“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.” Psalm 119:66
The nasty “dumb blonde” joke is a type of joke that always raises a few eyebrows. For some reason, women with blonde hair are relentlessly mocked for their supposed lack of judgment or simplistic reasoning. There’s no doubt that many women with light-colored hair despise hearing the never-ending litany of put-downs. Although the word blonde never appears in the Bible, there are certainly many women mentioned who appear far from simple or dumb. Some of these women are like shrewd and clever Esther, faithful Ruth, and motherly Hannah. In the New Testament, Mary was a tower of strength, and Lydia was a very capable CEO. King Lemuel, writer of Proverbs 31, heaps accolades on the treasure of finding a good woman. His list boasts that a wife of noble character is worth far more than rubies, she works with eager hands, she gets up while it is still dark and provides food for her family, she sets about her work vigorously, she makes profitable trades, her lamp does not go out at night, she opens her arms to the poor, she clothes her household, her husband is respected, she watches over the affairs of her household, her children call her blessed, and her husband praises her. “Beauty is fleeting,” Lemuel writes, “but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (verse 30).
Abigail (“my father is joy”) was such a woman. Though mentioned in one brief instance, she stands as a pillar of good judgment and wise counsel. While David was on the run from Saul, he and his small army stopped at Carmel. There he met the owners of an estate: “His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings” (1 Samuel 25:3). David asked for some provision for his soldiers, but Nabal refused. This angered David, and he decided to send four hundred of his men to teach Nabal a lesson. Meanwhile, one of the servants explained the situation to Abigail. “Abigail lost no time” (25:18). She prepared a huge amount of food and drink for David and his men in hopes of appeasing David’s anger. “As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her. . . . She quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground” (25:20,23).
Did she blame her husband for this mess? Did she pout about how she would be left without a husband should David kill Nabal? Did she accuse David of being cruel and uncaring? Her first words were, “My lord, let the blame be on me alone” (25:24). Abigail went on to convince David that the Lord had great plans for him as a leader of God’s people and she did not want to see David “have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself” (25:31).
David was impressed! He looked down at Abigail and said, “May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. . . . Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request” (25:33,35).
Neither David nor Abigail could have realized then that within hours her foolish husband would be struck dead with a heart attack and that David would take her to be his wife.
We feel sympathy and admiration for Abigail. She lived a difficult life with a husband who was a fool and who never appreciated her. Yet Abigail was faithful to her marriage vow, and despite her personal hardship, she willfully bore her burden. The Lord had great blessings in store for Abigail in reward for her faithfulness. Abigail was truly an “intelligent and beautiful woman,” and that intelligence and beauty was far more than just skin deep. Like so many women in the Bible, Abigail can surely serve as an amazing role model for young women today!
Prayer thought: Ask the Lord for guidance in making wise and intelligent judgments throughout your day.
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