Abigail: The Church in the Wilderness

Abigail: The Church in the Wilderness

>>>>1Samuel 25-30<<<<

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.   Heb. 11:1

 

Our Father in heaven is a God of action – acting out of desire to have a bride for His Son, He sent the Holy Spirit to earth to find her, make her suitable, and escort her to the wedding. Rebekah's story illustrates the Father's desire and the Spirit's work, however, the bride's experience as she travels to her new home is not addressed in Genesis 24. We need to study Abigail's relationship to David in order to see a picture of the Church's journey from earth to heaven.

 

The story of Abigail and David does not include God the Father and the work of the Spirit in its illustration; instead, the focus is on the Son's life as He lived on earth.  David is a type of Christ who, although He was the true king, lived among His brethren in humiliation. David pictures the Lord Jesus in His rejection by the leaders of His own people. David was living in caves and wandering from place to place when he met Abigail, yet from the moment she met him, Abigail treated David as a king. She bowed to him (1Sam. 25:23) and spoke prophetically about his future as Israel's ruler (vs 30).  When Nabal died, David proposed to Abigail and she left everything to become his wife.

 

Abigail was a wealthy woman – she enjoyed servants, plenty of food and every comfort the world could provide. David lived on the run, hunted "as one hunts a partridge in the mountains" (1Sam. 26:20) – yet Abigail chose to join him. As David's wife, her life would be defined by the same poverty and misery that he and his men (along with their families) endured. Her commitment to David, rather than her love for him, is highlighted in the Scriptures; perhaps the story is recorded with this emphasis in order to show that she understood what was at stake.

 

Abigail's pledge to David as the true King (1Sam. 25:31b) demonstrates her confidence in God's plan for him. I don't believe she was anticipating a marriage proposal when she asked David to remember her on the day he became king; however, she knew the cost and was willing to pay it. The Lord has promised that believers will share His glory if they will trust Him during their own wilderness journey. In Abigail (along with the others who followed David) we see a picture of the Church, living in union with Christ, leaving behind the comforts of the world and living a life that is separated unto Him. We cannot read New Testament instruction to the Church and come away with any notion that future blessings are rooted in an easy life here and now:

 

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.     Romans 8:16-18 

 

. . . after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.  For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.       Heb.10:32-34

 

We love to think about sharing eternity with our beloved Lord. And while we live on earth we want to 'taste and see that the Lord is good;' for we know that 'blessed is the man who trusts in Him!' (Psalm 34:8). However, we choke on the command that we must not be dependent upon the world, and we naturally resist participation in His suffering and rejection. Suffering is certain for the Christian – God has given us promises and encouragements so that we will look to Him, and not to the world, when we are feeling crushed by the wilderness journey.

 

Paul spoke about the prize of the high calling – he wrote about it while in prison; John saw the glory of Heaven – he described it from Patmos, where he lived in exile; and Abigail foresaw David's glory – while she suffered with him through the danger and adversity described in 1Samuel chapters 26-30.  When King Saul died – and David took the throne – Abigail was there to share his reign (2Sam. 2:2).

 

Abigail's story demonstrates our life in union with Christ as we make our way through the wilderness, and Rebekah's story reveals the activity of the Holy Spirit on our behalf. How can we be on the way to meet our groom, yet live in union with Him while we are still here? Jewish marriage customs provide an earthly picture of this marvelous truth . . .  we'll look into that next!

 

The glory which You have given Me I have given to them that they may be one, just as We are one . . . John 17:22