GRACE AS PRESENTED IN DAVID (2)
GRACE AS PRESENTED IN DAVID (2)
SMcC The chapter before us this afternoon shows us in the type, in Abigail, the great place that the assembly has in the subject of the administration of grace. The assembly as it comes into the dispensation is a marvellous vessel under the divine eye, because it is the great vessel of grace. The book of the Acts clearly shows that, especially in regard to the Jewish position when the hatred of man found its expression at the cross; the answer to that in the Acts, is the administration of grace in the coming of the Spirit - the first feature of divine administration, Christ being glorified. The assembly is set up and it becomes the great vessel of grace, the great city of refuge, the great sphere of divine protection and salvation here on earth.
In the type, Abigail shows us how David is held up in regard to his movements with the sword. The present time is the time when the sword is put into its sheath. It is a wonderful dispensation. David is going on to the throne, and just as Abigail held up David, so the assembly as it were, is standing related to the administration of grace. The sword will be resumed after the translation; literal warfare will again take place; but in the meantime, we have this wonderful interim, this great period when this vessel is formed, in which the ministry of grace is maintained.
I thought we might see in Abigail, an answer in the saints to David himself. Her intelligence and discernment bring out the great qualities of the assembly at the present time when conflict is on, because it is a time of conflict. What is to be noted with Abigail is that she has a thorough judgment of Saul and of Nabal. She is a unique type of the assembly at the present time.
EB Would you make a distinction between its being a time of conflict but not a time for the use of the sword?
SMcC “The arms of our warfare are not fleshly.” In our period of time the warfare is spiritual.
JW Is this the product of Samuel’s ministry? Are we challenged as to the effect the ministry over the past fifty years has had upon us?
SMcC That is exactly the position we are in. Samuel was a great minister of God, one of the greatest prophets, and his ministry was a marvellous ministry honoured of God. But he dies here, and the result of the ministry comes to light in one who is the practical exponent of it. Samuel’s ministry brings in David, God’s anointed, and Abigail is the subjective answer to that through the prophetic service.
AJC David’s young men and also Abigail’s and Nabal’s young men are mentioned.
SMcC They all come into the position in the chapter as serving in some way. We can thank God for the element of youth amongst us. There are many here. The testimony requires youth for its continuance.
CAI How do you regard Abigail as standing in responsible relationship to Nabal in the marriage tie?
SMcC It points to our position as linked with what there is in the public position, yet in the goodness of God having a moral judgment as to it and a moral clearance coming in in relation to it.
GGG Is there a correspondence between David and Abigail? We were noticing this morning that David was ruddy and of a lovely countenance, and of Abigail it says that she was a woman “of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.”
SMcC She is the answer through the prophetic ministry to what is in David. The ministry would produce a correspondence to Christ which would be seen in the saints. We have had a tremendous volume of ministry, and I think the Lord is testing us these last three years or so, as to whether we are substantially living exponents of the ministry, or whether it is just in books.
MB Abigail judged the matter and separated from it.
SMcC It would be on the line of “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
CFI Verse 3 calls attention to features of moral correspondence in Abigail.
SMcC It does, and I think it is important that we should see on the eve of translation that the Lord is looking for an answer substantially in the saints to all the worth and distinctiveness of the ministry we have sat under.
ECK Does a crisis bring to light what we are substantially?
SMcC It does, and it is of all moment that we should be practical exponents of the ministry. Some of the older ones will recall the outstanding address of F.E.R.’s at Quemerford, that the maintenance of the truth does not lie in the power of mentality that can set it out in its terms, but it lies in being living exponents of it through the help of the Spirit.
CSK Paul says we all have knowledge, but this is something different.
SMcC It is of paramount importance that we should see the character of intelligence which belongs to the assembly period and what it is to Divine Persons to see this intelligent understanding marking the assembly. Paul, even in dealing with things at Corinth, while there was much which was contrary to the truth in a concrete way among them, yet abstractly, he holds them in the light of this. He says, “I speak as to intelligent persons: do ye judge what I say.” 1 Corinthians 10:15.
