Day 291 – Deliverance

2 Samuel 20:1 There happened to be a rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet and said, “We have no share in David, nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel!”

 2 Then every man of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. However, the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.

 3 Now David came to his house in Jerusalem. The king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. They were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

 4 The king said to Amasa, “Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days and present yourself here.”

 5 Then Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. However, he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.

 6 David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.”

 7 Then Joab’s men, with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the mighty men, went out after him. They went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

 8 When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out. 9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

 10 However, Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab’s hand. He struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus, he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

 11 Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David—follow Joab!”

 12 However, Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw everyone who came upon him halted.

 13 When he was removed from the highway, the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

 14 He went through the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah and the Berites. They were gathered and went after Sheba.

 15 Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. The people with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.

 16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, Hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’” 17 When he had come near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?”

  He answered, “I am.”

 Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.”

  And he answered, “I am listening.”

 18 Then she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They will seek guidance at Abel,’ and so they would end disputes. 19 I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of JEHOVAH?”

 20 Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! 21 It is not so. A man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.”

 Then the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

 22 Then the woman in her wisdom went to the people. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

 23 Joab was over the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; 24 Adoram oversaw revenue; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite was a chief minister under David.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Inheritor

When you trust someone and they turn on you, how do you respond?

David responded by sending Abishai and Joab after Amasa to hunt for Bichri who gathered Israel against him. After killing Amasa, Joab and his armies pursued Bichri throughout the tribes of Israel and followed him to Abel and Beth Maachah. In Abel a wise woman talked to him from the wall and asked his business and why he wanted to cut off the inheritance of JEHOVAH. Joab told her he sought Bichri. She threw his head over the wall and Joab and his armies returned to Jerusalem.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, Satan called his hosts against you to destroy you and your faith. Yeshuwa promised to fight for you and sends legions of angels against Satan to cut off his head.

When you stand on the promises JEHOVAH has for you in His Word, you can cut off Satan’s head. You can keep him from destroying your faith, your family, your friends, and everyone who belongs to you. You do that by spending time with Yeshuwa in Bible study, prayer, and the fellowship of other believers. You never fight alone when Yeshuwa fights for you.

What trouble has Satan brought against you to destroy your faith? Stand on JEHOVAH’S Word and cut off his head.

Let’s pray: Father, thank you for Your promises to fight with me to destroy Satan’s plans against me. Help me stand on Your promises and cut off Satan’s head when he seeks to destroy me and everyone who belongs to me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 5 November 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux