well I couldnt think of a title!! what ever happend to the good old religion lol..attacking the idea or the persons post? hmm i think thats what religion does it attacks ideas against others and the people who practice what is different, but if they get attacked back then they wine. I personaly believe in simple truth a one true God whos name is love and is in all of us, not to be confused with trintiy or other magical stuff the bible doesnt say. anyways I dont want to read anymore crying bs that has nothing to do with religion while on a religion post, makes me sick. you know what I would like to here is some one come post a story from the bible and tell why they like it or how it effected them. agnostic or eggnostic o boy some people know some big words its the least of us that will be put first. who cares if you have big vocabulary or a small one. come and tell me a bible story I would love to hear it. please leave your worldy politics out, those are just things to pass and yess am truly sorrie america I know you think your a cristian nation and I do believe are founding fathers wanted it to be, but your not end of revelations a new heaven and a new earth doesnt look like there going to be a old america around. anyways I Hope you got a good old bible story to share with me tonight. God bless you all Phill I am listeing.

The story of Abigail. One of love, patience and understanding. Wholesomeness, character and fearless and giving.

Abigail was to become David's wife after the death of her husband, Nabal, a drunkard, it is as the wife of the latter (David) that her fine character comes into the sharpest focus. But in this first picture of Abigail we come to know why David later was to have such faith in her wise counsel. From his first meeting with her David's life seems have taken on a higher meaning and a stronger purpose. He is no longer a fugitive and outlaw but destined to become the great king of Judah and of all Israel.

Now mind you as you read this account, that Abigail was married to a drunkard, I'm sure if he was that he also had a lot of other baggage that goes with it. He was an ungodly man AND her husband. Did she spend her days complaining? Did she spend her time thinking about how awful her life was? Did she NOT do the things a wife should be doing in her home because he was tipping the bottle? Because he was not praying or worshiping as she KNEW he should and she was? Let us find out...

When David and Abigail chanced to meet, he was a shepherd hiding from Saul in the wilderness of Paran. He had gathered around him about six hundred followers, who formed a bodyguard and they protected the flocks of many a herdsman from prowling thieves.

In the sheep and goat country west of the Dead Sea, and not far from where David was, lay the town of Maon. Near by was the town of Carmel standing in mountainous country. One of the richest men in this area was Abigail's husband, Nabal, who had some three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. Their home probably was a pretentious place on a plateau that one came upon suddenly after leaving desolate areas.

It was sheep-shearing season at the home of Abigail and Nabal. Many guests had gathered, and there was much feasting. Abigail had provided abundantly for her guests, for she was a woman who had a reputation for gracious hospitality. We can imagine that her hospitable house, run efficiently and well, was a place where the stranger liked to tarry.

Notice here that Abigail did not allow her husbands 'foolishness' to get in the way of being a good homemaker, a help mate to her husband IN SPITE of his ways. She was full aware of the fact that with all the planning she was doing, with all the invitations sent out, with each preparation she completed that there would be drunkenness at this gathering. But I can also imagine that it was not her idea to invite this all in, but rather it was Nabal that requested it. In his standing it was expected of him to entertain, and of course it was expected of her to do her part. She could have stomped her feet and said NO! She could have tried to justify it by the way he lived, but she KNEW that her place was to obey, to submit, in order to please her husband and in doing that please GOD.

On such feasting occasions let us picture Abigail in a dress of fine linen. (She was careful to still look her best, so many times we let ourselves go because we think he is not worth pleasing, or because he lives the way he does, why bother. amen?) We have the Biblical record that Abigail was of a beautiful countenance as well as a woman of good understanding But in the next phrase her husband, Nabal, is described as churlish and evil in his doings" (I Sam. 25:3)His most recent act was directed at David, who had sent ten of his men up to the hills to ask for a little food during feasting time. David's own provisions were running low. His request was polite and just, for, ten men could not carry away much food.

David and his men had helped Nabal's shepherds to protect their master's large herds of sheep and goats. It was quite natural that David's shepherds, who had befriended Nabal's man, would be welcome at feasting time. But Nabal, drinking too heavily, cried out contemptuously when he heard of David's request, "Who is David" and who is the son of Jesse! there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master" (I Sam. 25:10).

When word reached Abigail, through one of the workers on the place, that her husband had railed at David's messengers, she listened attentively. This worker, who evidently had confidence in his mistress reminded her that David and his herdsmen had been like a wall of protection to Nabal's herdsmen. And he added that they had come to the house in peace, asking for that to which they were justly entitled. We can be assured that Abigail possessed an innate dignity and had won the respect and faithfulness of the workers in her household.

