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LESSONS FROM DAVID’S FALL, PART 12: Do it…Now!

by | Oct 18, 2014 | Grace, Great Commission, Lessons From David's Fall (A Mini-Series), Obedience

“Then the king said to Amasa, ‘Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.’ But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him. David said to Abishai, ‘Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.’ So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.” (2 Sam 20:4-7 NIV)

The story picks up as King David is just returning to Jerusalem after his son, Absalom, has unsuccessfully tried to usurp the his throne. The men of Judah were all 100% for David, but the rest of Israel were of divided minds. In the last verse of chapter 19 we find all of Israel anxious to bring back the king. But then, in 2 Sam. 20:1, we find a Benjaminite named Sheba who sees an opportunity to seize the throne, and immediately, he has all of the other ten tribes on his side!

King David had just appointed Amasa, who had been the commander-in-chief of Absalom’s army, over Joab as commander-in-chief of his own army (2 Sam. 19:13), likely because Joab disobeyed a direct order from the king and killed Absalom (2 Samual 18:14). More than likely, Joab was not overly happy about this particular turn of events, nevertheless, with the threat of Sheba trying to usurp his throne, following so closely in the wake of his own son’s attempts, David orders his new command-in-chief to “summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days and be there yourself.” (2 Sam. 20:4)

But something happened. The three days went by, and Amasa did not return with the “men of Judah”! Knowing the threat the Sheba posed to be potentially deadly, David knew he couldn’t wait any longer, and he summonsed Abishai, Joab’s brother, to take the mighty warriors who had been Joab’s men and pursue Sheba.

So what about Amasa? Amasa had been given a position that he didn’t really deserve, and on the very first mission, he failed to do what he was told to do. He was late in returning to Jerusalem! As a result, David chose someone else to take his place.

Friends, we have also been chosen and raised to a place of honour that we do not deserve: All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus …” (Eph 2:3-7 NIV)

Though by nature we are objects of wrath, in His great mercy God raised us up with Christ and seated us at His right hand! Sounds a bit like what happened to Amasa, doesn’t it?

But what will we do with that position?

Like Amasa, We too are on mission. Our job is to be God’s hands on Earth. He asks us to do things for Him, and He expects us to obey. Why? Because His plans are time sensitive! If we don’t do them when He asks us to, it could be too late!

So what happens if we, like Amasa, come up short?

Just like King David then sent out Abishai in his stead, God will also find someone who will obey, and He will send them instead.

By being late, Amasa passed up the possibility of achieving a place in history as the one who brought the traitor Sheba down. Instead, Abashai received that honor. But that’s not the worst of it: As Abashai and his men, Joab included, pursued Sheba, they caught up to Amasa and his men:

“Joab said to Amasa, ‘How are you, my brother?’ Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri. One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, ‘Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!'” (2 Sam 20:9-12 NIV)

As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Joab killed Amasa, and thus, he cleanly removed his competition!

Friends, when God tells us to do something, let’s don’t be late! If we are, we not only risk having the assignment taken out of our hands and given to another, but we also risk being permanently replaced!

“To obey is better than sacrifice …” (1 Sam 15:22 NIV)

Let’s all adapt the prayer of Kind David himself: “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” (Ps 119:34 NIV)

But our story today ends with Sheba still at large. How will this dissenter be brought down? Join us next week for LESSONS FROM DAVID’S FALL, Part 13: The Wise Counsellor.

In His love,

Lyn

Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org, with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org.

(To access the entire “Lessons From David’s Fall” mini-series, please click here.)

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