Sinabi niya, “Ako na po ang inyong sisihin.” Sinabi ni David kay Abigail, “Purihin si Yahweh na nagpapunta sa iyo rito. Salamat sa kanya dahil sa iyong kabutihan, sapagkat sa ginawa mo‘y nakaiwas ako sa pagpatay ng tao at magsagawa ng sariling paghihiganti. … kung hindi ka naparito ngayon, bukas ng umaga ay patay sa sanang lahat ang inyong sambahayan.”

1 Samuel 25:24, 32–34

Are you the type of person who readily takes the blame for a failure? Hindi naman ikaw ang may kasalanan pero maluwag mong inaako ang kasalanan o kapalpakan ng iba para sa kapakanan ng lahat. Sa totoo lang, mas sanay tayong magsabi ng “siya kasi” kaysa sa “ako kasi” dahil iniisip natin na sign ng kahinaan ang magkamali. At lalong mahirap akuin ang kasalanan na hindi naman tayo ang gumawa.

Pero iyan ang ginawa ni Abigail na mababasa sa 1 Samuel 25:2–39. She saved her family from death by accepting the blame for the wrongdoing that her ill-tempered husband, Nabal, did toward David. Because of an upcoming celebration, nagpadala si David ng mga tauhan niya kay Nabal para humingi ng konting ayuda as a token for protecting Nabal’s sheep. But instead of sharing his blessings, Nabal screamed insults at David’s men. Tinawag niyang isang alipin si David at sinabing “… ang pagkain ay hindi ko maibibigay sa mga taong hindi ko alam kung saang lupalop nanggaling” (v. 11). Nang makarating kay David ang panlalait ni Nabal sa kanya, galit na galit ito at agad na nagsama ng 400 na tauhan para patayin ang lahat ng lalaki sa sambahayan ni Nabal. When Nabal’s wife, Abigail, learned about her husband‘s sin against David, she quicklyintervened para mapigilan ang paghihiganti ni David sa kanilang pamilya.

She sought David to give him bread, slaughtered sheep, wine, grain, raisins and fig cakes. And when she saw him, Abigail bowed low before David and said, “I accept all the blame in this matter, my lord” (v. 24, NLT). And then she reminded David that he was a righteous man and urged him not to take vengeance into his own hands.  “…don’t let this be blemish on your record … (v. 31, NLT)  for you have not done wrong throughout your entire life” (v. 28, NLT). Nakinig si David at pinasalamatan si Abigail na anya‘y pinadala sa kanya ng Diyos. “Bless you for keeping me from murder Return home in peace. We will not kill your husband” (v. 35, NLT).

Abigail’s move to take the blame not only saved her household. It also stopped David from sinning against God. Her courageous and selfless act reaped blessings for her as well. After the Lord struck Nabal dead, David remembered Abigail and married her.