“When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: ‘Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.”—1 Samuel 25:23–27 (NIV)

It’s not always easy to talk someone off the ledge—convincing a friend not to get a terrible tattoo they’ll regret; talking your child out of jumping into a relationship with a clearly toxic individual; convincing a loved one to breathe before sending an angry text; calming someone down before they make a choice in rage or desperation. At some point, you’ve probably been on both sides of this equation!

With those experiences in mind, I think we can all agree that it takes some serious wisdom, courage, and a good dose of spiritual discernment to step in and say, “Hey . . . take a breath. Let’s talk about this.” That’s the kind of moment we step into in 1 Samuel 25.

David, still on the run from King Saul, had protected the property of a wealthy but arrogant man named Nabal. When David’s men asked for food in return, Nabal responded with a nasty insult and refused to help. I think of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, who is rude and unwilling to do anything when Gandalf shows up to tell him about the coming conflict with Sauron’s forces. Needless to say, David was furious. With his sword on his hip and fury in his heart, David set out to kill every man in Nabal’s household.

Enter Abigail: Nabal’s wife.

She didn’t wait to see what would happen. She didn’t stand by hoping her husband would come to his senses. She acted quickly and wisely. She gathered supplies, rode out to meet David, and placed herself between a furious future king and a household full of unknowing men.

Her words are bold, respectful, and full of God-centered wisdom. She acknowledges her husband’s foolishness, but not in a dishonoring way. She reminds David of God’s promises over his life, gently pointing him away from vengeance and toward righteousness. And incredibly, David listens. He blesses Abigail for her discernment, for saving him from unnecessary bloodshed and from doing something he would have regretted.

Abigail is a peacemaker in every sense of the word. And when I think of her in this moment, I think of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:9 (NIV): “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

A while back, I wrote a devotional on that verse where I described peacemakers as “diffusers.” Think about how a diffuser works: whether it’s spreading light, cooling a room with air, or dispersing fragrance or essential oil, it takes something in and spreads it around in all directions. That’s what Jesus is calling us to do: to receive His peace, and then diffuse it into the world.

The Greek word for “peacemaker” in Matthew 5:9 is eirēnopoioi—someone who loves peace, promotes harmony, and speaks with God’s truth and wholeness. It’s not just about keeping things calm. It’s about bravely declaring the peace of God and stepping into tension as someone shaped by grace. 

And that’s exactly what Abigail does. She receives wisdom from the Lord, and then lets peace pour out of her through action and speech. She diffuses peace in a moment where anger, pride, and bloodshed were about to explode.

It also reminds me of Paul’s words in Romans 12:18 (NIV): “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Abigail couldn’t control her husband. She couldn’t control David. But she could control her response. And she chose to live at peace, promote peace, and exemplify it. And at the center of all of this is a gospel truth we can’t ignore: Abigail’s response points us to Jesus.

Paul says in Ephesians 2:14 (NIV), “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” Jesus is the ultimate peace-diffuser. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ Jesus stood in the gap between us and the wrath our sin deserved. Like Abigail, He took on a burden that wasn’t His. Like Abigail, He pleaded for mercy. But unlike Abigail, He didn’t just risk His life—He gave it.

So the question is: Are we living like peacemakers? Are we letting the Spirit of God shape us into people who step in wisely, speak truth courageously, and point others toward God’s promises?

Because the world doesn’t need more escalators. It needs more Abigails—more peacemakers; more peace-diffusers.

Pause: Can you think of a moment where someone talked you down from doing something impulsive? What did they say or do that helped you see more clearly?

Practice: Who in your life needs a peacemaker right now? Ask God for the courage and wisdom to step in—like Abigail did—with grace, humility, and truth.

Pray: Father, make me a peacemaker. When others are angry, help me bring the calm of Your Holy Spirit into the midst of the moment. When tension rises, help me bring wisdom. Give me the boldness of Abigail, and fill me with the peace of Christ, who stood in my place and reconciled me to You. May I carry that same peace into every place You send me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.