June 1, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

David Faces More Trouble

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Opening Prayer

Lord, You never said You would solve all my problems, only that You would be beside me as I face them. Thank You.

Read 2 Samuel 20:1-26

[1] 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!” [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” [5] But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him. [6] 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.” [7] 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. [8] 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. [9] Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. [10] 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. [11] One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” [12] 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. [13] After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri. [14] Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites, who gathered together and followed him. [15] 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, [16] a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” [17] 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. [18] She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. [19] 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?” [20] “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! [21] 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.” [22] 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. [23] Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; [24] Adoniram 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 was David’s priest.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3). This reminder can encourage us in life’s trials.

A troublemaker, Sheba, in the crowds of well-wishers crossing the Jordan with David, listens to the men of Israel and Judah engaging in a verbal battle. When Judah seems to have won the argument, it is too much for Sheba, who calls upon Israel to desert their king once more. When Joab runs Sheba to ground, Sheba is betrayed with little resistance. Perhaps most of the men of Israel have simply slunk off home. Meanwhile, David returns to his palace, where ten of his concubines had been left in charge (2 Sam. 15:16). The echoes of Nathan’s prophecy (2 Sam. 12:11) come back to haunt David again, for Absalom had entered the palace in David’s absence and deliberately raped all ten (2 Sam. 16:21-22). David may have had limited scope in dealing with them–the mothers of some of his children–but house arrest for life seems hard. (The freedoms and equal rights women have today have taken a long time to emerge, and many women across the world still live under rigorous discrimination.)

Joab in many ways had served David well as his army commander, but he was a ruthless man who adds another cold-blooded murder to his tally. He had murdered Abner in personal revenge (2 Sam. 3:27). Then he killed Absalom. This was against David’s wishes, although it may have been strategically sensible. Now he murders Amasa, his cousin, in an act of cruel betrayal (9-10). Conflicts of interest where personal issues are carried into public life do not make for good governance in politics or in business.

Chapter 20 ends with David once again back in his palace in Jerusalem. In verses 23-26, as the chronological narrative ends, to be continued in 1 Kings, there is a summary of David’s leadership team similar to one the last time peace came (2 Sam. 8:15-18).

Apply

When your status or authority is diminished by someone else, how does that make you feel?

Closing prayer

Lord, the daily news is full of instances of people who don’t handle relationship resentments successfully. The approach of Joab is alive and well. Enable me to maturely handle difficulties.

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