“When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, “O king! Help me!” “What’s the trouble?” the king asked. “Alas, I am a widow!” she replied. “My husband is dead. My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed. Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn’t deserve to inherit his family’s property.’ They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband’s name and family will disappear from the face of the earth.” “Leave it to me,” the king told her. “Go home, and I’ll see to it that no one touches him.” “Oh, thank you, my Lord the king,” the woman from Tekoa replied. “If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father’s house, and let the king and his throne be innocent.” “If anyone objects,” the king said, “bring him to me. I can assure you he will never harm you again!” Then she said, “Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you won’t let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.” “As surely as the Lord lives,” he replied, “not a hair on your son’s head will be disturbed!” “Please allow me to ask one more thing of my Lord the king,” she said. “Go ahead and speak,” he responded. She replied, “Why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me? You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son. All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. “I have come to plead with my Lord the king because people have threatened me. I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the king will listen to me and rescue us from those who would cut us off from the inheritance God has given us. Yes, my Lord the king will give us peace of mind again.’ I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the Lord your God be with you.” “I must know one thing,” the king replied, “and tell me the truth.” “Yes, my Lord the king,” she responded. “Did Joab put you up to this?” And the woman replied, “My Lord the king, how can I deny it? Nobody can hide anything from you. Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say. He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!” So the king sent for Joab and told him, “All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom.””
2 Samuel 14:4-21 NLT
Sometimes people need things reframed for them. To some, this may seem deceptive, but if the intent is that there be revelation, it is a valid method of conviction. Twice we have seen this method used against David’s own intellect and his repentance. Both times, instead of being angry with the messenger, he took the message for what it was. He was willing to adjust to the clarity presented because he knew it was logical. David was an intensely logical person. It was logic that allowed him to slay Goliath. The question was always what kind of logic he was using when encountering situations. If he relied on God’s reasoning, he was a blessing. If he relied on man’s, then he was a curse. Clearly, the story was the bridge to the gap between the two. Utilizing a story, wherein he could step beyond the walls of his own perceptions, was helpful in bringing him back over to God’s logical side when he had strayed to the other. This is why Joab knew it would work. This exploit was a positive for David that he relied on. It is one that we should allow as well. Instead of resenting the messenger of difficult information, we should allow ourselves to empathize with the plight of others and perhaps gain insight and conviction about ourselves.
Reframing for Revelation: Using reframing as a valid method for revelation and conviction, even if it seems deceptive.
David’s Response to Reframing: David’s willingness to adjust to clarity presented through reframing, recognizing its logical value.
The Power of Stories: Utilizing stories to bridge gaps in perception and bring individuals back to God’s logic, as exemplified by Joab’s approach with David.
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