ESOCS Devotional 13 September
TEXT: 2 Samuel 20:1-18 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “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.” 2 Samuel 20:2 KJV
Israel was a united kingdom made up of twelve separate tribes. These tribes often had difficulty agreeing on goals of the nation as a whole. Tribal jealousy had initially kept them from completely conquering the Promised Land, and now tribal jealousies were threatening the stability of David’s reign again, so Sheba had opportunity to rebel (2 Sam.20:1).
After defeating Absalom, David returned to Jerusalem. However, unknown to him, another rebellion was by the door, this time, by Sheba. Sheba incited a rebellion against David. So, David sent Joab, Abishai, and a small army after him. Joab and his men besieged Abel, Sheba’s hideout, until the people of Abel killed Sheba themselves.
To rebel means to revolt (against). It is a very serious sin before God; especially that against a government instituted by God, or a person anointed and made king by God. In Psalm 105:15, God warned against doing harm to His anointed or His prophets. Guided by this warning and its consequence, David refused to harm, kill, or overthrow Saul who tried many times to kill him (1 Sam. 18:19 and 20; 1 Sam. 24:6).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In some churches today, we see rebellion in various forms; not necessarily carrying of arms and ammunition. Murmuring and gossiping against the Head of the Church are rebellious acts. The same is true of criticizing every work of the Head of the Church and his team, and indeed, the entire Church. There are other acts like petition, disobedience, causing of divisions and camps leading to some members leaving the Church, etc. These are all forms of rebellion against the Church and God. God hates rebellion because it is sin against Him. Sheba in our text rebelled against the anointed of God, and by implication, against God. The reward was death.
Children of God should be wise now that we know rebellion can come in various forms and the consequence, far reaching. Be wise now. Shun every act of rebellion. We can always adopt a peaceful way to resolve misunderstanding in the Church than rebelling.
CHALLENGES
- Check those attitudes that are anti-God’s commandments and your local Church’s laws. They are equivalent to rebellion. Drop them.
PRAYER POINT:
- Ask God to help you identify such attitudes as listed under challenges above and the ability to drop them.
FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 15:22-23; 1 Samuel 18; 19 and 20; Psalm 95:7b-11; Psalm 107: 11-12
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ESOCS Devotional 13 September
