* Opening word: the background of the story of David and Abigail

1. First Samuel 25:1b-44 is a record of David’s dealing with Nabal and Abigail. David took Abigail as his counterpart in warfare—1 Sam. 25:1b-44:
1. In this chapter we see Abigail’s wisdom in appeasing David—1 Sam. 25:23-31.
2. David responded to Abigail’s appeal by blessing Jehovah, who sent her to meet him, and also by blessing her, who kept him from entering into bloodshed and from avenging himself by his own hand—1 Sam. 25:32-35.
3. Abigail’s beauty and wisdom caught David, and after Nabal’s death he took her as his wife, and she became his counterpart in warfare—1 Sam. 25:36-44.

* David typifies the warring Christ

2. David typifies the warring Christ in the midst of sufferings—1 Sam. 25:28:
1. David typifies the Lord Jesus as a man in His suffering on earth before His resurrection; David’s suffering was for the conquering of the usurping enemies and the gaining of the good land, the ground for God’s building. —Psa. 69:1-9:
2. David’s being established by God is seen in his repeated victories over the Philistines; thus, he is a type of the warrior Christ. —2 Sam. 5:17-25:
3. Because Jehovah is the Warrior fighting the battle for us and triumphing over all our enemies, He is our triumph, our victory. —Exo. 17:8-16:
4. Psalm 110:5-6 reveals that in addition to being the King and the Priest, Christ is the Warrior:—Psa. 110:1-2, 5-6; Rev. 19:11-14:
1. In the day of His anger at His coming back, Christ will be the greatest Victor, overcoming all the nations, shattering the kings and the head of the enemies, and executing judgment on all those who oppose Him.
2. According to Revelation 19:11-14, in His coming back Christ will be the fighting One:
1. The Lord will not fight alone against Antichrist and the armies of the nations.
2. Christ will come with His bride as His army, and with her He will fight against Antichrist and his armies.
5. The Warrior Christ is the victorious Christ—John 12:31; Eph. 4:8; Heb. 2:14:
1. In His earthly ministry the victorious Christ defeated the devil and destroyed his works—Matt. 4:1-11; 1 John 3:8.
2. In His crucifixion the victorious Christ cast out the ruler of this world, destroyed the devil, caused the rulers and authorities to be stripped off, and nullified death—John 12:31; Matt. 27:51; Heb. 2:14; Col. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:10.
3. The resurrection of the victorious Christ declares that He is victorious over death—2 Tim 2:8
4. In His ascension the victorious Christ “led captive those taken captive”; He released us from the usurping hand of Satan and brought us to the highest place in the universe—Eph. 2:6; 4:8.
5. The victorious Christ will come as the fighting General, the Warrior, with His army to fight Antichrist, the kings under him, and their armies at Armageddon—Rev. 19:11-21.

Hymns: 898

Message 11: David and Abigail Typifying the Warring Christ and the Warring Church

2021 DST 11e

Opening word

Typology

* Abigail typifies the warring church

3. Abigail typifies the warring church in the midst of sufferings: to follow Christ in His wars, be one with Christ in His sufferings, and participate in spiritual warfare to bring in the kingdom of God—1 Sam. 25:2-42:
1. From 1 Samuel 25 onward, Abigail was always at the side of David the warrior and followed him in his wars:—1 Sam. 25:40-42:
1. Abigail’s marriage to David typifies the church enlisted as an army for warfare—Eph. 6:10-20.
2. Abigail typifies the warring church, fighting for God’s kingdom in the midst of sufferings—Rev. 1:9; 11:15; 12:10.
2. The type of Abigail portrays our need to be one with Christ in His sufferings and fill up what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ to produce and build up the church, fulfilling our stewardship—Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24; Rev. 1:9:
1. The afflictions of Christ are of two categories: those for accomplishing redemption, which were completed by Christ Himself, and those for producing and building the church, which need to be filled up by the apostles and the believers—Col. 1:24.
2. The fact that Paul mentions the afflictions of Christ in connection with the stewardship of God indicates that the stewardship can be carried out only through suffering—Col. 1:25:
1. If we desire to share in the stewardship of God, we must be prepared to suffer—2 Cor. 1:3-6.
2. All those who participate in the service of the church or in the ministry must be ready to partake of the afflictions of a steward; this means that we must be willing to pay whatever price is necessary to fulfill our stewardship—2 Cor. 4:10-12; John 12:24-26.
3. The type of Abigail portrays the church’s participation with the Lord Jesus in spiritual warfare—Eph. 6:10-20:�> we should participate with the Lord Jesus in spiritual warfare, defeat God’s enemy as His bride warrior, and set against Satan’s will and

bring in the kingdom of God :

