Following King David’s great sin, the prophet Nathan came to him with a story about a rich man with flocks of sheep who took from a poor family its lone, pet sheep and ate it. David was outraged and Nathan famously said to him: “Thou art the man” 2 Samuel 12:7.
Why did Nathan create this imaginary story? Because it is hard to rebuke a king while he is puffed up with his own greatness. And the fable worked. In fact, this is not the only time an underling had to approach the king with a fable.
Two years after David’s son Absalom was banished for the killing of his half-brother, David’s son Amnon, Joab persuaded a woman to go to the king with a made-up story about a dispute in her family. When she told her story and David agreed to protect her son, she answered in effect, if you’ll protect my son, why must Absalom remain banished? Bring him home. Why should Israel lose both Amnon and Absalom?” 2 Samuel 14:1-13.
The indirect approach worked again. In fact, David agreed to her request even though he immediately saw through it, saying “Joab put you up to this, didn’t he?” 2 Samuel 14:19. That is how persuasive an indirect approach can be: it can lower a person’s defenses.
Some situations require a direct approach. When a son acts irresponsibly with a firearm, a father will take the gun away and speak strong words about gun safety. Firearm safety requires a direct approach. But when a hotshot college pitcher with a full-scholarship decides to quietly join his teammates in a smokeless tobacco habit, an indirect approach may be more effective. Upon discovering the secret, a father might say nothing and instead begin innocently sending his son links to videos about young ball players with mouth cancer. The indirect approach allows the young athlete to save face and keep an open mind, where a direct approach may not.*
Our goal is to persuade. Sometimes a direct approach is persuasive, sometimes an indirect approach is persuasive.
The Bible communicates both ways. For example, the law forbids idolatry directly: “Thou shalt have no other gods” Exodus 20:3. But the prophets approach idolatry indirectly, such as the life of the prophet Hosea whom God instructed to marry a prostitute, illustrating Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness. Hosea’s entire life was an analogy, a metaphor—an indirect object lesson.
Throughout the Old Testament, God takes an indirect approach using the lives of prophets and a great deal of the nation’s history to teach lessons his people were unable or unwilling to learn through more direct communication. In the New Testament, Jesus perfects this approach, crafting a series of rich parables–allegories–to teach deep, spiritual truth.
An English-major friend on social media said yesterday he can’t read novels because he is a “get-to-the-point kind of person.” My response? Getting directly to the point has its place. But it lacks subtlety and nuance.
Speaking directly is effective, even critical at times, but it lacks imagination. The longer, more circuitous approach of indirect communication and storytelling can persuade people when they might otherwise put up defensive walls. A parable, a story, even an effective metaphor can reach people who might not respond well to a direct order, a direct request, or even direct advice.
God, help us to love and understand the Old Testament in all its wordy indirectness. Give us patience and discipline with this library of some of history’s most challenging books. And give us the people skills to know when to speak directly and when to approach a situation with a bit more imagination. Guide us so that our words are effective, apples of gold in settings of silver, Proverbs 25:11.
ΑΩ
* The writer may or may not have personal knowledge of this turn of events.
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