Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Samuel 14:1-3 (New Living Translation)

1 Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom. 2 So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 3 Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you.” Then Joab told her what to say.

Set the stage: there is great trouble in King David’s family—literally a civil war is brewing among David’s children. Joab—David’s nephew and commander of the army—is trying to advise King David. Joab decides to use an around-the-back idea to convince David to bring peace to the family.

Joab brings in an unnamed woman from Tekoa. This woman had great wisdom. Joab’s instructions are “pretend” and “act like.” In other words, lie to the King so he will learn something. Hmm. Is acting lying? Yes, in one sense it is. In another sense it is a teaching and advising technique. Hmm. It is also risky.

It works…in this case. The woman from Tekoa is a good actress—a good pretender. David decides to act and bring peace in his family.

Jesus told lies, um, er, well you see…Jesus told parables. Those were stories of things that didn’t actually happen, but the stories helped people to learn. Jesus told folks things that weren’t true, but could have been and all that nuance.

Pretending, acting, telling stories, etc. Love, converse, point the way to God. I should do better. Please God, help me in my unbelief.