Introduction

Good day to all! Let us turn to Chapter 14 of the Second Book of Samuel. Our purpose in reading the Bible is to understand God's will through these stories. Some believe that Absalom committed the crime of shedding blood and cannot be forgiven. We must begin to ponder, David has already lost his eldest son Amnon, and now he is about to lose another son, Absalom. Is it better to lose one son or two?

The reasoning is simple: of course, it is better to lose one son. Sometimes the logic in our minds is chaotic, and we do not seem to understand God. In truth, God does not want people to die; He wants them to live. Although sometimes God does not care how many people die, God's will is still for people to live.

The theme of this chapter is Learning to Be Wise. Everyone must remember that in the Bible, these prophets, including Jesus and later Paul, were not criticized by God, and we should not criticize them either. We must learn to be wise. Over the past few years, I have had a persistent question in my mind: I do not understand why Christians become foolish after believing in the Lord. Many Christians will surely be displeased to hear this. But based on my observations, I have found that many Christians begin to become rigid, inflexible, and lack wisdom after believing. Thank God! I believed in the Lord in such an environment, but I did not become rigid like them, because I read the Bible, and I read out God's will.

I have been pondering this matter: why do Christians become increasingly foolish after believing? Because they do not care about what God wants and rigidly adhere to those dogmas. Our God became flesh, that is, Jesus came among us, yet they cannot understand it. This is very strange! We read the same Bible, and it is all the word of God, but the person who wrote the word of God came among us, yet people do not recognize Him.

I have discovered that there is something very deadly in this world: people read God's word according to their own desires. If people read the Bible by discerning good and evil, they will become foolish; if they read it by indulging the flesh, they will also become foolish; if they read it with a religious mindset, they will become even more foolish, because they cannot read God's will.

Some people struggle to learn programming; some people struggle to learn how to do things. Because people only care about their own ideas and do not care about what God wants. If people only care about their own inner thoughts, they are conceited. This is not wisdom; it is foolishness. I have found that there are many conceited people. For example, I know from the questions they ask: Why do we observe Holy Communion? Why do we baptize? Why do we become disciples of Jesus Christ? I would not ask God so many foolish questions.

When I used to manage a company, I hated hiring Christians as employees. As soon as I heard that a person was a Christian, I immediately said: No! Ask the next one. If they were not a Christian and seemed alright, then fine. Because early on, I hired a Christian whose way of doing things disgusted me for many years. He came to work but did not follow our workflow. The Christian's supervisor came to me and said: Boss, I do not know if I should tell you about this employee you hired? Because he knew I was a Christian, and the person I hired was also a Christian, he was worried about causing trouble.

I told him to just say it. He told me: This person does not follow the rules when working. I said: Call him in. I said to him: There are operating procedures for this job. You have to do it according to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth steps. Why are you not following the operating procedures? He said: Why should I? I almost fainted when I heard his answer. That is your job. If people require you to do this job, you have to do it according to their requirements and do not ask why. I have found that Christians especially like to get stuck here, and then they have a blind sense of pride, saying: I am a son of God! Who knows whose son are you?

So, brothers and sisters, we must learn to be wise, and we must learn from Joab, the woman of Tekoa, Absalom, and David. Before I became a pastor, although I had received training and teachings in my previous church, after I became a pastor and began to shepherd people, I did it according to my own logic.

For example, there was a tour guide who had received this kind of teaching before. The travel company required the tour guide to take tourists to those shops to buy various jade, gemstones, etc. He said: Teacher, I have a big psychological obstacle, so I do not let them buy. I directly tell these tourists that this is how the travel agency makes money. I heard this and said to him: Your boss pays you a salary, but you are undermining your boss. What kind of brain do you have? Your salary comes from here. He will not be able to do this for long, because he is a Christian, and he has very high morals. But he forgot one thing: the wealth of this world is unrighteous wealth, and he takes this matter too seriously! Perhaps you can guess my position, because my position comes from the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus said: A steward was about to be fired, so he called all those who owed his boss money and asked: How much money do you owe my boss? He changed 100,000 to 50,000, because this person was in charge of accounting. Then he asked: How much grain do you owe my boss? He changed 100 measures to 80 or 40 measures. Later, Jesus praised this steward as a clever steward. You may be surprised that God would approve of such a person. Is this person also called faithful? God calls this kind of person clever.

