Abigail Intervenes

1 Samuel 25:1-35

Our true story comes from a part of the Bible called First Samuel (1 Samuel). The man Samuel loved God and told the people what God wanted them to know.

We begin with a man named Nabal and his wife, Abigail. 


Nabal had a lot of sheep. Like, A LOT of sheep! Taking care of a lot of sheep was a big job for Nabal’s workers. The workers had to feed the sheep, and water the sheep, and protect the sheep. Well, taking care of all of those sheep was such a big job! It was a good thing when a guy named David and his army came by!


David and his army helped keep all of Nabal’s sheep safe. None of the sheep got hurt or went missing while David and his army were there. There was peace because the work was getting done and everyone was being friendly.


Helping was a very nice thing for David and his army to do so they asked Nabal to give them whatever he could find for them, like food.


Guess what Nabal told David and his army? He told them, no! He was NOT going to give David and his army anything! 


How do you think David felt when he heard that Nabal was not going to give them anything for helping protect HIS sheep? Yes, David felt angry. 


David was SO angry that he was ready to take his army to Nabal’s house and fight. Oh, no!


Now Abigail, Nabal’s wife, did not want Nabal and David to fight. She wanted to choose peace. So, she thought . . . hmm, how can I choose peace? Then she got a wonderful idea! 


Abigail quickly got a lot of food and water and took it to David and his army! 


Because Abigail gave them food and water . . .


. . . David and his army chose peace, too. 


They decided not to fight Nabal! Abigail chose peace, and Jesus can help us choose peace, too. So, the next time you and your friends want to play with the same toy, share! Choose peace and let your friend play with it, then you play with it. You can choose peace by taking turns! Or when you’re building a block tower and someone knocks it down, don’t yell or fight. Choose peace and ask someone to help you rebuild it! 


Jesus can help us choose peace because Jesus can help us do everything!






Bible Verse: I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:13, NLT

Text Truth: Jesus can help me choose peace.


Family Devotional

When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. And now, my lord, 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. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.

“Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”
—1 Samuel 25:23-31

In our Bible story, Abigail chose peace and saved a lot of people from a big fight. We learned that we can choose peace, too, because Jesus can help us do everything.

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:13, NLT

Abigail chose peace. So, with your family, make a list of ways you can choose piece. 

Pray with your family. Allow any family members to pray if they wish. In your own words, say, “Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to give us peace and help us choose peace. Please help us look for ways to choose peace when people are angry or frustrated or even afraid. You are the best, God, and we love You very much. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

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Story illustrations are the copyright of Richard Gunther and distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. Richard has many free Christian resources, cartoons and a creation magazine at www.gunther.net.nz ; email: shamgar@callsouth.net.nz
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