“For we must die, and are like water split on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from Him” (2Sam 14:14)

This is the story telling us how Absalom, the rebellious son of David came back to Jerusalem from exile. He killed his half-brother Amnon, because he raped his sister Tamar. He ran away from Jerusalem and for three years he stayed in Geshur, the land of his mother’s people. Joab, the commander of the army, knew that ‘the spirit of the king long to go to Absalom for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death’ (2Sam 13:39). So he thought of a strategy, how to reconcile David to his runaway son. He called ‘a wise woman’ from Tekoa and thought her what to say to David. He literarily ‘put words in her mouth’.
This woman is from Tekoa, a town of the tribe of Judah. The word ‘Tekoa’ in Hebrew it means an enclosure surrounded by a strong fence where prisoners are kept. The wisdom of this woman probably comes from being ‘a prisoner of hope’ (Zec 9:12). In Tekoa, she was a prisoner of circumstances. When Joab approached her to intercede for the king’s son, she knew that it is her hour ‘to shine’. She trusted that the God who brought her before kings, shall supply words of the Spirit and will give her such wisdom that none can resist or reject. It is the privilege of the true believers to have audiences with kings and governors, and to present to them the Gospel of Christ (Mt 10:18-20).She had to combine the gift of a mother, the pain of a widow, the skill of an actress, the strength of a warrior, the anointing of an evangelist and the grace of a queen. David was known for his wisdom, so it will not be easy ‘to deceive’ the king, to change his mind for his own good. Like Esther before the king, she had only one window of grace, only one opportunity to win or to lose. Like Abigail, she spoke words of wisdom and life. She made him review his former decision and she pleads for mercy where there was only judgment.
She preaches the Gospel of Christ to David. There are three main doctrines revelaed in the verse above:
1 The reality of sin, death and God’s judgment
2 The reality of God’s sovereignty
3 The reality of God’s mercy and reconciliation of sinners
Joab was the one who had this strange idea of reconciliation. We are not studying Joab in this letter. But for this wise woman to be selected from among thousands, surely the grace of God was upon her. She trusted God for favor in this assignment. .Like the woman who wept at the feet of Jesus, she is a nameless face and a humble heart. But her story occupies a whole chapter in the Bible. She overcomes evil with good (Rom 12:21). This is a great achievement and an encouragement to us all.
The wise woman of Tekoa impressed King David. He decided to call Absalom back from exile. He forgave him and he gave him a second chance, as a son and heir to the throne. Absalom took his father’s kindness and grace for granted. He proved to be a traitor. He attempted to kill his father and take his throne. He stole the hearts of the people of Israel. He died like a common criminal and his story is a warning to all ungrateful traitors.
The woman of Tekoa, she may have looked foolish, for women were looked down in those days. But God is pleased to use foolishness to confound the so called wise and to use weak people to shame the strong, so that all the glory of goes to Him alone (1Cor 1:27)
But the truths reveled by this sister in Christ stand the test of time.
If any of you need supernatural wisdom, pray in faith and do not doubt, for God gives wisdom to the humble without finding fault (Jam 1:5-8)
Let every man be a liar or a traitor…But God will forever be true and faithful to all His promises!
May we always keep our eyes on Jesus!
May we always be grateful to God!