I used to study this matter, and I was stuck at that time: This is so unfaithful! Later, I slowly understood that because God sees these riches as unrighteous riches, like we see joss paper, He does not take these matters seriously. What does it matter if you give me one pack more or less of this joss paper? For example, how much joss paper do you owe my boss? Owe two packs, less one pack, what is the problem? Then how many boxes of joss paper do you owe my boss? Ten boxes count as five boxes, no one takes this seriously.

You must look at the wisdom of Joab, the wisdom of the woman of Tekoa, and the wisdom of David and Absalom with wise eyes. I hope that all brothers and sisters can have the wisdom of Absalom, and I also hope that everyone has the wisdom of Joab. I hope even more that everyone has the wisdom of the woman of Tekoa. I worry when I see brothers and sisters being foolish, and I do not know how to shepherd these people. I feel that people are so foolish. I have not found a good way to solve the problem of a person being foolish. Now I am telling you Chapter 14 of the Second Book of Samuel, I have seized an opportunity to tell you: Learn to be wise.

The Wisdom of Joab

Joab does his work very well. He has been following David for more than a year or two. I guess when he first started working with David, this young man was already very wise. He knows how to bet on potential stocks, so he bets on David. Joab and his brother Abishai were in the army of David, and they were all marshal-level positions, definitely smart people.

Joab was able to get involved in David marrying Bathsheba and killing Uriah. Perhaps you will say: This person is quite bad! If you can be like Joab, I have to congratulate you! I have to tell you that I am taking a risk saying this. Many religious people will give me a label: This guy is quite bad! How can he approve of Joab? What I approve of is Joab's wisdom, because he knows who his boss is! If you were Joab, you would say: Boss, you cannot do this. It is too immoral to do this. It would be troublesome to say this!

Early on, when Joab joined David, he was a smart person. He knew how the situation would develop later. Joab knows what David is thinking just by looking at David's appearance. Joab knows it in his heart. If David did not miss Absalom, Joab would never do this. But when Joab saw that David missed Absalom, he furrowed his brow and had an idea, knowing what to do.

He is the boss's painkiller, not the boss's headache. The difference between the boss's painkiller and the boss's headache is huge! If you do not understand your boss's thoughts when you work, it will be troublesome! Why am I so smart when I work? Because I rack my brains all day long thinking: What does my boss want? If you know what your boss wants, you will definitely get a raise quickly!

Brothers and sisters, perhaps you think I am wrong or Joab is wrong, or you think you are right. Then I will ask our pastors and co-workers, what do I want from you? What I want is for you to become smart! If you are a very foolish person, how can you make the people you shepherd become smart? First, you have to become smart to make the people you shepherd become smart.

If you yourself do not know how to learn, how can you make the people you shepherd learn? So you have to first become a person who knows how to learn. How much can I do alone? Not much. I am very emotional: You do things that make me very upset! Then do it according to your own ideas! I understand in my heart, but what can I do? There is no way. If people want to be foolish, let them be foolish. If people want to be stupid, let them be stupid. In fact, what I want is for you to become smart! We must think about what the leader wants, and do not just think about your own little things.

Joab knows how to do things. The first thing he thinks of is David's benefit. He is a very厉害 person. When Joab saw that Amnon, the eldest son, was dead, it was the second son's turn. But when he saw the way the second son, Chileab, was, he was almost trained by his mother to become a monk. No matter what happens later, it has nothing to do with him. For example, when David called his sons to discuss matters, Chileab did not react. If David said: What do you want to eat? What do you want? Chileab would say: Whatever you give me, I will take. Chileab is probably this kind of person, which is actually quite厉害, because that is also a kind of wisdom, avoiding many disasters.

When Joab saw this situation, he felt that the throne would definitely be passed on to Absalom, but Absalom was at his father-in-law's place. David missed his son very much, but he could not let him come back, because Absalom had shed blood. If David could not be fair, it would be troublesome. Joab thought: If this person's son kills that person's son, you let him pay with his life. It is fair for one family to lose one son. Then his own son killed his other son. If the son is made to pay for the other son, and both sons die, what should be done? So Joab wanted to find a way out for David, because David was stuck there and did not know what to do. It was very helpless to not be able to solve the problem.

Joab is very smart and knows what to do. He thought: I can find a woman from Tekoa to make up a story to tell David: It is better to lose one son than to lose two sons. Later, David also thought so. Joab has been with David for many years. He knows David's style of doing things, knows the depth of David's judgment, and also knows which is bigger and which is smaller.

