David is admonished and Absalom returns

2 Samuel Chapter 14

Joab knew how much king David wanted to see his son Absalom, so he sent for a woman of great wisdom and told her to act like she was in deep mourning. He instructed her to go to the king and tell him the story as Joab told her. As she approached the king she fell on her face in front of him and cried out for his help.

When king David asked what was her problem, she replied that she was a widow and had two sons who got into a fight and one of them was killed by the other. Now her family demanded to execute the remaining son for the murder of his brother and said he didn't deserve to inherit the family's property. Her problem was that if her family was allowed to do this, she would have no one left and her husband's name and family would disappear from the earth.

David told her to leave everything to him and no one would touch her son. The woman made David swear by his God that he wouldn't let anyone take vengeance against her living son. David agreed. Then she talked to David again and asked him why he didn't do the same for all the people of God, as he had promised to do for her. She told David he had convicted himself in making the decision because he had refused to bring home his own banished son. She took it upon herself to tell David that "all of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water that has spilled out on the ground and cannot be gathered up again. That is why God tries to bring us back when we have been separated from him. He does not sweep away the lives of those he cares about- and neither should you!"

David suspected Joab had put the woman up to this and she replied truthfully that Joab was behind it. So Joab was sent to bring back Absalom, David's banished son and Joab was happy to do so. But when he brought him back, the king gave an order that Absalom would go to his own house, but not into David's presence. So Absalom did not see his father.

Absalom, a handsome man with heavy hair, had three sons and one daughter named Tamar who was beautiful. He lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing his father the king. So he called for Joab to intercede for him, but Joab refused. So Absalom had Joab's barley field set on fire. Joab then came to visit Absolom. Absalom told him that his father should either see him or execute him. Joab relayed this message to the king and Absalom was summoned and bowed before the king, and David kissed him.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Absalom named his daughter Tamar, after his sister Tamar to show respect for her and also to remind everyone of the Amnon/Tamar incident (see chapter 13). We can see seeds of rebellion in Absalom, who took matters into his own hands time and again. David, it seems, had taken only halfhearted efforts to correct his children. Remember, he did not punish Amnon for his sin against Tamar. Indecisiveness became David's undoing. When we ignore sin, we experience greater pain than if we dealt with it right away.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We can point to the woman of wisdom, whose name was not given in the Bible, but who showed great courage to teach the king a lesson. She could have been killed on the spot, but was artful in her admonishment of David and she reminded him that God was on his side. Would you have such courage? None of us may ever be called upon to do as she did. But we are called upon each and every day to spread the word of God. This can be a dangerous thing to do in some incidences. Not everyone agrees with us. Not everyone is a Christian. Still, it is up to each of us to be warriors in the battle against sin and Satan. So we must be every bit as courageous as the woman who admonished David. God backs us all the way! Keep the faith and go forward knowing he is beside us!

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Update on Lori: she sheds her back brace soon and can drive. She thanks God for healing her. Please continue to pray for her during recovery. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Update on Craig: he ended up having a stent put in and is back to work. Keep him and his family on your list for prayers. Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.