2 Samuel 14
-Joab perceived that David’s heart was inclined toward his
wayward son, Absalom, who was hiding out in Geshur after the situation of his
retribution killing of his step brother, Amnon (see 2 Samuel 13) becomes a
major player in the narrative of David’s kingdom in Israel and the fulfillment of
Nathan’s prophecy (2 Samuel 12:10-11). Joab, David’s military commander, sent a
wise woman from Tekoa (directly south of Jerusalem in the Judean hill country,
the prophet Amos was from this town, Amos 1:1) with his words into the king’s
presence for more discernment on the matter. This woman was instructed to
pretend to be a mourner with mourning clothes anointed with oil. She was to go
to the king and prostrate herself before him asking for help. When she actually
did this, David asked her what her trouble was. She told him that she was a
widow. She told him a fabricated story of her two sons who struggled together
in the field where one had killed the other since there was no one to separate them.
She further explained that her whole family had risen up against her wanting
the justice of handing over this one who struck his brother so that they could
put him to death for his wrong doing. They also wanted to destroy the heir,
which would cut off the family name and lineage from the earth. David told her
to go to her house after hearing this story, and that he would give orders
concerning this situation. She reassured him that he and his throne were
guiltless for this, and that all the iniquity was to be placed squarely on her
and her father’s house. Because of this concession, King David said, “Whoever
speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.” She was
still afraid though and responded, “Please let the king remember the LORD your
God, so that the avenger of blood
will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” David
reassured her, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the
ground (2 Samuel 14:1-11).”
-After hearing what she wanted to hear from the king, she
ventured on with her real mission. After getting permission to speak, she
stated, “Why have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in
speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one. For we will
surely die and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up
again. Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one
will not be cast out from him.” She reasoned with the king that she was afraid
and sought his protection. She needed comfort, to be heard, and deliverance
from the hand of the man who would destroy by her and her son from the
inheritance of God. Then, she compared her king to an “angel of God” that
discerns good from evil, and she blessed him that the LORD would be with him.
Upon hearing these words, David’s spirit was informed. He said to the woman, “Please
do not hide anything from me that I am about to ask you.” She consented to tell
the truth now. So, David asked her straight up if Joab was with her in all of
this. She had to acknowledge, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can
turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has
spoken. Indeed, it was your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who
put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant; in order to change the
appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is
wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth (2
Samuel 14:12-20).”
-David determined to do this thing of bringing back his son
now. He commanded Joab to go and get the young man, Absalom, from Geshur. Joab
prostrated himself in allegiance to the king and blessed him. He knew he had
found favor in the sight of his king. Soon, Absalom would be back in Jerusalem;
however, the king would not let his son see his face. Instead, he had him go to
his own house and the two remained estranged. The text moves on to tell us that
Absalom was the most handsome man in all of Israel at the time. He was highly
praised from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. There was no
physical defect in him whatsoever. He had enormous weight in his incredible
hair. At the end of every year he would have it cut due to its heaviness, which
would come out to about 5 pounds in our measurement system. That’s some serious
hair dude! The text goes on to inform us that he had three sons and one
daughter, whom he named Tamar (probably in honor of his beautiful sister that
he adored). This daughter is described as beautiful in appearance as well. Now
Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem in separation from seeing his dad,
the king. He finally sent for Joab, which can be inferred for the purpose of
regaining access to his father, but Joab would not come to him. He asked again,
but again was denied. Therefore, Absalom told his servants to get some vengeance
on Joab’s property, which was next to his. They were to set his field, that had
barley in it, on fire, which they followed through on. This brought Joab over
to Absalom’s house immediately with the question, “Why have your servants set
my field (or portion) on fire?” This gave Absalom an opportunity to express
himself finally, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send
you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for
me still to be there.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face, and if
there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death.” Joab complied with Absalom’s
request, and the king indeed called for his son. When Absalom came before the
king, he prostrated himself on his face to the ground in humility. David
restored his son though by bringing him up and kissing him (2 Samuel 14:21-33).
-*Application* It would appear that all was well again in
the household of David by the end of this chapter, but as we will soon see,
national rebellion was just around the corner (see 2 Samuel 15-18). Family
matters are some of the hardest things to decipher and straighten out. There
are so many mixed emotions and feelings that can affect discernment and
fellowship. Obviously David could have handled this situation better, but he
was probably busy with other obligations as king that occupied his time. His
family, and soon his nation, suffered because of his failures. Let’s learn from
this and resolve to make peace in
our families a high priority. Otherwise, we are truly unfit to lead anything (1
Timothy 3:1-5, Titus 1:5-9).
Verse to Memorize:
2 Samuel 14:14, 20
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