We must learn from Joab to become smart, and there must be a string in our brains. We must not lack a string. Later, Joab made up a story and directed a play. If Absalom became king in the future, Joab's position as marshal would be secure. This matter not only pleased David, but also made Absalom owe him a favor, and the problem was solved. No matter how you calculate it, this deal is worthwhile, so Joab decided to make this deal.

Later, Amnon died, and Chileab knew to say: Oh, okay! The third son, Absalom, also died, and it was the fourth son Adonijah's turn. Later, Joab bet on Adonijah, but he bet wrong. Although Joab has wisdom, he also has his foolishness. What we need to learn is his wisdom, not his foolishness. Many people always misunderstand that I admire those 厉害 people. In fact, I admire those 厉害 people very much.

For example, Chairman Mao, I admire him wholeheartedly, because Chairman Mao is definitely a smart person, as well as those founding elders of New China, each of them is a 精明 person, very smart. For example, Deng Xiaoping's speech and actions are definitely those of a smart person. We have to learn to be smart from others. We know that we have to avoid things that are not pleasing to God, because people have made things clear, and we have to learn from people.

Some people say: I only read one Bible in my life. It would be strange not to become foolish! Does Joab know how to work? Does he know how to solve his boss's headache? Does he know how to pave the way for his future career? Yes, he is very 厉害. Has anyone misunderstood me, thinking that I am not in accordance with God's will? Your original church's pastors talked about those bad people. How come they have become objects to be imitated with me? It does not matter. We can learn to become smart little by little.

The Wisdom of the Woman of Tekoa

Joab went everywhere to look for eloquent women. Have you ever seen eloquent people? If you want to know, go to real estate agents. They are all quite smart people, all of them are eloquent people. Some time ago, I met a real estate agent. His brother built a house, but it was an illegal construction. The illegal construction had to be demolished. So he went to people for help and operate things one by one. As a result, it did not have to be demolished. At that time, when I saw it, I thought it would definitely have to be demolished. Not only was it built in vain, but it also had to be demolished and the garbage had to be thrown away. How annoying! Later, he told me: It does not have to be demolished. I think this woman of Tekoa must not be an ordinary person either.

Then the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, and fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.(2 Samuel 14:4)

The king likes to do saving things. Is there not a saying like this? Hero saves beauty.

And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.(2 Samuel 14:5-6)

If we follow some people's ideas, we might say: David, why do not you ask her, how do you, as a mother, educate your children? Because usually when children do not do well, it is because the mother did not teach well. But David did not ask this way, because sometimes it is not up to people to decide. So the woman of Tekoa continued to say:

Now the whole family rose up against your maidservant, saying, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, that we may execute him for the life of his brother whom he killed; and so destroy the heir also.’ Thus they would quench my remaining ember, leaving my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.” (2 Samuel 14:7)

What is everyone's view: Should he be executed, or should he not? Actually, your view is one thing, but you also have to see what David thinks. If this woman’s two sons are gone, what will happen in the future? The people in this woman's family are all keepers of the law. The Bible says, Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed. This woman of Tekoa's son killed the other son, shedding human blood, defiling the land, and affecting their lives. That place will be cursed. So the family members demanded that this woman must hand over the other son. David understood this woman's thoughts, so he said:

And the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.” And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, let the iniquity be on me and on my father's house; and the king and his throne are guiltless.” The king said, “If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.” Then she said, “Please let the king remember the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood does not destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground!” (2 Samuel 14:8-11)

If the ministers around him say, O king, how can you judge like this? It is not in accordance with the Mosaic Law. Is it in accordance with the Mosaic Law or not? Is it in accordance with God's will or not? David said, As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground! No one dared to challenge David. David judged others' matters very clearly, but he killed Uriah and took Uriah's wife. Nathan came to him and told him a story. He said, That won't do.

Then the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speak another word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak on.” So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring his banished one home again. (2 Samuel 14:12-13)

She was giving David a way out. David was clear-headed when resolving matters for others, but he was confused when resolving his own matters. But this woman of Tekoa was very wise. She said:

For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that one who is banished from Him is not expelled forever. (2 Samuel 14:14)

We are all sentenced to death, it's just a matter of when it will be executed. We are all bound to die, it's just a matter of living a little longer or a little shorter. Why should God have mercy on us? We are all mortal people, like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. God does not take away our lives, but devises means so that those who have fled will not be driven out and unable to return. It is important to understand that God wants people to live, not to die, that He wants all people to be saved, not to perish.

