Ⅲ
Abigail typifies the warring church in the midst of sufferings—1 Sam. 25:2-42:
A
From 1 Samuel 25 onward, Abigail was always at the side of David the warrior and followed him in his wars—vv. 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.
B
The type of Abigail portrays our need to be one with Christ in His sufferings—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—v. 25:
ａ
If we desire to share in the stewardship of God, we must be prepared to suffer—Rev. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:3-6.
ｂ
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—4:10-12; John 12:24-26.
C
The type of Abigail portrays the church's participation with the Lord Jesus in spiritual warfare—Eph. 6:10-20:
１
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:
ａ
Ephesians 5 and 6 will be fulfilled in Revelation 19.
ｂ
The totality of the overcomers becomes the bride to be the counterpart of Christ (vv. 7-9), and this counterpart becomes Christ's army to defeat Antichrist at Armageddon (vv. 11-21).
２
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.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.13-14 …His name is called the Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
David typifies the warring Christ in the midst of sufferings…. From 1 Samuel 25 onward, Abigail was always at the side of David the warrior and followed him in his wars. Hence, she typifies the warring church, fighting for God’s kingdom in the midst of sufferings. This is the feature of Abigail as a type of the church. (CWWL, 1956, vol. 2, “Three Aspects of the Church, Book 1: The Meaning of the Church,” p. 109)
Today’s Reading
In Colossians 1:25 Paul says that he “became a minister according to the stewardship of God.” This stewardship is the ministry in the New Testament. The New Testament ministry is the dispensing of the unsearchable riches of the all-inclusive Christ into the members of God’s family. The apostle Paul dispensed the riches of Christ into the saints. This is what we are doing in the ministry today.In 1:24 Paul says, “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.” The afflictions of Christ are of two categories: those for accomplishing redemption, which have been completed by Christ Himself; and those for producing and building the church, which need to be filled up by the apostles and the believers.
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. If we desire to share in the stewardship of God, we must be prepared to suffer. 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.
When we give or receive hospitality, we need to carry out our stewardship by dispensing the riches of Christ into others. However, to provide hospitality may involve a kind of suffering. In like manner, to be the guest in someone’s home also may be a cause of suffering…. I am happy to testify that many have spoken of the nourishment, edification, and strengthening they have received through sharing in hospitality, as either a host or a guest. This indicates that to carry out the stewardship of God by dispensing the riches of Christ into the members of God’s royal family is worth any kind of suffering, great or small…. The sufferings in which we share are for the building up of the Body of Christ. They are in no way related to the accomplishment of redemption. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 89-90, 92-93)
The church is both the bride who is presented to Christ and the warrior who fights with Him against God’s enemy. At His coming again, the Lord Jesus firstly will meet His bride. After receiving the bride, Christ and the overcomers will enter into battle against the enemy [cf. Rev. 19:11, 14]. In Revelation 19:7 and 8 we see that the bride is clothed in “fine linen, bright and clean.” Then in verse 14 we see that the armies which follow the Lord into battle are “dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” These verses indicate that the bride’s wedding garment will also be the uniform she wears as God’s army to fight against His enemy.
In Ephesians 5 and 6 we see the church as the bride and as the warrior. In Revelation 19 we also have these two aspects of the church…. As the bride, we must be beautiful, without spot or wrinkle, and be clothed in fine linen. As the warrior, we must be equipped to fight against God’s enemy. (Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 814-815)
Further Reading: Life-study of Ephesians, msgs. 63, 97; CWWL, 1983, vol. 2, “The Divine Dispensing of the Divine Trinity,” ch. 20