The Nature of the Anointed :: 2 Samuel 14:15-22

– by Harley Wheeler –

 

In the sequence from chapter 14 to chapter 19, we see revealed in Scripture the nature and the ministry of the Lord’s anointed. David is the anointed king of Israel; chosen by God. David also prefigures Christ, the Father’s final anointed king, in the story.  Revelations about the nature and ministry of the anointed in this section will point to and throw light upon the nature and ministry of Christ.

 

This is a challenging section of Scripture.  Unlike a New Testament letter, there are few special, loaded words to uncover.  The language is not mysterious, and much of the content is the description of straightforward actions, or the relating of spoken conversations.  So the words describe events that happened in simple ways, and relate conversations by giving us simply the words that were spoken.  One challenge for the learner is in the realization that some of the speakers may be lying, or concealing their motives.  The student needs to reflect on where the story leads, and decide why this story is included; what it is meant to teach.  I believe that it is to teach us about the nature and the ministry of the Lord’s anointed.

 

David is challenged in this passage by a wise woman, sent from Joab, to see that a case she presents to him implies that he should call back his son, Absalom, from banishment. Joab’s motives are murky throughout chapters 14-19.  He is possibly trying to trap David, or Absalom, or at the least seeking to serve his own interests.

 

Verses 15-22

At this point the wise woman begins to explain her motives. She still maintains that she is talking about the fear she has for her remaining son. Or is she?  She mentions her son in verse 15, but the conversation swiftly turns to the question of the exiled Absalom.  The “hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together”  might well be understood in the light of David’s question; “Isn’t the hand of Joab in all this?” Joab could be wielding a threat to the woman, possibly even the threat of carrying out the blood vengeance she fears.  She could see the very real danger that the King is in, therefore “the people make her afraid.”

 

I do not think that the student can say for sure what is the right under-standing of the woman’s motive. The woman is speaking carefully. Joab is definitely behind this, and the point would be that David couldn’t know, or even if he knew, nothing could be proved.

 

Have you considered that God works in and around and through our very murky motives?  We say He is wise, that He knows all, and that He can find a way, but we very plainly have our own will, our own plans, and our own assessment of the situation.  We are far from being able to surrender all of these to the Lord, and just watch His plan unfold.  In fact we find it necessary to train our ears to hear Him speak, and to rely on the Spirit to discern our way, but in so many places, we walk in darkness yet. We don’t know any way but our own way.

 

After Joab is revealed as the one who is behind the wise woman’s request (vs. 21), David speaks to Joab. This is done without any transition such as, “David called Joab to him.”  I take this as evidence that Joab and many other courtiers are present at this conversation.  The ancient king had very few private conversations!  This is worth remembering when reading Bible stories, because we can err sometimes in supposing that a conversation was secret, when it was likelier to have been very public.  In this story it raises the stakes for David because his pardon of Absalom, (or of the wise woman’s son,) which is not beyond criticism, is most likely done in full view of the court.

 

Like the previous passage, the wise woman is the one who praises the virtues of God’s anointed; He will relieve the fear of His handmaid, His word will bring peace, He knows what passes in His Kingdom, and His wisdom is like God’s.   These are conditionally true when applied to David, and completely true when applied to Christ.

 

But wisdom, knowledge, peace-making and compassion do not exempt the anointed from the Cross.  David risks much in going along with Joab’s plan to “change the countenance of the matter.” (vs. 20).  He doesn’t even ask why.  He may know, or he may know that Joab cannot be trusted to answer truthfully.

 

Consider that Jesus also deals with us, and incorporates us into His unfolding will while being aware that our motives are mixed and murky.  We have plans that differ from the Lord’s.  His Will will be done, but He elects to let us see His wisdom unfold, rather than make us know and agree to His plan long before we can understand it. This dealing with the divided hearts of men will lead David to exile, and Jesus to Golgotha.