Wise woman, too, that she was, she lost no time, for she knew what happened when strong-minded men like David were angered. He was not one to let such an offense go unpunished. She also knew how rashly her husband acted when he was drunk. She wasted no time in lamenting the threatened danger or in making remarks of her husband's character. Certainly she did not pause to discuss David's anger with her drunken husband.

She didn't nag, she didn't point out his faults, she simply did all that she could to make things right w/o causing more friction in her household.

Instead she hastily made ready to prepare special foods for David's six hundred men. She asked no advice of anyone but went to work as quickly and as quietly as if she had had months to think over her actions and make preparations for the food. She supervised the baking and packing of two hundred leaves of bread.

1Samuel 25:18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

Only a capable and 'together' woman could have made ready so much food in such haste. Only a woman of good understanding could have left so quietly, without informing her husband of her actions. If she had, she knew he would demand that she not give away his food to strangers. She knew, too, that the safety of their entire household was at stake.

As Abigail came down the mountain, David and his men rode toward her, and she heard David telling them of her husband's ingratitude and of how he had returned to him evil for good. She overheard David say that by morning all that Nabal possessed and all in his household would be destroyed.

I accept all blame in this matter:

1Samuel 25:24 "And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid."

The beautiful wife of a drunken nasty Nabal had nothing to apologize for. She was putting out her husband's fire. Abigail, unafraid, hastened toward David. In all humility she began to intercede for her husband and intercede for his bad actions. She admitted to David that Nabal was a base fellow and a fool. She then begged David to receive the food she had brought and to forgive her trespasses. She praised David, telling him that evil would not be found in him so long as he lived.

She also predicted that he would be prince over Israel and that his soul would be "bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God." She confirmed that God's word was sure and that God would exalt him. In not one word do we find her forgetting her own dignity. All of the greatness which she predicted would come to David she attributed to the only source of good, God Himself. And she helped David to know he was the object of God's love and care.

Can you imagine for just one minute how many times Abigail had to undo what her husband had done to wreak some kind of havoc in their lives? But notice that she did it w/o fan fare, she did it in the same way you can do it. When you have your chance you instruct your children in the ways of the Lord, you teach what is right and WHY it is right, you don't have to say Dad is wrong, you simply say This is what God says. Maybe you wont see fruit from these teachings until years later, but we have the promise of God that His word will not return void. We do not have the promise of God that if we berate our husbands to our children, pointing out his faults, that it will bear any fruit for the Lord in any way now do we? We can be Abigails, we CAN live with an unsaved man, or a backslidden Christian and still serve God.

What but the unquestioning faith in God could have dictated such a humble petition! In it Abigail typifies woman in her noblest, purest character. Her actions reveal that she was a diplomat of the highest order and that she understood men and had tolerance for their bad behavior. (not a liking for it mind you but rather a tolerance for what she could not change on her own and accepted as part of her life) Never, I'm sure liking it!

When she had finished her mission, she Quickly mounted and went her way back over the hills. We can imagine that David watched her until she was lost in the distance.He probably had been impressed with her good countenance, and he was not to forget this woman who had brought all of this excellent food to his hungry men. His admiration for her one day would take on a deeper, richer meaning.

When Abigail arrived home, she found her husband still feasting and drinking. But, wisely, she did not tell him of her journey until morning. When the sober Nabal learned from Abigail how near he had come to being slain by David and his men and what she had done to avoid such an attack, he became violently ill. Ten days later he died.

David, later to learn of Nabal's death, would affectionately remember the woman of good understanding who had come over the mountain, bringing food to appease his hunger. He was now free to wed Abigail, and so he sent his servants, telling her that he wanted her to be his wife.

She was now the petitioned and not the petitioner. She accepted David's invitation for marriage, but it was in humility. To his messengers she said,:

1Sa 25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

Though Abigail brought to David a rich estate and a new social position, she felt unworthy to become the wife of one whom God had singled out for His work.

From this we can see that Abigail never once thought she was better than her husband, she never thought that she was right and OH! he is SO wrong. She considered her marriage to Nabal her commitment to God. Whatever it brought. And until the Lord called him out, she served him willingly, and the best she was able. We have to allow God to work in our husbands lives. We have to be obedient to God in OUR walk.

Titus 2:5 "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." & Col 3:18 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."