We choose our own paths. Man's life is like water spilled on the ground, once it's spilled, it's over. But the argumentation of the woman of Tekoa is beyond the height that ordinary people can reach. If you ask my opinion, I will tell you that many places in this world have abolished the death penalty because it is better for one person to die than for two. Someone said: Why not kill an extra piece of trash living in the world? In fact, if God judges us according to His righteousness, no one on earth can stand before Him. If we were not for God's grace, no one would be able to stand before God.

We are all people who have been sentenced to death, but it is only a suspended sentence. God gives people a chance to be born again, but some people do not understand. Like this case, one person's son killed another person's son, and later this person was sentenced to death. If the family that lost their son pleaded for the son of this family, what do you think would happen? It might work, right? If this family has two sons, and the elder son kills the younger son, should the elder son also be killed? Or is it better for one son to die?

As we slowly read about the woman of Tekoa, you will find that her reasoning is very precise. At that time, David was stuck at this point. Although this idea came from Joab, if he had let the woman of Tekoa speak, she would have only said like Kiriath-jearim: Oh, okay. It would be troublesome if she couldn't explain it clearly. As a result, the woman of Tekoa explained it clearly, using her own affairs to untie David's knot.

David's Wisdom

David’s view of death was like this: when people die, it is like water spilled on the ground. Amnon died, didn’t he? So can he be brought back to life again? No! Absalom is still alive, isn’t he? Then don’t let him die. This logic is very powerful. In fact, David really wanted Absalom to take over his throne, because Absalom was very smart and handsome.

Later stories also confirmed one thing: David really wanted to hand over the throne to Absalom. As for whether this was a good thing or not, it's hard to say. But Absalom was too smart. It's like during an earthquake, some people run down from the tenth or twentieth floor with all their might. Absalom was too smart, he rushed to the basement. Isn’t that troublesome? Can he still come out? It's an earthquake! You have to come out when you get to the ground floor. That’s how people are when they're too clever.

David thought about this matter clearly. As soon as he heard it, he knew how to handle it. As soon as the woman of Tekoa talked about her family's affairs, David wanted to make the decision for her and told her: Not a single hair of your son will fall. The problem is people must see through life and death. If you see through life and death, you will have a clear view of life and death. With a clear view, you will understand what it means to live. God is a God who wants people to live, not to die. This is the heart of God that is emphasized again and again.

People who are dead cannot live again, but when they are alive, they can still choose whether to repent. People who are dead have absolutely no chance to repent. So people must know that if it were not for God's grace, we would not survive. If it were not for God preserving our lives, we would not be justified before God with our own abilities. So living is a grace. Why do we say: God, why don't you kill him? People are just stupid and don't know God's will is for people to live. We always think: Others bully me too much, it is best to let God kill him, ask God to uphold justice! If God upholds justice, based on our level, neither you nor I could survive.

David made a decision. Did you see David's wisdom? He understood as soon as he heard it. We should all die, so we shouldn't emphasize righteousness and grace in others, but we must give grace to others. Of course, someone like me is not a perfect person either. I teach people, and they still don’t change after teaching them ten or twenty times. That really makes me anxious, and tears are about to fall, but I don’t blame them, I only blame myself for not knowing how to teach. I occasionally lose my temper a little and say a few words, trying hard to turn things around because only grace can keep people alive. David killed Uriah the Hittite and came through it by the grace of God. This incident caused the sword not to depart from his house. He has come to this point by the grace of God. David is very clear about this.

Absalom's Wisdom

The people in this chapter are all worthy of your learning for three to five days. Absalom is a powerful person. Where is his wisdom reflected? Joab didn’t bring him back? But David didn’t see him. There is a big difference between meeting and not meeting. In our era, if you could take out a group photo with Chairman Mao from your pocket, you could travel all over the world with this photo. This means: I have met Chairman Mao, I have a photo, I have evidence. So there is a big difference between meeting and not meeting. If you see a photo of Yang Zhenning and Chairman Mao together, you will think Yang Zhenning is too great.

The difference between Absalom meeting the king and not meeting the king is more than a mile or two; the difference between meeting and not meeting is 108,000 miles. Absalom wanted to see the king, but David would not see him. David also thought about Absalom, but he was in Jerusalem. If David asked Absalom to come over for a meal, would it work? Absolutely. But why didn't David see him?

