The Fruit of A Humble Heart

Why Humility Matters

Humility is a representation of submission to God’s sovereignty, and acknowledgment that all that we are and all that we have is not by our own might but by his grace and mercy.

Abigail, A Woman of Humility

In 1 Samuel 25 we are introduced to Abigail the wife of Nabal. The Bible describes Nabal as a wicked and mean man, his name literally means fool. David, son of Jesse, sent his men to Nabal with a message to give them whatever they needed after they diligently looked after Nabal’s shepherds.

David’s men were greeted by Nabal with insults:

“Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

When the servants returned to David they reported how they were treated. David was filled with rage and took about 400 men with him to kill Nabal and his men. Abigail who was described as beautiful and intelligent, learned about what happened from a servant. The bible tells us that:

“Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.”

Abigail got off her donkey and bow down with her hands on the ground asking David to pardon her and hear what she, his servant had to say.

The Act of Humility

Bowing down is a physical action that represents submission. Abigail not only bowed down but she also acknowledges to David that God lives, she says:

“as surely as the LORD your God lives and as you live, since the LORD has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.”

She wisely reminds David of his good nature and his purpose, that God appointed him. Unlike Nabal, who God also knows his heart–the wicked man. By reminding him of this, David realizes that he is about to take vengeance into his own hands instead of allowing the Lord to move on his behalf. He is reminded that he must stifle his anger so he will not murder for his own sake and that the Lord’s will, will be done with Nabal. The chapter ends with David doing the right thing and the Lord takes Nabal’s life on his own accord. Because of Abigail's obedience to God, helping David do the right thing she is honored by the Lord and exalted to David's wife, a man in right standing with the Lord freed from a man with evil intentions and no desire to follow the Lord. Once more, we see Abigail's true spirit of service. She does not become David’s wife and lose her mind with haughtiness or arrogance. She instead responds by doing this:

“She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

What we learn from Abigail is that a humble heart:

1. Submits to Christ

2. Acknowledges Christ in all that we do

3. Understands our purpose and who appointed us

4. Stifle our anger not to act on our own accord

5. To have a posture of service to God's people

Many people read 1 Samuel 25 and only pay attention to David’s submission to God’s authority when angered by Nabal. They see a man like Nabal who is rich and set in his wicked self-ish ways. But I like to think that 1 Samuel 25 teaches us about “A woman with a humble heart,” it teaches the idea of humility and the ACT of HUMILITY. The light inside you is the light that guides you.

Prayer Father in Heaven, we submit to you and we bow down kneeling at your feet honoring you and all that you are in our lives. Help us Father be slow to anger and even when we experience this natural emotion, remind us of our purpose like Abigail reminded David. Show us that your sovereignty is more than enough and whomever plots against us, you’ve already gone ahead of us to handle the situation. Thank you Father for this word and instilling in me a heart after yours that I will put into action what it means to submit, to acknowledge, and to serve. ~ Amen