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Wisdom Talking

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 20 Listen: (4:51) Read: Psalms 10 Listen: (2:13)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 20:15b-16, 22a

15b While they were battering the wall to bring it down, 16 a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”

22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice…

Proverbs 4:6b-9

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
    love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
    Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.

Reflection: Wisdom Talking

By Erin Newton

What is wisdom? Take a moment. How would you define the word?

We often think about Proverbs when we talk about wisdom in the Old Testament. We consider the collection of sayings that cover a myriad of topics: how to get along with others, how to make good financial decisions, the value of working hard, the value of being quiet in the mornings, and so on and so forth.

A good life is one that exercises the skills of wisdom, and wisdom has faith as its foundation. “Fear God” is the beginning of wisdom.

The story of Joab’s mission, a gruesome tale, has a plot twist in 2 Samuel 20. The siege ramps were built and his troops were battering the walls, trying to force their way into the city.

It was a loud and terrifying time for the inhabitants. I imagine the people were screaming and crying out in fear with little hope of escape. But one voice cried out for peace. This one voice saved many.

The men in this story play the role of power, might, and violence. The woman here plays the role of an intercessor for the people. She seeks peace over violence. She understands that nothing good will come from a battle. She is called “wise” because she skillfully averts war.

I think the men and women in the story are serving a literary function and not necessarily designating one characteristic to one gender. There are both wise women and wise men in the Bible, but it is more startling when women are the focus and when they save entire populations from destruction (see also Esther). God highlights the true strength of the meek, the mild, and the marginalized.

The juxtaposed images of might versus wisdom grant us an opportunity to look at our own circumstances. We are given a chance to consider how one small voice can save many—as long as it has been developed through wisdom.

There is no lack of words these days. Everyone has a post to gather “likes.” All opinions seem to be vying for the same attention. But are these voices wise? Do our words seek peace?

We ought to be like this woman interceding for our communities. To do so means we must grow in wisdom, constantly learning, ceaselessly examining our world, and courageously speaking.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Protect my life and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for my hope has been in you. — Psalm 25.19-20

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Tribalism and Insurrection

Divisive leaders appeal to our tribal instincts and desire for power. They belittle opponents and call for conflict and conquest.

Tribalism and Insurrection
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Weeping For Rebels

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 19 Listen: (7:31) Read: Psalms 9 Listen: (2:21)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 19.6-7

6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. 7 Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.”

Reflection: Weeping For Rebels

By John Tillman

Joab was right about one thing—the troops needed David’s encouragement. He was wrong about everything else.

More than a general, Joab was family. A son of David’s sister, Zeruiah, Joab came to power with David, leading David’s “mighty men.” Joab helped win David’s greatest victories and enabled and defended David’s worst sins.

Joab had advocated for Absalom, convincing David to have mercy on him in the past. Perhaps this is why Joab mercilessly killed him, hanging in the tree. To Joab, Absalom was only a threat. To David, Absalom was his beloved son. When Joab comes upon David, weeping over Absalom, he rebukes him, saying, “You love those who hate you and hate those who love you.” (2 Samuel 19.6)

There are some today, like Joab, who would misinterpret compassion, empathy, and weeping with those who weep as weakness and as endangering God’s kingdom. This could not be further from the truth.

We’ve often emphasized David’s sins because, historically, his flaws tend to be smoothed over. However, David is also called a “man after God’s own heart,” and weeping over Absalom, he shows part of it. At David’s worst, we see just how deeply sin grips his soul, but at his best, he looks a lot like Jesus. You can’t get much more like Jesus than loving those who hate you.

Absalom, by law, deserved nothing but the death that he received. David, by his love, wished he had died in Absalom’s place. David was never more like Jesus than when he wished he had died on a tree rather than his beloved son.

We can do better than David today. We do not need to beg for rebels to be treated gently. We simply point to Jesus, who has been treated harshly on the rebels’ behalf.

We can carry better news than Joab’s messengers. They brought news of victory by the death of a rebel on a tree. We bear news that Jesus has died on a tree on behalf of rebels.

