11May 2011 1Samuel 25:38

³⁸About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died.
This simple verse gives the outcome of what was probably a stroke. But the story leading up to it is a contrast between wicked husband and noble wife. Abigail had the misfortune of living with an evil man. She kept her character upright even in the house of a wicked man, something to be sought and coveted. She did not let her husband’s character ruin hers. It would have been easy to make those little compromises living with Nabal. He probably treated her very poorly. She did not get the respect she was due. But the LORD was watching. Are you living with a spouse that is not living honorably? Don’t use that as an excuse for your own evil behavior. God has called us to live holy lives even in unrighteous circumstances. He calls and empowers us to rise above our circumstances. But we must be willing to follow that call and accept that power. After Nabal’s death Abigail becomes David’s wife, the wife of a future king. Not a bad reward for obedience.