And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face. (2 Samuel 14:24)

Think about it, what is David doing? David has a kind of wisdom in him. He wants Absalom to know: you are a murderer, don't think everything is fine just because you come back. David let Absalom come back, but he himself will not be proactive. Although David also thinks about Absalom, he just won't see him. He has to let Absalom take the initiative to see him. David is powerful because of this. Unlike some of our pastors, they mess things up.

Did Absalom know what King David was thinking? He also knew. He tried to find a way, he entrusted Joab, and told him: You brought me back, but I can’t see the king, what should I do? You have to go to the palace for me and tell the king: I want to see him very much. You have to give me a step down. I know that if I am not proactive, he will not see me because I am a murderer.

Joab must have told Absalom about the woman of Tekoa. Joab and Absalom came back from Geshur, traveling for two consecutive days. Joab patted Absalom on the shoulder: You stinky boy! Do you know how I came up with this? Absalom said: I don't know. Joab said: I created a woman of Tekoa and taught her how to talk to the king.

Absalom said to Joab: You are quite smart! Joab said: Of course. I have been with the king for so many years, going through life and death, fighting for the country. This little thing of yours is in my hands, but you have to remember my grace! Of course, Joab's words were not so straightforward. Absalom told Joab: When I become king, I will definitely remember you. The two of them may have drunk several bottles of Moutai along the way.

Absalom didn’t know what to do, so he waited day after day. He asked Joab to come, but Joab didn’t come. These people are all smart people, and they are good at putting on airs. Absalom began to use tricks. Coincidentally, Joab's land was next to Absalom's land, so he ordered his servants to burn Joab's land. If Joab came to ask: Why did you burn my land? Absalom would say: I burned it by mistake. Your missile hit the embassy, but you said: Oh, I didn't aim right. These are all stories, things in this world are all like this.

Absalom burned it on purpose, and he burned it very accurately, but he said: I burned it by mistake. Because you didn't come, I burned your field. If you don't come again, I will burn another piece. As a result, Joab came. He asked Absalom why he burned his field? Absalom said: Why didn't you come? Didn't I tell you? When I become king in the future, you will have a share. What are you pretending to be now? What are you talking nonsense to me about? Don't you know that I am ruthless enough? As a result, Joab was convinced.

What Christians lack is the strength of Joab, the woman of Tekoa, David, and Absalom. People know what to do, unlike us, our brains are one-track minded. Sometimes, we even lack one, and that nerve is gone. What to do? You have to know the tricks, it's easy to handle if you have tricks! Burn a piece of land, pay some money and it’s over. As a result, Joab didn’t want compensation, he said: What compensation between us? Burn it if it’s burned. Later, Joab went in to see the king. Every step on the stairs of the royal palace is a diplomatic expression, unlike our affairs. There are no small matters in the affairs of the royal family and the palace; there are no small matters in diplomacy, they are all big matters, and every aspect must be clearly taken care of.

So Joab went to the king and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom. (2 Samuel 14:33)

Now Absalom has a trump card in his hand. He said to the people: Did you see that? You all have to be careful! I took a photo with the king. The eldest is dead, the second is stupid, and the third is me. When it comes to King David, he is the third, so don’t mess with the people below. When the people below saw it, isn’t this the future king, that is, the crown prince? Absalom was just too smart, he rushed into the basement all at once. It’s like during an earthquake, rushing down from dozens of floors to the basement, killing himself! Just like Lin Biao couldn't wait back then, his health was not very good either, and he didn't know who would die first if he waited any longer? He wanted to kill Chairman Mao, but he didn't succeed.

We must learn to be wise people. When three walk together, one can be my teacher. Learn whatever wisdom each person has, and don't think you are wise. I have a huge regret in my life, that is, I feel that if I were born into a powerful and amazing family, and they gave me some wise people, according to my learning ability, I would learn very quickly, and my wisdom would definitely be outstanding! Growing up in the environment of amazing people since I was a child, my wisdom would definitely be much greater. But I have been working hard, making a mess and crawling out to this point. So to learn to be a wise person, you have to learn from the best.

Thank God! God has mercy on me, He has given me wisdom from heaven. Our brothers and sisters must not be one-track minded, or even lose the nerve. We must sharpen our minds and learn from experts, don't always think that your own abilities are good enough, you must learn from others.

May God bless everyone!