Look Ahead, Do it Now • 2 Samuel 20
50:27 Teaching begins
Notes
There are two people in this chapter who understand, what’s happening around them, who see that one thing has to happen right now, or else we’re dead. Others are unaware of what’s coming, and they become fruitless or get killed without knowing what hit them.
This is a wake-up call to be wise, look ahead and see what’s coming, and deal with it right now.
I’m reading in 2 Samuel 20.
1. Sheba takes opportunity to lead Israel astray, vv. 1-2.
A. Sheba is a worthless fellow, a son of Belial. He’s got nothing worthy to contribute to Israel. He only sees a chance to do something for himself, draw people to follow him.
B. Why should anyone follow him? Because he’s not David. That’s his big point. We have nothing to do with David. No relationship with him. Ditch him, ditch the whole thing, every man for himself, go home, forget him!
C. What’s at stake is the unity of Israel under God’s anointed king.
1. What is Israel? Just another country, it’s okay, but nothing to get all excited about? A historical accident, just one more country on earth?
2. No! This nation is created by God, redeemed by God, in covenant with Him in order to bless the whole earth. There’s a purpose and a reason that they exist.
3. That’s reflected in the worship of God at Jerusalem. That’s where the ark of the covenant is, the testimony of God, where the Lord put His name forever.
4. The kingdom is important because the people asked for a king and God gave them one. He has a covenant with God to rule God’s people forever.
5. What if Israel ignores that, takes it for granted, doesn’t think much of it?What if every man goes his own way, keeps to himself, ignores the worship of God? Then they become like all the nations that don’t know God. They become idolaters. They worship false gods who can’t save them when they cry out. They bring on themselves the curse for breaking the covenant. They will disintegrate like chaff right into the dust.
D. Amazingly, Sheba is successful! All the northern tribes say, “Yeah! We have no share in David!” They discard David, the kingdom, the covenant, everything! It’s a tragedy when God’s people have a light grasp on who they are, their past, their future, and their purpose. They just throw it all away on an impulse, not thinking about consequences.
E. Judah sticks to the king. This is hard.
1. On the one hand, that’s good, that they stick with David.
2. On the other hand, they started this because they weren’t so much for David and unity as they were out to defend themselves and look good. Instead of building up unity they tear it down.
3. Are they really for the king? Does the king need this kind of “support”? It’s sad when believers in Jesus don’t understand how important it is to love one another as Jesus commanded. Does your Christianity drive people away from Jesus? Or do you draw people to Jesus with cords of lovingkindness?
2. David provides for the ten concubines, v. 3.
A. David left them to keep house when he fled. Absalom had intimate relations with them in order to rally his followers and burn bridges with David. For Absalom to be intimate with them was to make them his own, even as he was making the kingdom his own.
B. This has to be awkward for the concubines. They made a choice for a moment and it affected the rest of their lives.
1. We don’t really know how their experience was. Did they have any choice to resist Absalom? Did they put up a fight? We don’t read that they resisted. We don’t know what they were thinking. Maybe they liked Absalom better, the most handsome man in Israel. Maybe they did it because all the others did it and they felt like they couldn’t be the odd one out that refused.
2. Now Absalom is dead and David has returned. He has to deal with them.
3. David acknowledges them as widows of Absalom. He maintains their support to the end of their lives but he doesn’t treat them as his wives, he treats them as widows.
D. What would have happened had they thought, “David is going to come back. We are his wives no matter what.”? They would have come to the realisation: “We can’t do what Absalom wants.” Were they faithful unto death? No, they had moments of pleasure, then they were barren for the rest of their lives.
E. It’s good to remember that Jesus is coming back. That helps us make good decisions now about what we should do. Is this goal of mine something that will make me embarrassed when He returns, or will He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”?
3. Amasa is a guy without understanding of what is crucial. Because he doesn’t get it, he’s not careful, 4-13.
A. Amasa was David’s nephew through his other sister Abigail. David made him commander over the army in the place of his nephew Joab. I think David was kind of sore at Joab and wanted to move on without him.
B. David tells Amasa get the army ready and be here for orders in three days. But Amasa doesn’t show up and the army isn’t ready to go.
C. This is urgent and Amasa doesn’t get it.
1. He had his orders: get the army ready, be here in three days.
2. What in the world is he thinking? David’s command was just a suggestion? David can ask but he has to settle for whatever? Obedience doesn’t matter as long as you’re sincere?
3. There’s no idea about what’s important, urgent, that requires his utmost obedience.
4. Amasa’s delay for whatever reason is directly aiding the enemy and weakening David. David has no help. Sheba’s rebellion of indifference toward David grows every day. This indifference and disintegration will do us more harm than Absalom trying to kill me and take over the kingdom, says David.
