Daily Bible Reading “David Faced Opposition” (2 Samuel 20:1-15)

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David Faced Opposition

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 20:1-15. There was a wicked man, named Sheba. He was the son of Bichri. He was a Benjamite. He was the rebellious kind. He blew a trumpet and declared that they would have no part of David or the son of Jesse. He commanded the people of Israel to return to their tents. Once again David faced opposition.

The men of Israel chose to stop following David as their king and followed Sheba instead. But the men of Judah from Jordan to Jerusalem continued to honor David as their king.

King David returned to his house in Jerusalem. The king took the ten women concubines that he left to take care of the house and put them in ward. He still provided for them, but no longer had relationships with them. They lived as widows until their death.

The king told Amasa to gather the men of Judah in three days and requested that Amasa be there with them. For some reason Amasa took longer than the king asked.

David told Abishai that Sheba, the son of Bikri, would do them more harm than Absalom did. David instructed him to take his master’s men and pursue Sheba. David was concerned that Sheba would find fenced cities and escape from them.

So Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, the son of Bikri.

While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military garment, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, the dagger dropped out of its sheath.

Joab approached Amasa asking, “How are you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand like he was going to kiss him. Joab caught Amasa off guard. He didn’t realize that Joab had a dagger in his hand. Joab plunged the dagger into Amasa’s belly, and his intestines fell to the ground. Amasa died immediately. Why do you suppose Joab killed Amasa?

Joab and his brother Abishai went on to pursue Sheba. One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and told the men that whoever favored Joab, and was for David, to follow Joab. Amasa was laying in the middle of the road in a pool of his own blood. When the troops saw him they all came to a halt. When Joab’s man realized that everyone who saw Amasa stopped, he dragged him out of the road into a nearby field and covered him with a cloth.

After Amasa was removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba. Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, Bethmaachah, and through the entire region of the Bikrites, they gathered together and followed him.

All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel, Bethmaachah. They had built a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench. Joab and his men battered the wall and brought it down.

It seems that King David always faced opposition one way or another. In life things are not always easy. It seems there are always battles to face. Some of the battles may be physical and some may be spiritual. But, if we have God on our side we can be victorious.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 20:1-15

1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
7 And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

Things to think about:

Who was the man who rose up against David?
What tribe of Israel remained loyal to King David?
Who was killed in this Scripture? Why? By whom?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that King David had opposition, but he still had faithful followers. Give us people in our lives that will support us no matter the opposition that we face. Help us to be loyal followers of Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Daily Bible Reading “David and Joab Conquer Rabbah” (2 Samuel 12:26-31)

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David and Joab Conquer Rabbah

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 12:26-31. Joab had been trying to conquer Rabbah for a year while David was dealing with his sin. Joab finally conquered Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites, which is located east of the Jordan River.

Joab sent messengers to tell David that he had overtaken the royal city of Rabbah, which was also called the city of waters since it was located along the Jordan. He sent word for David to come and bring the rest of the people to help secure the city, or the city would be named after him.

David gathered his troops and went to Rabbah. They helped Joab and were able to overtake the city. David took their king’s crown from his head. The crown weighed a talent of gold and was adorned with precious stones. The crown was placed on David’s head instead of the king of Rabbah.

They obtained much treasure from Rabbah. He captured the people and put them to work for him as he did with all the cities of the children of Ammon.

David repented to God for his sin and God allowed him to be victorious again. He had suffered the consequences of his sin. Even though we sin and come short of the glory of God we still can be used by God. We can be victorious again. It would be better if we didn’t sin and turn away from God, but when we repent and turn back to God, He can bless us again.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 12:26-31

26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

Things to think about:

Who led the conquer of Rabbah?
Why did Joab send for David?
What was David’s response to Joab’s request?
How do we know they were victorious in this battle?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that You allowed David to be victorious again against the enemies of Israel. Help us to realize that we can be forgiven and return to Your favor. Help us not to let our sins and mistakes keep us from serving You. If we have fallen into sin, help us to repent and turn back to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Daily Bible Reading “Joab Kills Abner” (2 Samuel 3:22-30)

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

Joab Kills Abner

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 3:22-30. Joab and David’s servants came in from pursuing a troop. They brought in great treasures which they had collected from the troops. Abner was no longer with David because David sent him away in peace.

When Joab heard that Abner had been there to visit David he was upset. Joab went to David and asked him why he sent Abner away. Joab asked David didn’t he know that Abner only came to make a league with him so he could know David’s comings and goings.

Joab left David and sent messengers to get Abner and bring him back to the well at Sirah, but David didn’t know anything about it.

When Abner returned Joab took him aside to talk to him privately. Then Joab stabbed Abner with his sword and killed him because Abner had killed Ashahel, Joab’s brother, in the battle at Gibeon.

When David heard what Joab did to Abner he said that he and his servants were guiltless of the death of Abner, the son of Ner.

David declared that the responsibility for Abner’s death would fall on Joab and his father’s house since he and his brother conspired to kill Abner in revenge for their brother’s death. They caused even more trouble for their family by taking revenge.

David had no idea what Joab’s intentions were. Had David known he may have been able to stop this from happening.

It is understandable that Joab and his brother were upset over their brother’s death, but does killing someone else resolve the issue? Could we forgive someone for doing such as this?

We are told in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to the Lord, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

We are not to take vengeance into our own hands. If someone does us wrong or hurts us in some way we should turn it over to the Lord and He will take care of it. In due time, everyone will get their just rewards.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 3:22-30

22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

Things to think about:

Where had Joab and David’s men been when Abner visited the king?

What did Joab tell David when he found out Abner had been there?

Who did Joab send to find Abner?

What did Joab do when Abner returned?

What was David’s reaction to what Joab did?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we learn that Joab was angry with Abner because of his brother’s death. Joab took his vengeance out on Abner and killed him. You told us in the Scriptures that vengeance belongs to You and You will repay. Help us not to take vengeance into our own hands. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

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