• The church as Christ’s counterpart, His bride, is revealed in Ephesians 5:25-27, and this counterpart becomes the warrior, the fighter, in Ephesians 6:10-13.
• Ephesians 5 and 6 will be fulfilled in Revelation 19.
• The totality of the overcomers becomes the bride to be the counterpart of Christ, and this counterpart becomes Christ’s army to defeat Antichrist at Armageddon.
• Not only must God’s eternal purpose be fulfilled and the desire of His heart be satisfied, but God’s enemy must be defeated; for this, the church must be a warrior—Eph. 1:11; 3:9-11; 6:10-12.
• Spiritual warfare is necessary because Satan’s will is set against God’s will—Matt. 6:10; 7:21; Isa. 14:12-14:
• Spiritual warfare has its source in the conflict between the divine will and the satanic will.
• As the church, our fighting is to subdue the satanic will and to defeat God’s enemy—Rev. 12:11.
• Satan is terrified of the church as the Body of Christ, the corporate warrior fighting against him and his kingdom—S. S. 6:10; Eph. 6:10-20.
• Christ will marry the one who has been fighting the battle against God’s enemy for years—Rev. 19:7-9, 11-16.
• The overcomers who constitute the bride of Christ fight the battle against all the enemies of God and defeat them in order to bring in the kingdom of God—Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 11:15; 12:10.

Message 11 (Cont. 1)

2021 DST 11e

* The living and experiencing we should have

4. The type of Abigail portrays a believer who goes forth unto Jesus outside the camp, bearing His reproach: we should be today’s Abigail; to enter within the veil and go outside the camp, take the way of the cross, follow Jesus to bear His reproach, and fight for Him to bring in the kingdom of God—Heb. 13:13:
1. Our Christian life has two aspects—an inward aspect and an outward aspect—Heb. 6:19-20; 13:13:
1. The inward aspect is typified by the Shulammite, and the outward aspect is typified by Abigail—S. S. 6:4, 10, 13; Heb. 13:13.
2. On the one hand, we are within the veil, in the Holy of Holies; on the other hand, we are outside the city, the camp, before men—Heb. 6:19-20; 13:13:
1. Inwardly, we enjoy the resurrected Christ, and outwardly, we follow Jesus—Heb. 6:19; 13:13.
2. When we touch the Lord in the inner chamber, in the Holy of Holies, in the secret place, we can be likened to the Shulammite—Heb. 10:19-20; S. S. 1:4; 4:10; 6:13.
3. When we testify for the Lord and work for the Lord in our outward living, we can be likened to Abigail wandering with David in the wilderness—1 Sam. 25:40-42.
2. Every day we can experience these two aspects:—Heb. 6:19-20; 10:19-20; 13:13:
1. We are within the veil as the Shulammite, living in the Holy of Holies and enjoying the resurrected and glorified Christ, and we are outside the camp as Abigail, living in the world and following the lowly Jesus—Heb. 6:19-20; 13:13.
2. Like the Shulammite and Solomon, we remain in the palaces of ivory and fellowship with the Lord inwardly, and like Abigail, we outwardly live and work by following David to war and suffering—Psa. 45:8; 1 Sam. 25:40-42.
3. The One within us is the resurrected Christ, and the One without is Jesus the Nazarene—Rev. 1:17-18; Matt. 2:23.
4. Inwardly, we have the enjoyment of the Shulammite in the secret place, and outwardly, we have the public living of Abigail.
3. When a believer in Christ comes out from within the veil, the inner chamber of fellowship, he is able to take the way of the cross and follow the suffering Jesus—Heb. 6:19; 10:19-20; 13:13:
1. Only those who enter within the veil can go forth unto Jesus outside the camp and bear His reproach.
2. It is the resurrected Christ in us who leads us to follow the suffering Jesus.
3. The Lord Jesus has walked the way of the cross and entered into resurrection, and now He is leading us, His Abigail, to take the way of the cross and follow Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach—Heb. 13:13.

Message 11 (Cont. 2)

2021 DST 11e

Experience

* Opening word: the background of the story of David and Abigail

1. First Samuel 25:1b-44 is a record of David’s dealing with Nabal and Abigail. David took Abigail as his counterpart in warfare

[1 Sam. 25:28] Please forgive the transgression of your female servant, for Jehovah will no doubt make a sure house for my lord, because my lord fights the battles of Jehovah; and no evil will be found in you throughout your days.

• In this chapter we see Abigail’s wisdom in appeasing David; David responded to Abigail’s appeal by blessing Jehovah, and also by blessing her, who kept him from entering into bloodshed and from avenging himself by his own hand.
• Abigail’s beauty and wisdom caught David, and after Nabal’s death he took her as his wife, and she became his counterpart in warfare.