D. So David tells Abishai, Joab’s brother, get going.
1. Notice that Abishai takes Joab’s men.
2. David is deliberately avoiding Joab. He is out. I don’t like him. I don’t need him.
E. At the large stone in Gibeon they meet up with Amasa and Joab kills him.
1. Amasa was not on guard against the sword. This is his fault. He should have been on guard.
2. He’s Joab’s cousin! He should know Joab killed Abner in the gate of Hebron, one of the cities of refuge for manslayers. Abner should have been safe, but not around Joab—no one is safe. Joab killed Absalom when David specifically told everyone don’t touch him. Surely he should know Joab is dangerous and does his own thing?
3. Amasa is careless. He was careless about obeying David, and he’s careless toward Joab. He never saw it coming—pow! He’s dead!
4. Joab’s staff member yells, everyone for Joab and David, follow Joab. He gets rid of the body because even in death Amasa is slowing things down.
4. One girlie understands what’s crucial right now, and she saves a whole city, vv. 14-26.
A. The army besieges the city, builds attack ramps, batters the door-gate of the city. This takes time. You have to set up camp. You have to move earth to build ramps up to the walls. Get the battering ram in place, work on things.
B. The city is just letting this happen. You have to wonder, what are they thinking? “Here are some attackers, they seem to be Israelites. I would have thought we would all be on the same side, but never mind. It looks like we’re all dead. Oh well, whatever.”
C. One wise woman in all the city grasps the situation is crucial.
1. Obviously she thinks, “Somebody has to do something right now. Looks like I’m the one because I really don’t want to die.”
2. She does not think, “I’m just a woman, what can I do in a patriarchal society oriented to men?” “I’m elderly, I can’t swing a sword and take out Joab.”
D. She solves this with wisdom, which is better than swinging a sword.
1. She calls for Joab. They exchange pleasantries. Whadya know? Joab can be polite and reasonable.
2. She asks questions and gets answers. She figures out what this whole campaign against the city is about: one guy who is worthless. “You mean, if we kill this one pest, you’ll pack up and go home?” “You bet.”
3. She tells the men of the city, “All we have to do is kill one guy and we’re all safe.” They say, “That’s all? Shoot, we can do that.”
E. Imagine avoiding starvation, warfare, death, all because one person understands how crucial the situation is and does something about it!
5. So what?
A. Be wise, look ahead, see what’s coming, and deal with it right now.
B. What’s coming? First and foremost, Jesus is coming.
1. This is the plan of God, that one of David’s descendants would sit on the throne of Israel forever. That’s Jesus, the Son of David. He rose from the dead and He said he would return.
2. There is nothing so certain in all the world than Jesus is returning. Not like David, where he’s a guy, stuff happens, he might come back, maybe he won’t. Because Jesus rose from the dead nothing can prevent Him from returning.
C. Look ahead. Are you ready for Jesus’ return?
D. Have you received Him? If you haven’t repented and turned to Him and asked Him to forgive your sins, when He comes you are dead.
1. The offer of forgiveness requires you to receive it right now. You don’t know how long you have to live.
2. I talked to my friend in Moldova. The pastor there had to travel to Israel because his son’s partner just died suddenly. She had abdominal pain, the hospital sent her home, she came back, before they could do anything, she died. He’s alone with their young son.
3. Look ahead and see death comes without warning. You don’t know how much time you have.
E. If you’ve received Jesus are you doing that crucial thing that He wants you to do?
1. It’s wise to pray, “Am I doing what You want me to do?” We go through the motions like life is an eternal treadmill and every week is like last week forever.
2. Life is not about what you want. Life is about what Jesus wants. Ask Him to lead and guide you and teach you: what do You want me to do?
3. Generally speaking He wants you to grow in knowing Him. He wants you to teach others about Him.
4. But specifically, what does Jesus want you to do? I can’t answer that. You need to seek Him, present yourself to Him and say, lead me and guide me in Your truth. Nobody can do that for you. You must know Him personally.
5. Do it! Do it with all your might. Now is the time because you don’t know how long you have left. Are you going to make your divine appointments that God has prepared for you? Or are you going to miss them because you’re not aware, you’re not watching, you don’t understand? Write that letter. Talk to that person. Pray! Go to Bible study and learn. Go to Bible college.
F. Think about the folly of remaining unaware.
1. When you don’t look ahead you don’t see the urgency. You think everything is going to stay the same. You don’t see a need to know Christ or obey Him. A great shock is coming. It will be devastating.
2. When you don’t look ahead you will do just like everyone else around you is doing. They’re not thinking anything is going to happen, either. They are blind leaders of the blind. They don’t know where they’re going. You’re all going to fall into the ditch.
3. When you remain unaware you help the enemy. Just to do nothing enables the devil to do as he pleases.
G. Be wise, look ahead, see what’s coming, deal with it right now.
Let’s pray.