David is already predisposed to listen to whatever arguments will be given for bringing Absalom home. Joab knows that about him. And so Joab sends for a wise woman to come to David with a sad, made-up story. When she’s called a wise woman that doesn’t mean wise in Biblical terms, but in terms of worldly wisdom. She dresses up […]

The first lesson to take from all this is that David was predisposed to listening to whatever reason someone would bring for allowing Absalom to return home. And we can be like that as individuals. We can be looking for an excuse for whatever sin we find comfort in. Our hearts are so deceptive. Perhaps we convince ourselves that we […]

Here in this chapter we have a touching story. We have emotional manipulation, and people who allow themselves to be manipulated. But the long term outcome of it all – as we’ll see when we get to chapter 18 – is death. Death for Absalom and for many others. Because the wages of sin is always death, sooner or later. […]