TCH Substantiality in the assembly is essential.
SMcC It is a question of maintaining the spirit and grace of the dispensation, and the assembly is found in type in Abigail. Not only is her language right, but it is what she is substantially, because David says, “See, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person;” 1 Samuel 25: 35, meaning what she was substantially.
ALF Would the position in which Abigail found herself in Nabal’s house produce exercise which led her to a judgment as to both Nabal and David, and in that position; I was wondering if the thought of suffering would link very much with the inward formation of the truth?
SMcC I think it does. It is a question of where we are in these matters. David is rejected. It is not a time of glory; it is a time of suffering. And Abigail comes into the chapter here as an intelligent woman who is able to see through all the difficulties and perceive that David is God’s anointed. It was not easy to see that, because Saul was on the throne.
GRD Would you say a word as to the bearing of David’s appeal? David furnishes a background for the coming forward of Abigail.
SMcC I think it shows how the bearing of the glad tidings is towards all. Nabal is not excluded. David says, “long life to thee!” We should remember the glory of the dispensation from this viewpoint. Later, David assumes the sword but Abigail holds him back.
EHB “Glory and ... peace ... both to Jew first and to Greek.” Romans 2: 10.
CEJ So it is a good day. We come in a good day in verse 8.
SMcC That is what characterises the day we are in. It is a day of salvation.
AMcKH Would you regard the 18th Matthew as displaying features of grace in the assembly, one after another, until they culminate in the assembly itself?
SMcC The assembly is the final court of appeal; not that we would eliminate the judicial thought from our minds in speaking of the vessel of grace; Abigail represents the assembly in her clear perception and discernment in regard to the need of the moment.
PB In 1 Timothy 2, we read, “I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications ... be made for all men ... for this is good and acceptable before our Saviour God.”
SMcC Our outlook should be right; it should be one of blessing. It is not one of judgment. Blessing, we may say, is the order of the day in our dispensation. As we move through the Acts and see the unique ministry of the twelve, we see how grace is presented and how the assembly becomes the great vessel of salvation and divine protection.
CAI Could we regard Abigail as the moral interpretation of the heifer thought in intelligent response to David and his anointing?
SMcC As we remarked this morning, the heifer would, in its full thought, work out along this line. Abigail representing the assembly as corresponding to Christ in a feminine way.
WHW “Upon me, my Lord, upon me let the iniquity be.”
SMcC The chapter opens with the background of Samuel’s death. Then we have David brought in, and Nabal. And finally, Abigail comes into it. Then comes the message of Nabal to David, and the operational side of things commences. And it is on the operational side that difficulties come up as we know. We may be clear as to the basic outlines of the truth, as to the prophetic ministry, as to David and as to Nabal, representing the public profession and as to the assembly in Abigail in an objective way, but when we come to operations, then difficulties come in. We need to see how the operations proceed in this chapter.
EBMcC Does Samuel’s death suggest that we are left to our own exercises in such conditions?
SMcC What we find here in the type is the product of Samuel’s ministry, and that is to find expression in all the operations in a practical way.
ASP “And now know and consider what thou wilt do.”
SMcC It is the operations which test us. We can sit in meeting after meeting and speak about the assembly and about Christ and about the profession and the glad tidings, and then, when it comes to the operations, we are all awry. This is the test - “know and consider what thou wilt do.”
CFI Does Luke’s gospel present to us the operations of grace?
SMcC It does, and also it stresses the importance of accuracy. ‘ ... it has seemed good to me also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method ... that thou mightest know the certainty of those things.” It is important that there should be accuracy when it comes to the operation of things.
GH Accuracy as to divine principles and then as to facts to which those principles are to be applied?
EB So we are to know the certainty of any matter, or matters generally, or the truth.
SMcC Luke’s gospel is a wonderful gospel to read in relation to the glory of the glad tidings. It is the great evangelical gospel to instruct us in the great matter of the glad tidings, and that we are to know the certainty of things.
