Protection

I believe that I have friends and family that will support me and really stand up and defend me. If I go off and do something stupid or unlawful, there may be some who would still be with me, but others would desert me.

Shortly after David had squelched the coup of Absalom, this “troublemaker” named Sheba comes on to the scene. He starts denouncing David as king. He travels throughout Israel trying to get a following of men. David gets his army together and they pursue Sheba. He comes to city of Abel Beth Maakah and that’s where Joab and the army of David find him. They begin a siege work against the city wall. They are destroying a city wall to gain access. While they are battering the city wall, a wise woman asked to speak to Joab. She asked, “Why are you tearing down this beautiful city?” Joab tells her who they are after and why. Her involvement brought an end to the destruction.

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. (2 Samuel 20:20-22 NIV)

The inevitable was about to happen. The army was obviously big enough and strong enough to take down the city wall. The diplomacy of this woman saved the city from more destruction. At the end of the day, Joab would have gotten Sheba. She and the people of Able Beth Maakah handed over the troublemaker – they didn’t just turn him over, they killed him and through his head over the city wall and ended the madness.

I want to be a peacemaker NOT a troublemaker.

I want to be a resource to others NOT a burden.

I want to be known for kindness and willingness to serve others.

Pressing On!

Dwayne