigail to tell Nabal the truth about how she dealt with David and his army.  I think she prepared herself for the worst.  He would not take it well and probably would be verbally abusive. We always tend to set ourselves up for the worst.

We have to remember Abigail’s times and culture.  Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Nabal was a fool and wouldn’t see it that way.  She had taken risks and stood to lose everything.

She was going to have to weigh her words and “let the chips fall.”  Our “ruby” was probably not expecting what happened next. Stay tuned tomorrow as we see Nabal’s reaction. You won’t believe what happens.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for volunteers serving Thanksgiving meals at homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Pray for those whom they serve.