* David typifies the warring Christ

2. David typifies the warring Christ in the midst of sufferings

[Psa. 110:5-6] The Lord … will shatter kings in the day of His anger. He will execute judgment among the nations;…He will shatter the head Over a great land.

[Rev. 19:11] …I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sits on it called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

• David typifies the Lord Jesus as a man in His suffering on earth before His resurrection; in David’s repeated victories over the Philistines, he is a type of the warrior Christ; Jehovah is our triumph, our victory.
• Psalm 110 reveals that Christ is the Warrior, who will overcome all the nations in His coming back; Revelation 19 reveals that Christ will come with His bride as His army, and with her He will fight against Antichrist and his armies.
• The Warrior Christ is the victorious Christ:
• In His earthly ministry Christ defeated the devil and destroyed his works. / In His crucifixion Christ caused the rulers and authorities to be stripped off, and nullified death. / The resurrection of Christ declares that He is victorious over death. / In His ascension Christ led captive those taken captive. / Christ will come to fight Antichrist, the kings under him at Armageddon.

* Abigail typifies the warring church

3. Abigail typifies the warring church in the midst of sufferings: to follow Christ in His wars, be one with Christ in His sufferings, and participate in spiritual warfare to bring in the kingdom of God

[Eph. 6:10-12] Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies.

• Abigail typifies the church enlisted as an army for warfare who always at the side of David (typifies Christ the Warrior) and follow him in his wars.
• The type of Abigail portrays our need to be one with Christ in His sufferings, fill up what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ to produce and build up the church, fulfilling our stewardship.
• We should participate with the Lord Jesus in spiritual warfare, defeat God’s enemy as His bride warrior, set against Satan’s will and bring in the kingdom of God. [Col. 1:24-25] I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church, Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship of God, which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God.

* The living and experiencing we should have

4. We should be today’s Abigail; to enter within the veil and go outside the camp, take the way of the cross, follow Jesus to bear His reproach, and fight for Him to bring in the kingdom of God

[Heb. 10:19-20] Having therefore, brothers, boldness for entering the Holy of Holies in the blood of Jesus, Which entrance He initiated for us as a new and living way through the veil, that is, His flesh. [Heb. 13:13] Let us therefore go forth unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

• Our Christian life has two aspects—an inward aspect (to live within the veil as the Shulammite) and an outward aspect (to live outside the camp as Abigail).
• Every day we can experience these two aspects: enjoy the resurrected and glorified Christ inwardly and follow the lowly Jesus outwardly, that is to pray and have fellowship with the Lord inwardly and follow the Lord to fight outwardly in the midst of sufferings.
• When a believer in Christ comes out from within the veil, the inner chamber of fellowship, he is able to take the way of the cross and follow the suffering Jesus.

Bird’s-eye View for Prophesying, a Sample

Message 11: David and Abigail Typifying the Warring Christ and the Warring Church

2021 DST 11e Musing Abstract

Opening word

Typology

Experience

Message 11: Appendix

If we are faithful and honest with respect to the Lord’s ministry and the stewardship of God for the building up of the church, we shall suffer attack, opposition, and evil speaking. In view of this, we need to look to the Lord that we may be covered by His prevailing blood. We also need to pray that the Lord may hide us in Himself as our high tower. As we hide in the Lord during times of suffering and affliction, we share in the fellowship of His sufferings. In this way we fill up what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ for the sake of the church.

<Excerpts from “Life-study of Colossians”, Message 12, “Filling Up What is Lacking of the Afflictions of Christ”>

​

When we enter within the veil by getting into our spirit, we taste the sweetness of the heavenly Christ that we may be enabled to go outside the camp, forsaking the earth and its love. As we stay within the veil, we also have our spirit filled with the glory of the heavenly Christ that our heart may be freed from the possession of the earth’s enjoyment outside the camp. Furthermore, within the veil we behold the glorified Christ that we may be attracted to follow the suffering Jesus outside

the camp. Beholding His countenance in heaven enables us to trace His footsteps on earth. As we enter within the veil, we are infused with resurrection power (Phil. 3:10) that we may be empowered to walk the pathway of the cross outside the camp. We also participate in the ministry of the heavenly Christ that we may be equipped to minister Him to the thirsty spirits outside the camp. Here we enjoy the Lord’s best that we may be enriched to meet the needs of people outside the camp.

<Excerpts from “Life-study of Hebrews”, Message 57, “Enter Within the Veil and Go Outside the Camp”>

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