6/26/25
Discerning Wisdom
When an institution is thriving, we often presume it has an excellent leader. Yet behind every
strong leader, there must also be faithful and capable supporters. No leader can sustain success
alone. This is true not only in modern nations but also in ancient times. Behind the success of
King David stood his general, Joab. Joab was a key figure in David’s rise and reign, offering
steadfast support to the king.
In 2 Samuel 14, we see another example of Joab’s role. After David experienced a family
tragedy, Joab devised a plan to address the king’s aching heart toward his estranged son,
Absalom. To do so, he employed a wise woman from Tekoa to rouse David from his grief and
indecision. The woman’s encounter with David echoes the earlier confrontation by the prophet
Nathan. In both cases, the messengers conveyed implied messages, and in both cases, David
understood their meaning.
One striking detail appears in 2 Samuel 14:3: “Joab put the words in her mouth.” This
expression is typically used when God commissions a prophet to speak on His behalf. While
Nathan likely spoke the words God gave him, the woman in this story spoke words crafted by
Joab. Though Joab’s intentions and David’s response may have been sincere, the result led to
further turmoil. This episode reminds us that even our best human efforts can fall short—and that
true wisdom and discernment come not from ourselves, but only from God.
Rev. Seung Ho Bang