Unsung Heroines-The Maiden With A Message

Introduction: only mentioned once in Scripture, she had news the king needed to hear!

Text: 2 Samuel 17:15-17, KJV: 15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

Thoughts: In the context, Absalom, David’s son, had rebelled against David and was trying to reign as king instead of David. Hushai, David’s friend, pretended to defect to Absalom, and convinced Absalom of a “strategy” to help get rid of David. Hushai now needed to get word to David, but that was going to be tricky, at best. Who was on David’s side, and who was on Absalom’s side, of this conflict?

Fortunately, there were several still loyal to David even though they weren’t physically with him at the time. David had told the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to stay in Jerusalem until the matter was decided (2 Samuel 15:24-29). Now these two received word from Hushai (and how he was able to visit these priests undetected is a great mystery), but they needed someone to deliver the message who might be less of a target, perhaps, than priests or grown men.

Such a candidate existed right there, right where she was needed. We don’t know anything about her or her family, her age, or her future. In fact, one strange thing might be that she is called the only “wench” in the King James Version of the Bible! Of note, “wench” meant something quite different in the 1600’s or so; according to a few online definitions, “wench” was just another word for “maidservant” or “servant girl”. So then there is no need to see this young woman as anything else but a young woman. Her morality is not in question here.

This young woman got word to Jonathan and Ahimaaz, sons of the priests, and they promptly left to find David and report to him. Some of their story is found in the story of the unsung heroine, “another woman at a well”. They did get to David, but they wouldn’t have had anything to tell him if it wasn’t for this unsung heroine, this servant girl, who took a risk by bringing news David needed to hear.

Are you in a position where you think you’re just another piece of the machine, or just another part of the staff? Don’t let this get you down. No matter where you are, you can share good news as the Lord gives you opportunity. The girl in this story knew exactly what she had to do, and she did it. Just think what might happen when you do what the Lord wants you to do!

Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).