Dec 19, 2021. II Samuel 20:14-22

Posted byJohn Sanzone

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A WISDOM THAT SAVES. II Samuel 20:14-22. 12/19/2021. #50.

2 Samuel 20:14-22 [New King James Version]

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also 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. And all the people who were 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 So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely 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 the Lord?” 20 And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.” So 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 all the people. And 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. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.

  1. A woman sees the craziness of it all
    1. Sheba had led a number of the northern tribes in rebellion
      1.  This is after Absalom led a rebellion
      1.  The schism was over who had more right to claim David as king
    1. Sheba ends up in the northern town of Abel
      1.  Even though Sheba undoubtedly had many of his followers with him, most of the town were probably uninvolved bystanders
      1.  Joab lays siege to the town
    1. An unnamed wise woman sees the absurdity of the situation
      1.  Sheba does not represent the beliefs of the town
      1.  Joab is attacking one of Israel’s own town
      1.  The town leaders were doing nothing about it
      1.  Scores of people could be killed
    1. Frequently, it takes one wise person not in charge to stop the madness of obsessed men
      1.  Naaman’s servant prevented the general from storming away from Elisha uncured
      1.  Mordecai intervened to save the Jews
      1.  Abigail saved her household from David’s wrath
      1.  Paul’s nephew warned of Paul of a plot to kill him
  2. Wisdom takes charge
    1. This unnamed wise woman takes the initiative
      1.  She does not go to the elders of the town first
      1.  She probably knows that the leaders would ignore her of debate her words
    1. The woman courageously calls to the men bashing the gate
      1.  She wants to talk to Joab
      1.  The men fetch Joab to speak to the woman (an extraordinary turn of events in itself)
    1. The wise woman queries Joab
      1.  Why is he attacking a city in Israel?
      1.  Does Joab know that Abel is known as a place to settle disputes, not create them?
      1.  Does Joab plan on wiping out a part of Israel’s inheritance?
    1. Joab answers the wise woman
      1.  God forbid that Joab would wipe out inheritance
      1.  All Joab wants is the traitor Sheba, son of Bichri
  3. Heads will roll
    1. The wise woman tells Joab that Sheba’s head will be tossed over the wall momentarily
      1.  She explains to the elders the situation
      1.  They agree that Sheba’s life is not worth the loss of the town and the battle is not theirs
    1. No one in the city government thought to ask Joab why he was attacking one of Israel’s cities
      1.  No one seem to object that this was not their fight
      1.  The city officials would have allowed their town to be destroyed rather than seek a peaceful solution
    1. Apparently, Joab had not asked that Abel surrender Sheba to him before he attacked the city
      1.  The leaders had one track minds
      1.  Common sense is an uncommon commodity
    1. Sheba’s head is tossed over the wall and Joab’s army leaves
      1.  Wisdom needs to be offered, even if not accepted
      1.  Only the gospel of Christ can stop today’s madness