WJB What would you say as to the characteristics of these two men Nabal and David? Nabal was shearing sheep.
SMcC Nabal is wholly out of accord with the general teaching of the chapter as to David and Abigail. He represents what is around us on every hand, and what we need to judge thoroughly in every way. Nabal is not concerned about feeding the sheep here, but shearing them; that is, he is operating in view of his own personal gain and personal prestige, as he says, “Shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh which I have killed for my shearers ...?” His operations only took into account what he himself was. Abigail’s operations took into account the moral worth of David and his official glory.
JW Nabal is marked by assurance is he not - “Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?”
SMcC And he is very daring; one of the young men who spoke to Abigail said, “David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our master, and he has insulted them.”
WJB Abigail was marked by great concern about Nabal and David.
SMcC She has a thorough judgment as to Nabal and as to Saul, a remarkable thing. David emerges from a sphere of obscurity, coming all at once on to our view as feeding the sheep in chapter 16. And Abigail also emerges from a sphere of comparative obscurity, and she is a person of moral worth just as David was.
EBMcC It is remarkable the supply she brings in here to meet the situation; the, abundant range of food.
SMcC It is, and also what she says is remarkable. What she is substantially comes to light. I think perhaps we have been more concerned about light in procedure in operations than we have been about where we have been substantially; not that we do not need light, but it is an important thing that we should be substantial exponents of the spirit and grace of the dispensation.
CFI Paul refers to the arms of our warfare. He commences chapter 10 by saying, “I ... entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ.” That is seen here.
SMcC Exactly, in the way Abigail takes up her position before David and the feeling way in which she speaks about the whole matter.
WJB Was David provoked? He had sent a message of peace.
SMcC We have to view the chapter dispensationally in the way in which we are looking at the type now. There may be other ways in which it is applied, but looking at it dispensationally, the Lord would have a right to exercise the sword under ordinary circumstances, as He will immediately the dispensation is completed; but we see here how the Lord Jesus in type in David is held up in the use of the sword through the assembly’s position in type in Abigail as the vessel of grace.
MB These young men come into things at the right time in regard to this crisis. I was wondering if we could have a word for the young men here.
SMcC It is interesting how these elements come to light in these difficult positions; these persons are prepared to stand for the truth. We were speaking the other night about the man who comes into the body of chapter 18 of 2 Samuel. He takes issue with Joab, who was a General and great publicly, but the man takes issue with him. He says, “Yet would I not put forth my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king charged thee.” This young man of Nabal’s was a man like that.
EB It is the young men who overcome the wicked one.
SMcC It is a feature to be noted that they have overcome the wicked one. The word of God abides in them. The young women would be involved in it too, and I think the young men and women should take account of that expression. “I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
GJG So that this young man recognises that there is capacity with Abigail. It says that Abigail made haste.
SMcC In verse 14 we read that one of Nabal’s young men told Abigail saying, “Behold, David sent messengers.” He knows who David is apparently. “David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our master.” That is touching in itself, the way he alludes to the matter. And he goes on to say, “And the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we companied with them, when we were in the fields.” He is a very observant young man.
GWB There was no young man like this to be found at Corinth; the apostle says, “Thus there is not a wise person among you? not even one ... “ - a testing scripture for us.
MB This young man places the information where it can be dealt with.
SMcC We have often heard the importance of placing information in the right hands. This young man did not go to Nabal, he went to Abigail, or the assembly in type. The information was placed in the hands where it would do most good, not where it would do the most damage. The enemy would help us to put information where it would do the most damage; but we want to see it is placed where it will do the most good.
TCH Is there an appeal to Abigail to take up intercessory service?
SMcC The young man seems to understand the greatness of Abigail, that she is a woman who is able to operate and do things according to her understanding.
WHW He says, “He is such a son of Belial, that one cannot speak to him.” They could not address him directly.
SMcC That is right, but apparently they were free to speak to Abigail at any time.
RGC Normally there is capacity found in the assembly to meet every exigency that might arise. The young man recognises that capacity with Abigail.
