What role does truth play in the unfolding events of 2 Samuel 17:20? A Look at the Verse “Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, ‘Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?’ The woman answered, ‘They have crossed over the brook of water.’ And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 17:20) Immediate Observations • A direct question is asked: “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” • The woman’s reply is factually untrue. • The false report sends Absalom’s men away, protecting David’s messengers. Truth under Pressure • The narrative highlights the clash between objective truth (the men are hiding in the well, v. 19) and spoken falsehood (the woman’s answer). • Scripture records the lie without endorsing it; the text simply states what happened, reflecting the factual account (cf. Joshua 2:4–6 for a similar tension). • God’s moral standard still forbids bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 12:22). The sinfulness of the deception is not glossed over by later praise; the larger storyline, however, shows God overruling human failings. God’s Unchanging Truth Prevails • Nathan’s prophecy that David would retain the throne (2 Samuel 12:10–12) is the undeviating truth guiding events. • Hushai’s counsel (17:14) was declared by the narrator to be the means “the LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel.” God’s sovereign word stands despite human schemes or lies. • The woman’s deception does not change or establish truth; it merely delays Absalom’s forces. God’s ultimate truth remains intact and operative. Outcomes Shaped by Truth • David receives accurate intelligence and escapes (17:21–22). • Absalom’s men, following a false lead, embody the futility of pursuing rebellion against God-ordained authority (Psalm 2:2–4). • The chapter underscores that embracing falsehood aligns a person with defeat; submitting to God’s revealed truth brings preservation. Living the Principle • Speak truth: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). • Trust God’s promises even when circumstances tempt toward compromise; He can protect without sin (Psalm 31:5; John 14:6). • Recognize that God uses imperfect people, yet His truth is never compromised or adjusted—He remains the final arbiter of every outcome. |
    |