2 Samuel 20:1-3
Verse 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!”
Though the men of Judah stood their ground about where they stood with the king, there were those among the men of Israel who were not going to give up their anger at feeling second rate even though it was merely their feelings which made them see the situation in such a way. One man who was listed as a troublemaker decides to do just that.
Sheba was part of the tribe of Benjamin meaning he was of the same tribe as Saul. There seemed to still be some hard feelings that a man of Benjamin was no longer on the throne. Those feelings of having the throne stolen from their tribe may have led this man to start this new revolt against David and the men of Judah.
We don’t know if the reason Sheba was there was because he had been among Absalom’s fighting men or if he was just passing through, but he felt strongly enough about his hate of David and Judah that he sounded a trumpet to announce his charge against David and his family. He was calling the men of Israel to revolt against the king and was putting himself in place as a leader for the nation of 10 tribes.
David watched as the men of Israel walked away and he knew this wasn’t what God wanted for His people. He also knew he needed to get back to the palace and settle things there before he could get his men ready for another battle against the men of Israel. He needed to take some time to think before another time of going head to head with the other tribes. He knew that isn’t what God wanted for His people and yet it seemed inevitable.
One of the things David needed to attend to was the women of the palace which Absalom had violated publicly. Keeping God’s law about not sharing wives with a son, the king arranged for those women he had left behind to be moved to a house under a guard’s watch and though he made sure they were cared for he let them live as widows. The palace was now ready for God’s royal work.
Two men. One wanting to gain a kingdom of his own and the other wanting to draw back together God’s kingdom of people.
Making It Personal
Do you find yourself working harder at building a life for yourself or at building God’s kingdom? What are some ways you can work at building His kingdom? What are you doing that is tearing it apart?
Making It Personal Kids
Do you do things to get your way every time? What are things you can do to help others see Jesus’ ways? Do you try to help things go the way Jesus would want them to?
Closing Prayer
Father, it is so easy to try to make things the way we want them in life but that isn’t what we are here for. Help us remember we are to live lives which glorify You and make You known. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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