Jesus hung on a tree in the place of rebels like us.
We have all been Absalom, rebels trapped by our sinful pride.
We have all been Joab, refusing mercy to those who slighted us.
May we be more like David, like Jesus, weeping for the lost and willing to die in their place.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Love the Lord, all you who worship him; the Lord protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily. — Psalm 31.23

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Absalom’s Guide to Stealing Hearts

Absalom stole the people’s hearts. Then he stole the kingdom.

Absalom’s Guide to Stealing Hearts
Read more: Joab’s Play

God’s plot goes beyond the shortcomings of Joab’s play. God, the King of Kings, doesn’t have to be shamed into forgiving us.

Joab’s Play

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Dealing With Joab

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 18 Listen: (6:16)  Read: Psalms 7-8 Listen: (2:58)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 18.14

14 Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.

Reflection: Dealing With Joab

By John Tillman

Joab stuck out his neck for Absalom. But when he betrayed David, Joab, the man who showed Absalom mercy, mercilessly slaughtered him as he hung helplessly in the tree.

Joab then berated David as he wept, “O my son Absalom!…If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son!” Joab got David up from his grief and out to do the necessary hand shaking to keep his army together.

When I was a younger man, I admired Joab because I thought he saved David. I was wrong.

I saw Joab as a realist—a practical, get-stuff-done kind of guy. He did hard things that David “wimped out” on. I used to think that every moral leader needed a slightly-less-moral “helper” such as Joab. How wrong-headed this thinking is! Joab’s kind of loyalty is a twisted form of “honor” that cripples accountability, truth, and justice.

After seeing Joab-like men destroying the reputation of Christ on behalf of institutions and individuals, I recognize him for the danger that he is. As I look more clearly at Joab I realized that he didn’t revere God. He revered David.

Many leaders employ (or attract) worshipful hatchet-men like Joab. Joab enforces loyalty. Joab deletes evidence. Joab fires troublemakers. Joab threatens witnesses. Ministries have been ruined from behind the scenes because of the machinations of a “Joab.”

If you are a leader, you may attract a Joab. Beware. One of David’s greatest failings as a leader might be failing to deal with Joab. Be ready to deal with yours.

A Joab will seem loyal and talk about honor. Be careful. Joab’s loyalty is only to earthly power structures that he is part of and his honor is only for those enabling him.

It is important that we do not admire Joab.

It is important that we disarm and disavow him.

But it is more important that we do not become him.

Learn to spot Joab in others or yourself. Joab is loyal to a “king” rather than God. Usually this is a leader, like a pastor, but sometimes an institution, like a ministry or church. Joab is more concerned about protecting the king than about truth or justice. Joab is more concerned about the king’s reputation than righteousness. Joab is concerned about vengeance on enemies rather than justice for victims. Joab is marked by practical, not spiritual thinking.

Don’t become or empower Joab.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good above all other.” — Psalm 16.1

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Listen to: Dealing with Joab

Listen to an earlier version of this post on our podcast, “Pause to Read.” When I was a younger man, I admired Joab…I was wrong.

Read more: The Moon and the Cross

At the center of this psalm, we see the power that defeats evil. It is not the command of a king or the sword of a warrior but the praise of infants.

The Moon and the Cross
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Absalom’s Guide to Stealing Hearts

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 15 Listen: (6:06)  Read: Psalms 1-2 Listen: (2:05)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 16 Listen: (4:03)  Read: Psalms 3-4 Listen: (1:57)
Read: 2  Samuel 17 Listen: (5:00)  Read: Psalms 5-6 Listen: (2:45)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 15.2-6

2 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” 4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.” 5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

Reflection: Absalom’s Guide to Stealing Hearts

By John Tillman

Absalom stole the people’s hearts. Then he stole the kingdom. How did a vigilante, fratricidal assassin go from outcast to hero to insurrectionist?

Absalom set out to rebuild his reputation, destroy David’s reputation, and overthrow the kingdom. There are, have been, and will be, many leaders of Absalom’s type. Absalom was an anti-David. We need to detect and avoid anti-Christs.

Of course, we should avoid being duped by them, if possible. (Matthew 24.24) But we also must not become like them. Let us reflect on Absalom’s methods, so we can resist employing them ourselves and resist losing our hearts to Absalom-like leaders.

