We've Seen This Before

And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.  2 Samuel 14:2

Pretend, put on, act like... a show is to be performed, but probably not for entertainment. In the next verse a script was provided. In the midst of a story from the Old Testament is this story about telling a story. An actress is hired, the part is outlined, and a script is given to what is called a wise woman, one sent away for and brought from a named place. One would need to spend an extended stay under a rock not to see that something improper or even immoral might be going on here. However, the rest of the story might change even the view of the sub-rock dweller. 

It turns out that had Joab gone straight to the king with his request, it might not have gone so well. However, as the show plays out before the king, David, he is not fooled for long and in verse 19 asks this wise woman after Joab. It's true, she says, he wrote the script for this play. By the method and the story, and perhaps owing a bit to the woman acting out this thing, Absalom is in time forgiven by the king and there is reconciliation. The story may not have ended there as David lived out his family life under some tough consequences for a severe sin. (You may recall a certain Bathsheba incident that took place in Jerusalem.) 

We live under the consequences from one sin, but we also have new life from the resolution God provided for His judgment required on all sin. Without that Savior, we would be lost. 

Have a great new week as the sun peeks under the clouds this morning. 

Bucky