GWB Regarding the matter of placing information where it is best used, it says that Abigail did not tell her husband Nabal anything.
SMcC She waited an opportunity - “And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things.” There is skill in her operations, and the assembly is marked by skill in her operations. Matthew 18 is a chapter which involves skill in operations.
AMcKH The young man spoke respectfully. Do we need to take account of the necessity of speaking respectfully to one another in the assembly?
SMcC Indeed, how careful we should be in our language that we do not allow our tongues to get out of control, especially as forming part of the dignified vessel of grace in this dispensation.
FRG In principle Nabal insulted the Spirit of grace.
SMcC I suppose in principle he did. His end, I think, would bear that out.
PLB Abigail meets this position with food for the young men. Is that the way the situation is met - to bring about strength in a difficult position?
SMcC We must have something positive; we cannot meet what is negative by what is negative. We have to meet it with positive features of the truth. There is positive substance in what Abigail brings forward.
CSK This young man appreciated the grace and care of what had been expended upon them.
SMcC It is an important thing that the young people should understand the position they are in as surrounded by David and his men, by the Lord Jesus Christ and His own; that while He is rejected, we, are in a position where we are in safe keeping, where we are protected from all the evil influences around.
RHLG The young man says, “Know and consider what thou wilt do.”
SMcC He sees that it is a good time now for her to act. It is the assembly that is before us now in this matter of operating, and we are to see the greatness of what is linked with the assembly in type from this view point. It reminds us of Ephesians 3, “the administration of the grace of God which has been given to me,” what the working out of that involves among the saints; all that would enter into the operation side.
FRG Would you say a word as to the lowliness of mind which marked Abigail at the various junctures in the chapter?
SMcC I think it is important to see the way that she bows herself to the ground and fell before David on her face, “Upon me, my lord, upon me let the iniquity be; but let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear the words of thy handmaid.” Think of what the saints must be to Christ in the midst of all that Nabal represents. We were speaking about the Lord Jesus in Matthew 11 saying He was meek and lowly in heart. Think of the corresponding features in Abigail, the lowliness that marked her and her capacity to take on the matter on hand.
CAI Simon in Luke 7 was the Nabal of that day; but the woman ministered to the Lord.
SMcC In principle I suppose that would be so. I suppose we would see the full result in the way she honours Christ. “Seest thou this woman?” as if he had delight in drawing attention to her.
MAH We often lack in wisdom in dealing with matters.
SMcC I think the test is where we are substantially. I think that all our bent of mind sometimes is to get as much knowledge as we can, but we should be concerned as to communion with the Holy Spirit and making room for Him that we might be formed substantially in the features of the dispensation.
PLB Abigail knew what David had been through.
SMcC Yes, and I do not think that knowledge came into her mind suddenly. And if we follow up the truth, we shall be helped. The difficulty is that we fix our minds on one particular feature of the truth and get out of balance, and therefore get into confusion in the manner of operation.
MB There is variety in the food Abigail brings.
SMcC It is an interesting list. There is what is rare and what is special; wine is in it. Abigail was not a prohibitionist. It is worthy of note that in the books of Samuel all the persons of moral worth have got flasks and bottles of wine - Hannah has; the man going up to Bethel has; Jesse has, and Abigail has. Saul only had a cruse of water. The wine would be typical of what would spiritually affect the saints and stimulate them.
REH In Revelation 6 we read, “do not injure the oil and the wine.”
SMcC I suppose it would be a feature of importance in whatever circumstances it appears, especially here where David and his men might have been jaded and weary with what the conflict involved.
EHB Do you think there is a thought of buoyancy in it?
SMcC And stimulation - a great element to bring in when there are difficulties, because the saints get so depressed. But Luke would help us as to the matter of maintaining buoyancy. He speaks much of joy.
AI The assembly is to be marked by discernment.
SMcC It helps to see how this thought of discernment works out in Abigail. What does the discernment refer to? It refers to the movements of David. She says, “evil has not been found in thee in all thy days.” She discerns that he is a person of moral worth by what he was and by what he did in contrast to Saul.