And do you see how God worked things out for her in later days? She became the wife of David, she could not have been used by God to be such a blessing to him if it were not for the obedience she commited to in eariler days.

Now, Abigail was just the wife that David needed, for he was willful and tempestuous, while she was humble and gentle. Probably she helped him to learn patience and forbearance and to put aside temptation. She also helped to inspire confidence in him.

She dwelt with David at Gath and also went with him to Hebron, and there she gave birth to their son, Chileab, also called Daniel. Though little is recorded about Abigail after her marriage to David, we can be sure she was continually exposed to danger from the enmity of Saul and his followers and to captivity from neighboring nations.

We can read of her being held hostage, of her rescue at David's hand. Of a life that was used of God BECAUSE she chose not to question why, but rather serve and trust that God would provide peace, comfort, and finally reward for doing that which she was called to do.

I hope and pray that the example of Abigail's life will give some encouragement in marriage. I hope as Abigail looked UP for strength, we can and will too.

1Corinthians 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

Kat

Thats a good story I think that story is important because it isnt that uncommon to find cristian or religous women of non believing husbands. Thank you kat i enjoyed that story, I work 14-16 hours a day 7 days a week i get internet on my phone and enjoy reading bible stories on my phone while at work. Hope to hear from u again. Phill

During the 12th century B.C., famine crippled the kingdom of Judah. When enough rain fell in the lands west of what we now call the Dead Sea, fields of wheat and barely, vineyards and olive and fig groves provided a bountiful harvest.

But when the rains failed, famine forced to uproot and move to areas with adequate rainfall. During one such famine, a Bethlehemite named Elimelech, with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, traveled to eastern borders of the Dead Sea to the kingdom of Moab in search of fertile land. The biblical book of Ruth records what happened.

Moab was only 30 to 40 miles from their native Bethlehem, but travel was difficult. Not only did travelers have to contend with the rugged terrain, but bandits often dotted the roads. Also, the transition to Moab was difficult in a spiritual way. In bethlehem almost everyone worshiped the God of Israel. But in Moab the people worshiped a god called Chemosh. God warned the Israelites many years earlier not to get involved with the rituals of the Moabites.

Moabite women had seduced and enticed Israelite warriors and led them to sacrifice to Chemosh. This angered God, who killed the idolaters with a plague and again reminded the Israelites not to become involved with Moabite religious practices. However, years later, despite the tense relationship between the two peoples, Chlion and Mahlon married Moabite women. Within 10 years, Elimelech and his sons died, leaving behind three widows with no means of support.

Elimelech's widow, Naomi for her native home in Judah. As a woman, she could not directly inherit property, but could hold property in a type of trust for a future husband or another male relative. A woman without such an arrangement was at the mercy of charity.

Naomi expressed her desire to return to Judah. Both her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, began the trip with her. Perhaps as they travelled across the rugged terrain, the women discussed what lay ahead for them. One fact could not be ignored: The young Moabite women would almost certainly meet an unfavorable reception from those living in Bethlehem.

Naomi strongly recommended that her daughters-in-law return to their people and their gods. Based on these facts, Orpah tearfully kissed her mother-in-law and returned to Moab. But Ruth clung to her mother-in-law and uttered words that serve as a timeless memorial: "Wherever you go, I will go: and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (Ruth 1:16).

Even though Ruth was not an Israelite, God accepted her because she embraced his calling and way of life. The people in Bethlehem noticed her commitment to God's way of life. No one in the community doubted her sincerity. Boaz did not hesitate to link his name with Ruth's when she approached him concerning a Hebrew custom known as "levirate." The custom was instituted to insure the security of a widow who might be left a destitute and friendless.

Ruth set an outstanding example for each of us. She willingly left a familiar homeland and journeyed to a potentially unfriendly land so that she could embrace God's way of life.

Because Ruth understood God's commandments, she respected and loved her mother-in-law. But the book of the Bible that bears her name conveys much more than a romantic story or an example of outstanding family relations. The book of Ruth serves to remind us of God's deep desire for all humanity to reap the benefits of living his way of life.

God call on us to leave our familiar way of life-sometimes leaving behind everything we've known-to embrace his way. If we commit ourselves to God, we, too, will be blessed

So, there you go. Good story.
Kat

Hay thanks guys I love to read the bible but I also like to hear stories told to me form the bible, I drive semic truck at work and reading these while working made my day good. I hope to read more in the future have a great night.