Troublemaker Sheba is quieted

2 Samuel Chapter 20

As the men of Israel complained that the men of Judah had gotten to do most of the work in helping King David across the Jordan, the words got heated. Soon a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri from Benjamin shouted for everyone to have nothing to do with David. He urged the men of Israel to go home. So the men of Israel deserted David and went home. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him to Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, David instructed that the ten concubines whom he had left behind to keep house should be placed in seclusion. Their needs were to be met, but he would no longer sleep with them, so each lived as a widow until she died. Then he instructed Amasa to mobilize the army of Judah, but it took longer than the three days the king had allowed. Meanwhile Sheba was causing more trouble, so David had Abishai and Joab take troops and chase him before he got to a fortified city. As Abishai and Joab arrived in Gibeon, Amasa met them coming back from his duty. Joab took him by the beard as if to kiss him, and stabbed him in the stomach with his dagger, and he died on the ground. One of Joab's young officers urged Amasa's troops to follow Joab and he pulled Amasa's body into a field and covered it.

Sheba the troublemaker had mobilized his own clan at Abel-beth-maacah. When Joab's forces arrived, they attacked and built a ramp outside the city wall and began battering it down. But a wise woman called to Joab to listen to her. She told him he was destroying a loyal city and asked him why he wanted to destroy what belonged to the Lord? Joab told her he didn't want to destroy the city, but wanted the man named Sheba and if he was handed over, the city would be left in peace. The woman said Sheba's head would be thrown over the wall, then she went to the people and they cut off Sheba's head and threw it over the wall and Joab turned and went back to Jerusalem.

Joab once again became the commander of David's army.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: David's concubines were soiled because of sex with Abasalom, David's son. David could have had them killed. But he chose to let them live apart from others.

Joab's murderous act of slaying Amasa went unpunished just as it did when he killed Abner. Justice will catch up to him in the chapter Kings. We must remember that even if Joab lived to be an old man, he still had to face the judgment day before the Lord.
Throughout the Bible and in those times, women were quiet in public and subdued in mannerisms. Those that spoke out were wise women who must have had great courage to confront leaders. The woman who spoke out to Joab saved her city.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Joab was a cold-blooded killer. Yet he continued to lead a good life as commander of David's army. How many cold-blooded killers do you know? None, probably. But we do know sinners and I hope you are not one. Great sins in Gods eyes did not go unpunished in those days and they don't go unpunished today. If you think you can hide your sins from the Lord - think again. All of us must face the Lord in judgment someday. Sounds harsh? Not when you stop and think of all the times God pounded his commandments into our heads and into the heads of our ancestors. God is all powerful. Yet God is merciful and loves us. He knows we are not perfect, yet he continues to guide us each day. Today, pray for his forgiveness from all the little daily sins that we, as humans,commit.

Yours in Christ.
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Update on Lori: she sheds her back brace soon and can drive. She thanks God for healing her. Please continue to pray for her during recovery. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Update on Craig: he ended up having a stent put in and is back to work. Keep him and his family on your list for prayers. Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.