SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 20
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, 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, O Israel!” [2 Samuel 20:1] I had a tough time finding a lesson in this reading. I was struck by the intrigue and violence. David’s own leader Joab is a crooked, cruel man. The fighting between the tribe of Judah, and the other tribes leads to this added rebellion by Sheba. David, God’s anointed servant, is having a tough go. Its as if Satan is targeting God’s appointed King, making his subjects rebel, dividing and defeating his kingdom. Yes, behind this particular troublemaker there is another troublemaker – Satan.

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ” `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ [Matthew 26:31] Did Jesus – the Son of David – fair any better? It seems the same troublemaker is dividing and defeating Jesus’ followers too. Here Jesus predicts that they will all fall away. Those that He loves will let Him down. He is not surprised, but no doubt He is hurt. Then think about the rest of church history, how many scoundrels like Joab have made a mess of Jesus’ kingdom throughout history. Again and again the troublemaker Satan introduces greed, cruelty, weakness, tension, doubt, etc. into Jesus’ followers, so that His kingdom is as twisted at times as David’s was in this passage.

But David’s kingdom endures, as God promised [2 Samuel 7]. And Jesus’ kingdom will be established too. Yes, what we see of it seems twisted and messed, yet the throne is secure. Yes, there are people in His kingdom that should not be there (like Joab) who do not act like their King, yet seem to prosper in what they do. But Jesus’ throne is secure, all authority in heaven and earth belongs to Him, and the troublemaker is defeated, his days are numbered.

Both David and Jesus were struck by the troublemaker Satan. But the promise made when sin first entered the world stands true today: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” [Genesis 3:15] The devil strikes at all of God’s anointed servants, but he will be crushed: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. [Romans 16:20] Things may look bleak now, but one day!!!!

PRAYER:
Lord, this is a pretty twisted passage, yet somehow it assures me that Your kingdom will come, and Satan will be defeated. Yes!