David continues to reap the harvest of his sin against the Lord. Disaster, death, and dissension in his family have been on display before the whole kingdom. Absalom murdered his brother and then fled to Geshur. Now Joab begins to plot a way for Absalom to return. He employs “a wise woman” from Tekoa, who uses anything but wisdom to turn the tables on David. She tells him a story, like the way Nathan spoke earlier to David, to trap David. But this is an emotional trap, not an effort to rouse David’s conscience. Absalom returns, but he is not like the prodigal who returns in Luke 15. We see that Absalom has not repented, has no remorse, and in fact is plotting more than he lets on. The kingdom is about to experience the danger of “Absalom’s Return” (2 Samuel 14:1-33).

I. False Wisdom

II. False Valuation

III. False Reconciliation