1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

100 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionshe was also a soul sister with David (cf. Jonathan). She shared his view of life and hiscommitment to God. However since from creation God's will has been monogamy (Gen.2:24), it was wrong for him to marry her (v. 39). He had also previously marriedAhinoam of Jezreel (v. 43). Perhaps he justified his second marriage with the fact thatSaul had taken Michal from him (v. 44). Perhaps he got into polygamy also because itwas customary in the ancient Near East for great warriors and monarchs to have manywives and concubines (mistresses). Yet God forbade this of Israel's kings (Deut. 17:17).In any case David did not restraint himself in his relations with women, and this causedhim major problems later in his life. The same words "sent" and "took her" appear bothhere (v. 40) and in the account of David's affair with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:4). We seehere the seed problem that bore bitter fruit in David's adultery.Should Abigail have agreed to become David's wife? It appears that she had a choice (v.42). I do not believe she should have agreed to marry David, who was already married tosomeone else (Gen. 2:24), if she was truly free to decide. Abigail may have felt a need forsecurity since her husband had died, and David was an attractive man with whom sheshared much in common. Furthermore he was destined to become king. Yet he wasmarried. Her decision is certainly understandable, though not commendable.We can learn a great deal from wise Abigail. We can see how a godly person responds toa spouse's folly: by preserving and protecting the spouse rather than by ignoring the folly.We see how a godly person responds to a foolish spouse: by honoring him or her ratherthan by despising him or her. We see how a godly person responds to favors bestowed:by returning them generously rather than by taking them for granted. We see how a godlyperson responds to other godly people: by helping them rather than by opposing them.We see how a godly person responds to being vulnerable: by sacrificing oneself forothers rather than by becoming arrogant. We see how a godly person responds to thethreat of danger: by trusting in God and behaving wisely rather than by ignoring thedanger. We see how a godly person responds to the desire for security. In this last lessonAbigail is a negative example rather than a positive one. We do so by relying on God toprovide legitimately rather than by seizing security.David's loss of his wife 25:44As mentioned before, this chapter opens and closes with a tragedy in David's life, thedeath of Samuel and the departure of Michal. Evidently Saul considered David as good asdead, and so, sometime during these events, he gave David's wife to another man. Hemay also have done this to remove the possibility of David's claiming Saul's thronebecause he was Saul's son-in-law. David later reclaimed Michal (2 Sam. 3:13-16), whichproved to be a source of grief to David since Michal did not appreciate how Davidconstantly bowed to Yahweh's authority (cf. 2 Sam. 6:16-23; 1 Chron. 15:29).David's second sparing of Saul's life ch. 26Again the scene shifts to Saul (cf. ch. 24). The writer contrasted his improper attitudesand behavior and their consequences with David's proper attitudes and behavior and theirconsequences. There are many similarities between this chapter and chapter 24, which