RGC She is amazingly generous in her outlook towards him. David had put on his sword, but she said in effect, that he was saved from that because of what was within himself.
SMcC It is remarkable what she says in that connection, how far-reaching her thoughts are. Verse 30 says, “And it shall come to pass, when Jehovah ... shall appoint thee ruler over Israel.”
GCG The young man said evil was determined against his master. He accepted the situation.
LJo There are two important features brought forward in relation to the shedding of blood and avenging himself.
SMcC I think that bears on what we have been saying as to the early chapters of the Acts, the grace of the dispensation is to be maintained. There is a time for the sword as we know; later, it will be resumed. But the present time is the time when the sword is put into its sheath as the Lord said. It is not the time for wielding it in blood shedding.
FRG Naturally we would have said that David had every right to avenge himself because of the treatment he had received; but the way in which Abigail handles the matter, really indicates the infinite grace of the dispensation.
SMcC And we should be concerned in ourselves as to any thought of avenging ourselves in any matter.
MB Abigail sets forth features of the woman of worth in Proverbs 31, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.”
SMcC Exactly.
GWB The thief on the Cross had discernment when he said, “this man has done nothing amiss.” Luke 23: 41.
CWM Abigail says, “And when Jehovah shall deal well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.”
SMcC She speaks in a much fuller way, of course, but there would be the fullness of what we have in principle in the words of the thief.
GH Was Abigail’s concern not so much for Nabal as for David, that he would be preserved in keeping with the spirit of the dispensation?
SMcC That is the whole point; she has a definite judgment as to Nabal, in fact she says in verse 26, “let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.” What did she mean by that? It shows that on account of her faith, the position was completely settled for her even as far as Nabal was concerned. It is important what faith can do, and if we had greater faith in regard to the truth in matters of conflict, the ground would be better held. In the last chapter of Ephesians, after Paul had been speaking of conflict, he says, “Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” A remarkable expression, because Ephesians refers to the assembly in her heavenly glory, and it is essential that the faith side of things should be prominent.
FLB Ephesians 3 says, “that the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love;” that is, we are still down here but we are intelligent as to our heavenly position.
SMcC This element of faith is a very important thing. In chapter 14 Jonathan says, “perhaps Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.” Now that is very fine, to see how faith is supported. To Jonathan, the thing was as good as done; and that is what we want to see substantially amongst the saints - in their links with divine Persons, things are as good as done. The enemies have no power because they are uncircumcised. “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils.”
REH Abigail said, “the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living.”
SMcC In regard to that reference, it is important to notice certain features that marked Abigail substantially; first, there is the wealth she has as mentioned in verse 18, then in verse 23, what she is substantially in her actions. And then what she is substantially in her apprehension of Christ; the moral glory of David affects her as the moral glory of Christ affects the assembly.
GRD You were saying Abigail represents the assembly administratively in grace. How would it be worked out practically by the assembly when she takes upon herself the iniquity of Nabal, and she asks forgiveness for the transgression against David’s young men. “Upon me, my lord, upon me let the iniquity be;” Is that a feature of grace?
SMcC We are to understand the bearing of it in regard to the whole public position; we feel the iniquity, taking upon ourselves what has come into the public body - dishonouring to Christ and dishonouring to God. In the assembly the whole position is felt, and in principle, the sin offering is eaten.
FRG Her appreciation of the moral glory of David helps in relation to this matter of coming down. She rode an ass and came down.
SMcC That is interesting.
REH I was thinking of Philippians 2, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
SMcC Philippians is the answer to Ephesians in a practical way. It gives us the personnel of the assembly marked by features of correspondence to Christ.
GWB Would you say a little more as to this matter of discernment? It says Nabal’s heart died within him. It was only what Abigail could see that she could discern.
