What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 14:17? And now your servant says The woman of Tekoa approaches David with the respectful posture of a servant. Throughout Scripture, genuine appeal to authority often begins with humility: • Genesis 18:3 – “My lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, do not pass your servant by.” • 1 Samuel 25:24 – Abigail “fell at David’s feet and said, ‘My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your maidservant speak…’” Her wording reminds David that, though she stands before an earthly king, both of them ultimately serve the higher King—Yahweh. The title “servant” keeps the conversation grounded in dependence upon God’s order and authority. May the word of my lord the king bring me rest She trusts that David’s judgment will give “rest” (literally relief, security). In Israel, the king’s spoken verdict carried the force of law; a righteous word settled disputes and calmed anxieties. • Proverbs 16:15 – “In the light of a king’s countenance is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.” • Matthew 11:28 – Though spoken by Christ centuries later, the promise “Come to Me… and I will give you rest” mirrors the idea that true relief flows from divinely established authority. Because David’s throne was established by God (2 Samuel 7:11–16), his words could legitimately provide the peace she seeks. For my lord the king is able to discern good and evil She affirms David’s God-given discernment. This is more than mere flattery; David had demonstrated sound judgment in matters of justice (2 Samuel 12:1-13). • 1 Kings 3:9 records Solomon asking for the very gift she attributes to David: “Give Your servant a discerning heart to judge Your people and to distinguish between good and evil.” • Hebrews 5:14 later teaches that spiritual maturity involves “those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” David’s life of faith, military leadership, and worship trained his moral sight, enabling him to weigh complex situations—like Absalom’s estrangement—with clarity. Just like the angel of God Ancient Israelites viewed angels as heavenly messengers who perceived matters from God’s vantage point (Genesis 18:22; Judges 13:16-18). Calling David “like the angel of God” highlights: • Supernatural clarity—angels see beyond surface appearances (2 Kings 6:17). • Impartial justice—angels execute God’s righteous decrees (Psalm 103:20-21). • Protective ministry—an angel “encamps around those who fear Him” (Psalm 34:7). By likening David to such a being, she underscores her confidence that his decision will align with God’s perfect perspective (compare 2 Samuel 19:27, where Mephibosheth uses similar language). May the LORD your God be with you The blessing that closes her statement rests everything on the covenant name “LORD” (Yahweh). When God is “with” someone, success and wisdom follow. • Ruth 2:4 – “The LORD be with you!” • 1 Samuel 17:37 – David himself had trusted, “The LORD… will deliver me.” • 1 Kings 8:57 – “May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers.” She invokes this blessing so that David’s discernment and future actions will continue to reflect divine favor. summary 2 Samuel 14:17 is a layered appeal from the woman of Tekoa. Each phrase acknowledges David’s God-given authority, seeks relief through his righteous verdict, praises his Spirit-shaped discernment, and calls down covenant blessing upon him. The verse underscores that true rest, wise judgment, and lasting favor flow from leaders who submit to the LORD’s presence and reflect His justice in their decisions. |
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