First, Absalom portrayed himself like a king. His extravagant entourage of chariot, horses, and attendants was flashy and projected power. His glamorous appearance, including an impressive head of hair that would figure in his later downfall, wowed everyone.

Second, Absalom feigned humility. Absalom didn’t introduce himself with, “I’m Prince Absalom, newly reconciled to my father, King David.” Instead, he said, “Your servant is from one of the tribes in Israel.” This was disingenuous condescension for a man with a royal chariot. Absalom also dramatically refused to allow people to bow to him. Instead, he grabbed them by the hand pulling them in for an embrace and kiss.

Third, Absalom magnified people’s frustrations and fears. Absalom undermined confidence by highlighting the shortcomings and inefficiencies of David’s rule. He implied that David was not providing justice.

Fourth, Absalom implied only he could fix it. Monarchy was relatively new in Israel. Absalom harkened back to former times when judges administered justice and implied only he was fit to fill that role.

We might rarely meet a full, four-point Absalom, but any one of these qualities is a warning sign—a red flag. The more flags, the more danger.

Reflecting on Absalom’s guide to stealing hearts, it’s tempting to point outward. Like all biblical lessons, we must remove the logs from our own eyes first. Once we can see clearly, we can turn to help others.

Let us look inward. Watch carefully for these Absalom-like indicators in yourself. Firstly, do you use them? Secondly, are you susceptible to others using them?

We can’t be people of hope and faith while simultaneously being people of suspicion who never trust anything or anyone. We have to be wise as serpents without being snake-like and innocent as doves without being gullible. (Matthew 10.16)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Our sins are stronger than we are, but you will blot them out. — Psalm 65.3

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Beware Opportunistic Power Brokers

Many, like Abner, attempt to align themselves with God’s kingdom for the sake of their own grievances, whether personal or political.

Beware Opportunistic Power Brokers
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Joab’s Play

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 14 Listen: (5:57)  Read: Revelation 22 Listen: (3:59)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 14.1, 19-20

1 Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom…

19 The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab with you in all this?”

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. 20 Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation…

Reflection: Joab’s Play

By John Tillman

Joab is one of the most fascinating and frustrating characters in the Bible. On one page, he’s a heroic general and David’s loyal friend. On the next, he’s an out-of-control assassin. He’d risk life and reputation to carry out David’s will, even when it was murder. Then he’d risk the same to subvert David’s will, even when it was peaceful.

In this chapter, Joab acts not as a military tactician but a dramatic one. He writes a script, a compelling, emotional story. He casts an actress, a wise woman in her own right. He plans the production for maximum effect on David and the public opinion of the court.

Plays often carry great truth and wisdom. Joab, as playwright, gave his actress these wise words: “But that [banishment] is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.” Joab wrote a gospel play for David. Why? “To change the present situation,” the wise woman tells us.

Joab pricked David’s conscience to bring Absalom home. But Joab only cared about David, not Absalom. Also, Absalom was unrepentant. In this same chapter, Joab ignored Absalom until he burned down Joab’s field to get his attention. Later, when commanded by David to spare Absalom, Joab killed him. Joab’s play was to benefit David, not Absalom.

Despite Joab’s callous reasoning, dishonesty, and inconsistent character, his words hold truth. God devises ways for us, the banished, to come back to him.

But God’s plot goes beyond the shortcomings of Joab’s play. God, the King of Kings, doesn’t have to be shamed into forgiving us. God initiates and accomplishes our return. God doesn’t receive us just to make himself feel better or look better. It’s us he wants, not good PR.

Unlike Absalom, we don’t need to burn anything down to get God’s attention. He doesn’t say, like David, “Come back, but you can’t see my face.” With repentance, we are fully welcomed in. And unlike Absalom, who ended his life hung in a tree, Jesus hung in a tree for us.

Let us be actors in God’s gospel play, taking up our cross and our role. Let us play our part, speaking words that the Holy Spirit puts in our mouths. Let us have faith that if we let the gospel play out in our lives, our words and actions can “change the present situation.”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise. — Psalm 18.2

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Bringing Back the Banished

Our king didn’t grant us partial forgiveness, keeping us from his presence. He died in our place, hung on the tree we were doomed for…

Bringing Back the Banished
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