SMcC The young man says, “He is such a son of Belial, that one cannot speak to him.” That is what marked him in his approach to persons. No one could speak to him. And then Abigail says of Nabal, “and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out from the hollow of the sling.” She also says to David, “Because my lord fights the battles of Jehovah, and evil has not been found in thee all thy days.” That would be an allusion to David’s ways and to his uprightness. Then she goes on to say, “And if a man is risen up to pursue thee and to seek thy life.” She has a judgment as to Saul. She has a judgment as to Saul and as to Nabal, and as to David, according to what marked them.
PB The 26th verse brings in discernment - “seeing Jehovah has restrained thee from coming with bloodshed.” Abigail had a sense that David had heard her, that David was moved in relation to her.
CEJ Did you have something more in mind when you referred to what marked these persons?
SMcC I did. We are to have a judgment of every person by what they are and by what they say.
CSK By what a man’s course is.
SMcC Exactly. That is what she is drawing attention to. She says, “if a man is risen up”; not “if a man has been raised up.” A very important difference. David was raised up according to 2 Samuel 23. But she says, “If a man is risen up.” She has a judgment of Saul because of the course he is pursuing.
AMcKH Could you tell us how Abigail could make haste without making mistakes?
SMcC I think it is because of her understanding and her discernment. It all enters into the matter of our haste and ability to do things. We are to see the greatness of the assembly; normally the assembly does not make mistakes.
JGM Would the clarity of the evidence of the young man bear upon that?
SMcC I think that would form a basis for supporting what is right.
GWB Is it important that this vessel so formed in all these beautiful features, comes into prominence under adverse circumstances?
SMcC We might say that if we were in America or Great Britain, we would do very differently. But the point is, it is a question of where we all are substantially, and that is important in this chapter. We might finish with just a word as to Abigail in the last part of the chapter, what she is substantially in her movements in following the messengers of David. It would represent the place that the ministry has. It says in verse 39, “And the servants of David came to Abigail to Carmel, and spoke to her, saying, ‘David has sent us to thee, to take thee as his wife.’” She does not reason out the matter or argue; but “She arose and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, ‘Behold, let thy handmaid be a bondwoman to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”’ She not only appreciates David and respects him, but she respects his servants.
WJB She was very different from Jonathan who said to David, “Thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next to thee”; Abigail takes the lowly place.
SMcC What room there is for lowliness amongst us! The great administrative chapter - Matthew 18, begins with the thought of the little child. The trouble is we often assume largeness in our own eyes.
WHW Abigail uses an ass. How would that work out in our day?
SMcC I think she knows what to do and how to make use of things that are best suited for the movements required to make the journey. We cannot put too much into the types. She uses what is at hand to carry out the movements required.
MB Would it link in any way with the ministry you referred to earlier? She would be one who was moving in relation to the precious ministry that had come to her.
SMcC She communes with the servants. It is a question of subjection to the ministry. I think that ministry brings out where we are substantially.
AJC So that whether it is on the descending line or the upward line, we still have ministry to help us.
SMcC While on the one hand we see Abigail as the product of Samuel’s ministry, on the other hand she is amenable to what David would put before her through his servants.
JR It says she went after the messengers.
SMcC That is important. These young men are the servants of David and she follows them; they represent David.
MB It says she became his wife.
SMcC It is a very fine ending. And then we are told that David had also taken Ahinoam of Jizreel.
and that Saul had given Michal to Phalti, the son of Laish. That is, we are reminded of other possessions - that David has; but the whole chapter is throwing into relief what Abigail was. And I think that is the great feature of the dispensation, that whatever links the Lord Jesus may have with Israel, or publicly in the profession, what we have to see is the glory of the assembly from the viewpoint of Abigail.
PB Abigail had five damsels who followed her.
SMcC Just as David has the young men supporting the position on his side, so Abigail has five damsels supporting the position on her side, and they went after the messengers of David. Abigail is in subjection to leadership in the ministry. I think, the great thing that the chapter should leave with us in the way of an impression, is what we are substantially in regard to the great features of the dispensation. The ministry has been drawn attention to, but the assembly is to be the vessel in which the thing is seen substantially.
WHW She became his wife; she was trustworthy.
SMcC We are to be trustworthy in matters. It is a good word to finish with.