Here’s what strikes me about King David and his relationships. Once he messed up things with Bathsheba, a whole lot of his life was quote “messed up” too. Yet, like us, he didn’t deal perfectly with the things that occurred later. And yet, the LORD, in His grace and love, forgave, blessed, and used him. God is still this day getting glory from, as one man puts it, “the mess David made.”
So, don’t despair. God is not finished with you yet.
Joab finds what the Bible describes as a wise woman in hopes of getting King David to allow Absalom back to the palace.
Now it’s probably a bit out of the ordinary for us to learn that it was Joab’s chosen method to find a wise woman to accomplish his purpose with David. But it was the way in those days; especially in a case involving the king’s own son.
This woman was what we might consider today, somewhat like a modern day counsellor. She knew how to approach David. She knew that God could use her to affect and influence the man who was the highest official in the land. She was an experienced story-teller. She was perfectly aware of David’s situation as well as that of Absalom and Amnon. She was able to speak intelligently with the King. She knows the power of a good story. In this case, she herself becomes the story. And she’s effective.
Proverbs 25:15 says this. “By long forbearing is a prince [a ruler] persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.” In David’s case, it’s not a physical bone that is broken, but his hard heartedness at it pertained to his own son who has been banished for murder.
This woman is a truly wise woman. This wise woman’s soft tongue persuaded the King of Israel.
Now, notice that David is able to make an immediate decision regarding this quote “widow’s” plight regarding her son who has slain his brother. Look with me at verse eight.
II Samuel 14:8 “And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. (9) And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
(10) And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
(11) Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
(12) Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
(13) And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.”
You see, Joab probably had already spoken to the king about Absalom. And King David might already have repeatedly rejected his request. Why else would Joab go to such an extent as to get a wise woman of Tekoa to persuade David?
Nevertheless, David is persuaded, verse eight. II Samuel 14:8 “And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.”
But the wise woman of Tekoa is not satisfied. She in her wisdom continues. And by her simple and soft words she furthers her story to the king and comes to her true point – you need to do something about the one you’ve banished. You need to recognize that like water that is split on the ground not being able to be retrieved, you’ll never be able to retrieve you slain son from the ground. He’s dead and gone and it’s now time to quote “fetch home again” your banished son Absalom.
You see, her choice of words makes all the difference to King David. Her ability to choose words and paint a picture for David is quite effective, to say the least.
Now what happens next shows you that selfishness and stubbornness are not easily overcome, just like you and me. The wise woman of Tekoa accomplishes her mission. But she is not the one who can change David’s heart. As we all know, the LORD is the One Who changes the heart.
Here’s what I mean. David permits Absalom to come home. But notice how clear the Bible is. Look with me at verse twenty-one. II Samuel 14:21 “And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.”
David, as you can see, is persuaded. But, as one wise man said, “a man persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still.” Look with me at his hard-heartedness, verse twenty-two.
So, don’t despair. God is not finished with you yet.
Joab finds what the Bible describes as a wise woman in hopes of getting King David to allow Absalom back to the palace.
Now it’s probably a bit out of the ordinary for us to learn that it was Joab’s chosen method to find a wise woman to accomplish his purpose with David. But it was the way in those days; especially in a case involving the king’s own son.
This woman was what we might consider today, somewhat like a modern day counsellor. She knew how to approach David. She knew that God could use her to affect and influence the man who was the highest official in the land. She was an experienced story-teller. She was perfectly aware of David’s situation as well as that of Absalom and Amnon. She was able to speak intelligently with the King. She knows the power of a good story. In this case, she herself becomes the story. And she’s effective.
Proverbs 25:15 says this. “By long forbearing is a prince [a ruler] persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.” In David’s case, it’s not a physical bone that is broken, but his hard heartedness at it pertained to his own son who has been banished for murder.
This woman is a truly wise woman. This wise woman’s soft tongue persuaded the King of Israel.
Now, notice that David is able to make an immediate decision regarding this quote “widow’s” plight regarding her son who has slain his brother. Look with me at verse eight.
II Samuel 14:8 “And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. (9) And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
(10) And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
(11) Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
(12) Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
(13) And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.”
You see, Joab probably had already spoken to the king about Absalom. And King David might already have repeatedly rejected his request. Why else would Joab go to such an extent as to get a wise woman of Tekoa to persuade David?
Nevertheless, David is persuaded, verse eight. II Samuel 14:8 “And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.”
But the wise woman of Tekoa is not satisfied. She in her wisdom continues. And by her simple and soft words she furthers her story to the king and comes to her true point – you need to do something about the one you’ve banished. You need to recognize that like water that is split on the ground not being able to be retrieved, you’ll never be able to retrieve you slain son from the ground. He’s dead and gone and it’s now time to quote “fetch home again” your banished son Absalom.
You see, her choice of words makes all the difference to King David. Her ability to choose words and paint a picture for David is quite effective, to say the least.
Now what happens next shows you that selfishness and stubbornness are not easily overcome, just like you and me. The wise woman of Tekoa accomplishes her mission. But she is not the one who can change David’s heart. As we all know, the LORD is the One Who changes the heart.
Here’s what I mean. David permits Absalom to come home. But notice how clear the Bible is. Look with me at verse twenty-one. II Samuel 14:21 “And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.”
David, as you can see, is persuaded. But, as one wise man said, “a man persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still.” Look with me at his hard-heartedness, verse twenty-two.