May 24, 2014 - Saturday

Start Time: 6:28 A.M.

End Time: 6:49 A.M.

Title: Sheba Rebels Against David

Scripture: 2 Samuel 20:1 – 23

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!” So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows. Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him. David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.”^[a] So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

NOTES:

Ø When God gives us the victory, expect the devil won’t leave without a fight!  The good thing about it is God is vigilant and knows his next move.  After a great victory from Absalom, here we find another troublemaker who did not learn anything.  Sheba decided to deceive others against david again, the same way that Absalom did.  But God was ready for whatever similar issue that arises.  He knows that when the devil is defeated, the devil will be thrown out kicking and screaming.  He wont surrender easily and so David’s men under Joab’s leadership went to pursue Sheba, even Amasa, whom David told to summon the men of Judah, who clearly was shifting alliance, God gave David and his men a cautious heart after what Absalom did to his father.

→While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath. Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.  One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!”  Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him.  After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.  Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites,^[b] who gathered together and followed him.  All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he answered. She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.” “I’m listening,” he said.  She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”  “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.”  Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.  Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; ²⁴ Adoniram^[c] was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ²⁵ Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; ²⁶ and Ira the Jairite^[d] was David’s priest.

NOTES:

Ø God will capture our enemy and hand it to us in a silver platter!  Joab and his men pursued Sheba who rebelled against David.  They are willing to fight and make war just to get the head of Sheba back but God has a bigger plan and God did not allow destruction to the land of Israel.  God preserve the Israelites who were living in peace.  He used the least expected people to engage in war to capture and hand Sheba’s head to Joab and his men.  When God works, He provides solutions that are the most efficient and convenient for all of us and always on the spot when it comes to His will.  Hallelujah for that!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus thank You because victory comes from You but most of all because You are vigilant and all-knowing.  You have seen the moves of our enemies 10steps ahead and even more.  You know that the devil is not going to surrender himself without a fight so You have given us the right approach and behavior to be cautious and aware so that what happened will not happen again.  Thank You because You have given our enemies to us in a silver platter.  And many times, we don’t need to do much because You have won the battle for us.  Thank You Jesus for Your love and protection over us that always keep us safe and victorious in whatever battles we face.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!