A LAMP TO HELP OTHERS SEE
Last week we discussed the fact that Abigail’s life displayed all of the attributes of God’s Holy Spirit. This meant that she kept her belief in God strong and passionate. To be so filled with God’s Holy Spirit on that side of the cross would have implied that Abigail had a great faith. She was one of those who believed in Messiah even before He walked this earth. Abigail exemplified a tremendous amount of faith. She had that spiritually fulfilling ability of living with a full supply of oil in her lamp. I’m pretty sure that Abigail was a woman of devoted prayer. The actions of her life reflected her close relationship with God. Her faith could shine out for others to see, even when her words were silent.
THE ATTRIBUTE OF WISDOM
One of the seven attributes making up God’s Holy Spirit is wisdom. Wisdom is the foundation of faith at work in our lives. All of Abigail’s actions displayed great wisdom. So, let’s look at exactly what that word “wisdom” means. We aren’t speaking here of the wisdom of the sages. This wisdom speaks of plain, every day basic intelligence. Some call it “common sense.”
In the way of Hebraic thinking, wisdom is a combination of the thoughts of the mind with the passion and actions of the heart. Any human can attain these actions, but they must desire to do them with all of their heart, soul, mind and spirit. The scriptures speak of this type of wisdom in Psalm 90:12; So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
When I read this scripture I have to wonder if David was thinking of Abigail when he wrote that particular Psalm. He was definitely impressed by the godly wisdom which she possessed and displayed in all of her actions.
WISDOM’S FIRST DAY
On Day One of the creation process, God poured out that first part of seven portions of His Holy Spirit upon the earth. It was the Spirit of Wisdom. One of my favorite biblical teachers, Dr. Hollisa Alewine, describes that first day this way: “He set the pattern so that we, too, would learn to number our days, not as He, who is limitless, but as earthen vessels limited by time. Our futures depend upon our ability to humble ourselves with the Spirit of Wisdom before an all-wise Elohim. If we humbly and wisely number our days according to the Seven Spirits of Adonai, we will present a heart filled with the Holy Spirit in the likeness of our Messiah Yeshua, a vessel fit to pass into eternity. Sadly, too many earthen vessels are proudly overlooking their mortality.”
Abigail did not fail to remember her mortality. One aspect of understanding humility is remembering who you are and where you came from. Dust. God created man from the dust of the earth. Without God we are nothing but dirt. This fact resonated in Abigail’s soul and she gave God total credit for her good works. She humbled herself before God and then she humbled herself before David.
Looking back, we can see that this spiritually impactful picture God was painting through Abigail’s actions. In order to obtain immortal life, and actually for Abigail, mortal life, as David was about to destroy all of Nabal’s household, one must possess wisdom and use it with humility. This was the wisdom Abigail displayed upon meeting and speaking to David.
WISDOM PRODUCES HUMILITY
This type of wisdom has been described by biblical scholars as “an energy of self-awareness.” This attribute has been spoken about in the book of Proverbs in many passages. Proverbs 9:1 says; Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars.
THE FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENT IS WISDOM
Thus, we learn that wisdom is the foundation of the seven gifts of God’s Holy Spirit. It is the first step to obtaining a spiritual life suitable for dwelling in the presence of God. One comes to realize that wisdom is how we learn to distinguish one thing from another, light from darkness, good from evil, masculine and feminine, one season from the other, etc. These distinctions lead us into growth and maturity before God.
For mankind to possess this wisdom of which we speak, there must be an emptying out of themselves and a filling up of God. There is no room for human pride when one is walking in God’s Spirit of Wisdom.
Again, we see confirmation of these thoughts in Proverbs from Chapter 8:12, and 22-25. I, wisdom…The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills I was brought forth.
THREE CHARACTERISTICS AND SEVEN FRUITS
Three important characteristics of this Spirit of Wisdom are: humility, passion, and respect for Adonai. These traits are foundational to the six other Spirits of Adonai. This Spirit of Adonai has the great ability to produce fruit in the lives of those who have wisdom dwelling inside their spirits. These fruits are purity, peace, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, dependability, and the absence of hypocrisy. Can you see that these fruits were evident in the life of Abigail by the way that she addressed David?
One visible result of wisdom is “works.” You can see wisdom in the actions of those who possess it. Perhaps Abigail taught this quality of wisdom to the others within David’s household later. We can read the words of Solomon, who was one of David’s sons, and note that he grew up in an atmosphere that admonished the trait of Godly wisdom. Ecclesiastes 2:13 says; I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
A GENERATIONAL BLESSING TO BE PASSED ON
You have to wonder if David’s marriage to Abigail increased his home’s wisdom quotient so much that it carried over to the things he taught to all of his children. I’m referring to all of David’s household, not just Abigail’s son, but to Solomon too. We might ponder this as we read David’s words in Psalms 104:24; O LORD, how many are your works! In wisdom You have made them all.
As mentioned before, wisdom is the foundational element of God’s Seven Spirits which make up the whole of God’s Holy Spirit. Once wisdom is established in our lives, the house of God has a foundation. When that foundation is properly laid, one becomes ready to experience the reverence of Adonai. Some people call this reverence “the fear of God.” Some call it “understanding.” Abigail also possessed this quality or attribute called “understanding” in her life. Next week we will take a closer look at how the Spirit of Understanding lived and worked within the spirit of Abigail.
WISDOM LEADS TO UNDERSTANDING
Seeing how God’s Holy Spirit worked within this wise wife of David will help us know more about becoming the future wife of a royal King of all Kings. The Church of God must keep wisdom alive and operating within it’s spirit.
Wisdom creates and moves us on into Understanding. Anyone who has obtained Godly wisdom will always seek out understanding.
Let’s let Abigail’s example of a godly life point us to the way which helps us know better how to live out THE WAY which Jesus set before us.
One of the first things we notice is that It seems Abigail met Messiah by studying Torah. The Gospel is hiding in every word of Torah. Messiah gave THE WAY to his true disciples. Abigail became an early and true disciple who was following THE WAY of Messiah before He proclaimed it in public.
Nothing ever changes about THE WAY. What was true in the books of Torah became types and shadows of the truth of the Brit Ha Hadassah. These words of wisdom are timeless and forever. God began laying them out for us on Day One of Creation. Abigail knew their secrets. We too can learn how to walk closer to God by following in THE WAY and the footsteps of our Messiah.
Next week we will learn more of THE WAY of God’s Holy Spirit through the story of Abigail’s life. Be sure to join us as we take this seven lesson detour and examine six more parts of the ways of Abigail.