Summary This is the first in a Bible study series expounding parables of the Bible--what they say, what they meant to those to whom they were directed, and we can learn from them and apply today. Download Link Right click and "Save as..." to Download

 

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Lessons from Bible Parables
Bend 1-7-12

Introduction – As we begin a new calendar year, we are also beginning a new Bible study series (or mini-series, depending on how many sessions we end up with).

SPS – I decided to borrow the title of this series from the previous one (“Lessons from the Letters”) and call it “Lessons from Bible Parables.”
• We will begin by defining what is meant by a parable, and discuss how parables are used in the Bible.
• As we go along we will put a magnifying glass on the parables to make sure we understand accurately what they say, clarify and expand their meaning, and then determine how we can apply the information in our lives today.
• Another similarity with our previous Bible study series is that Jesus often uses the expression "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” in reference to His parables.

The Hebrew word for “parable” (mashal) means “to be like or comparable to.”
• It can refer to a proverb, metaphor, riddle, allegory or other forms of figurative or symbolic language.

There are two Greek words for parable in the New Testament:

1. parabolē (48 occurrences, also used in LXX to translate mashal) – “to represent or stand for something; likeness or resemblance”
• literally “to throw beside”—suggesting nearness for the purpose of comparison for likeness or difference by placing two things side by side.
• “The kingdom of heaven is like… (subject of next Bible study).
• Also used for short, pithy sayings.

NKJ Luke:4:23And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb [Greek parabolē] to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.' "

NKJ Luke:6:39And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? ¶ And He spoke a parable [Greek parabolē] to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

2. paroimia (5 NT occurrences—John:10:6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.; 16:25,29 [twice] and 2 Peter:2:22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.)

a. re. 2 Peter:2:22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. “a short saying in fixed form, emphasizing some general truth - 'proverb, saying.'” (Louw-Nida lexicon).

NLT 2 Peter:2:20-22[20]For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.[21]For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.[22]But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud (“wallowing in the mire” – NKJV)."

b. re. passages in John – “a brief communication containing truths designed for initiates, veiled saying, figure of speech, in which esp. lofty ideas are concealed (BDAG lexicon).

NKJ John:10:1-6[1]Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.[2]But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.[3]To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.[4]And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.[5]And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.[6]This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. ¶ "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus used this illustration [“parable” – KJV, Gr. paroimia], but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

NKJ John:16:25-29[25]These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.[26]At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:[27]For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.[28]I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.[29]His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 25 ¶ " These things I have spoken to you in figurative language [paroimia]; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language [paroimia], but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." 29 ¶ His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech [paroimia]!

Purposes of parables?

NKJ Matthew:13:10-13[10]And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?[11]He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.[12]For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.[13]Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. ¶ And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
• “Jesus' answer cannot legitimately be softened: at least one of the functions of parables is to conceal the truth, or at least to present it in a veiled way” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

NKJ Mark:4:10-13[10]And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.[11]And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:[12]That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.[13]And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? ¶ But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 "so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.' "

However, there are other purposes of parables in the Bible.
• Dake’s Annotated Bible lists 7:
1. To reveal truth in interesting form and create more interest.
2. To make known new truths to interested hearers.
3. To make known mysteries by comparison with things known.
4. To conceal truth from disinterested hearers and rebels at heart.
5. To add truth to those who love it and want more of it.

Matthew:13:12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

6. To take away from those who hate and do not want it (same passage).
7. To fulfill prophecy.

NKJ Matthew:13:13-15[13]Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.[14]And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:[15]For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'

Here are some additional comments about the meaning and purposes of parables (from All the Parables of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer :

• Parables are simply extended similes or illustrations.”
• “A common aspect of life is employed for the illustration of a higher truth.
• “An essential feature of the parable lay in the bringing together of two different things so that the one helped to explain and to emphasize the other.”
• “A parable has been described as ‘an outward symbol of inward reality’.”
• “…an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”
• “In a parable, an image is borrowed from the visible world and is accompanied by a truth from the invisible or spiritual world.”
• “The parables display a pre-ordained harmony between things spiritual and things material. Material objects are used to express spiritual truths and reveal that nature is more than it seems. Nature is a book of symbols—a fact that Tertullian had in mind when he wrote, ‘All things in nature are prophetic outlines of Divine Operations….”
• The point is that God deliberately planned and designed the physical creation to serve as “parables” to teach spiritual truths.

NKJ Romans:1:18-20[18]For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;[19]Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.[20]For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 18 ¶ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse….
• Examples of material objects used in Bible parables [QUOTE, Lockyer, p. 22-23]

Here are arguably the two most famous parables in the Old Testament:

1. The 23rd Psalm

NKJ Psalm:23:1-6[1]The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.[2]He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.[3]He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.[4]Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.[5]Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.[6]Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
• This classic psalm is a prime example of how parables can teach us valuable spiritual truths, inspire us and encourage us by the use of the material creation.
• The classic book on this subject is A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller, who draws on his experience as a sheepherder as well as observations from the sheepherding culture in East Africa, where he spent his early childhood.
• He comments in the introduction on the value of learning spiritual lessons from the material creation [QUOTE].
• We can go through this book during this series and insert additional material from other sources.

