Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 168
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IMMERSE
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KINGDOMS
2S
| 14:12-29
“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.”
Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, “At last
I know that I have gained your approval, my lord the king, for you have
granted me this request!”
Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. But
the king gave this order: “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must
never come into my presence.” So Absalom did not see the king.
Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was
flawless from head to foot. He cut his hair only once a year, and then only
because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!
He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and
she was very beautiful.
Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but he never got to see the
king. Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but
Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab