A Retreating Enemy

2 Samuel 20:1 (ESV) Now there happened to be there a worthless man, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. And he blew the trumpet and said, “We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel!”

No sooner is the rebellion of Absalom put down when David's kingdom faces another rebellion from a man named Sheba. It is a different sort of rebellion however albeit an effective one. This time the rebel calls out to the people and retreats. He never comes after David, he never attacks or fights, he only runs to Abel and eventually meets his demise. If Absalom represented the fall of Satan's kingdom at the cross, Sheba represents Satan's kingdom after. For he has no authority to fight God's people or attack Jesus. He is disarmed (See Colossians 2:15) and can only howl his lies.

Sadly, many people listen to and follow Sheba just as many people listen to and follow the devil.
2 Samuel 20:2 (ESV) So all the men of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah followed their king steadfastly from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

Christian, be not surprised when the world turns on Christ. They are misled and deceived by a worthless enemy. The scripture says Satan is the "god of this world" and he has "blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Cor. 4:4. We live in a fallen world where hearts and minds are easily swayed.

David knows he must deal swiftly with Sheba. 

2 Samuel 20:4–6 (ESV) Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and be here yourself.” 5 So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the set time that had been appointed him. 6 And 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 get himself to fortified cities and escape from us.”

Amasa is slow on the switch and David turns to Abishai, the hot-headed brother of Joab. Amasa was Absalom's general and David had replaced Joab with him. But this move opens the door for Joab's arrogance to surface and we learn that Joab is a bit of a problem for David.

Joab resented his demotion and bides his time to strike down Amasa in cold blood. What we should remember here is this is now the third person Joab kills in direct conflict with David's commands. Later in the chapter, Joab works with a wise woman in the stronghold of Sheba to have him betrayed and killed thus shutting down his rebellion. But we have now a clear picture of Joab. While at times Joab is a great asset to David, very often he undermined him and killed anyone he saw fit.

We will later find out that all this insubordination and death bothered David. He will leave instructions for Solomon to deal with him:

1 Kings 2:5-6 (ESV) “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me... 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

The problem is David benefited from Joab's petulant spirit but was also troubled by it. It begs the question for us. Are there things or people in our lives that we need to confront but refuse to do so because of the benefits they bring to us? If we do not confront them, we leave them for the next generation to deal with them.

Secondly, we see the difference between Joab and David. While David longs for peace and reconciliation, Joab continually seeks personal vengeance and enacts vendettas against proposed enemies. Who will we be? Will we be a connector or a killer? Will we seek reconciliation or personal retribution?

Our true David wants us living in the ministry of reconciliation. To know our enemy is already defeated and personal issues need not trouble the waters for us. May we stay focused and firm on our commitment to fighting the good fight and walking in the victory already provided.