2. Nathan the prophet’s parable to King David.

NLT 2 Samuel:11:1-27[1]And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.[2]And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.[3]And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?[4]And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.[5]And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.[6]And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.[7]And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.[8]And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.[9]But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.[10]And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?[11]And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.[12]And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.[13]And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.[14]And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.[15]And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.[16]And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.[17]And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.[18]Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;[19]And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,[20]And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?[21]Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.[22]So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.[23]And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.[24]And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.[25]Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.[26]And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.[27]And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. ¶ In the spring of the year,1 when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. 2 ¶ Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. 5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, "I'm pregnant." 6 ¶ Then David sent word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent him to David. 7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. 8 Then he told Uriah, "Go on home and relax.1 " David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. 9 But Uriah didn't go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. 10 When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, "What's the matter? Why didn't you go home last night after being away for so long?" 11 Uriah replied, "The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents,1 and Joab and my master's men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing." 12 "Well, stay here today," David told him, "and tomorrow you may return to the army." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn't get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. 14 ¶ So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. 15 The letter instructed Joab, "Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed." 16 So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy's strongest men were fighting. 17 And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers. 18 Then Joab sent a battle report to David. 19 He told his messenger, "Report all the news of the battle to the king. 20 But he might get angry and ask, 'Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn't they know there would be shooting from the walls? 21 Wasn't Abimelech son of Gideon1 killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?' Then tell him, 'Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.' " 22 ¶ So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. 23 "The enemy came out against us in the open fields," he said. "And as we chased them back to the city gate, 24 the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king's men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite." 25 "Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged," David said. "The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!" 26 ¶ When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD was displeased with what David had done.

NLT 2 Samuel:12:1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. ¶ So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: "There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. 2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. 3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest." 5 David was furious. "As surely as the LORD lives," he vowed, "any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! 6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity." 7 ¶ Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master's house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah's wife to be your own. 11 "This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel." 13 Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."
• Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance for his sins involving Bathsheba.

Why was Nathan’s story effective? How was he able to penetrate David’s defense system?

1. He “came in the back door” so to speak.
2. He picked a topic near and dear to David’s heart – sheep (since David had been a shepherd).
3. His story also appealed to David’s sense of fairness.
4. He engaged David’s emotions before David knew the purpose of the story.
5. The combination resulted in anger and a sentence of punishment from David’s lips, again, before Nathan revealed him as the real culprit.
6. David was immediately able to make the connection.

Here is another lesser known parable directed toward King David:

NLT 2 Samuel:14:1-23[1]Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.[2]And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:[3]And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.[4]And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.[5]And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.[6]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.[7]And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.[8]And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.[9]And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.[10]And the king said, Whoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.[11]Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.[12]Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.[13]And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.[14]For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.[15]Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.[16]For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.[17]Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.[18]Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.[19]And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:[20]To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.[21]And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.[22]And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.[23]So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. ¶ Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom. 2 So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, "Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don't put on lotions.1 Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 3 Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you." Then Joab told her what to say. 4 ¶ When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, "O king! Help me!" 5 "What's the trouble?" the king asked."Alas, I am a widow!" she replied. "My husband is dead. 6 My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed. 7 Now the rest of the family is demanding, 'Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn't deserve to inherit his family's property.' They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband's name and family will disappear from the face of the earth." 8 ¶ "Leave it to me," the king told her. "Go home, and I'll see to it that no one touches him." 9 "Oh, thank you, my lord the king," the woman from Tekoa replied. "If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father's house, and let the king and his throne be innocent." 10 "If anyone objects," the king said, "bring him to me. I can assure you he will never complain again!" 11 Then she said, "Please swear to me by the LORD your God that you won't let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed." "As surely as the LORD lives," he replied, "not a hair on your son's head will be disturbed!" 12 ¶ "Please allow me to ask one more thing of my lord the king," she said."Go ahead and speak," he responded. 13 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. 14 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. 15 "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 16 and rescue us from those who would cut us off from the inheritance1 God has given us. 17 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." 18 ¶ "I must know one thing," the king replied, "and tell me the truth." "Yes, my lord the king," she responded. 19 "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. 20 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!" 21 ¶ So the king sent for Joab and told him, "All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom." 22 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!" 23 Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

• In their book, The Language of Love, authors Gary Smalley and John Trent explain how what they call an emotional “word picture” can serve as a communication tool by using a story or object to activate both the emotions and the intellect of a person so that the person doesn’t just hear your words but experiences them at the emotional level.
• So Nathan’s parable and other Bible parables could be called “word pictures.”
• QUOTE, “Parables of the Old Testament” (from The Book of Life set)

It could be said that a parable (or emotional word picture) is worth a thousand words.
• Smalley & Trent’s book tells how you can use emotional word pictures (or parables) to get your point across to someone who might not otherwise be receptive.
• Jesus used this communication tool to the ultimate effectiveness in convicting and exposing the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees.
• We may take a session of this series to analyze those examples.

Conclusion – I hope that this introduction will whet your appetite for what I hope you will find to be a profitable and inspiring series as we go through some of the parables of the Bible.