For the first part of the study we will be doing Women of the Bible



Opening Prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to you now and before Your Throne of Grace not in our own strength or worth, but by and through the Blood of Jesus. Forgive us our sin Father so that You may hear our prayer.

Father we would ask that you bless the reading of Your Word here and that hearts would be inspired and blessed. We ask that you would prepare us for what is coming via our study and fellowship here.

We thank You Father that where two or more of us are gathered or in agreement You are there also. May this forum be blessed with Your Love and Patience and may Your Holy Spirit Minister here.

Bless us now with Your Wisdom and Discernment and with whatever spiritual gifts that would glorify You.

This we Pray in Jesus’ Most Precious Name

Amen
Amen

Abigail - Women of the Bible

Reading 1 Samuel 25:2-44

1 Samuel 25
Abigail was the wife of Nabal. Nabal was rich but quite mean and surly in his dealings whereas Abigail was intelligent and beautiful.

Her intelligence and discernment saved her family from destruction (1 Samuel 25)

When Peter made his famous statement about women being the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7) he was speaking of their physical (and maybe emotional) capacity and not intellectual or spiritual.

Abigail, Deborah and Priscilla (to mention a few) were some women the Bible mentions whose intellectual and spiritual capacity surpassed that of many men. The reality is that we all have the Spirit of Christ in us and can achieve what God has called us to.

Abigail's story is a short one. David had shown kindness to her husband but Nabal was too dumb and arrogant to know it. David sent some men to Nabal to ask a favour, some food for them to eat. Nabal turned them away with an insult and no food. As David was setting out to take revenge on Nabal, Abigail hastened to meet him. With persuasive words and a gift she prevented David from taking Nabal's life.

There are many women of similar ability around today. Maybe in your home things rely on you. Or it could be your work place that people look up to you. Use your God given ability to the glory of God.

The man does not have to be the wisest person around. There are sure to be some areas that you can handle much more capably than the man or men around.

Abigail's life is a statement of fact. Wisdom belongs to us all (James 1:5). As a woman you might even find yourself in a position of leadership not by choice but simply because the other person around is not capable of doing it.

Thank God you are there to sort things out.

Questions

1. How would you describe Nabal?

2. Are you more like Abigail or Nabal?

3. What does it take to be wise? (James 1:5-6)?

4. What did Nabal seem to use most of his time doing?

5. Are there things that you do that waste your time?

6. How should we use the wisdom that God gives us?