2nd Samuel 20 NOT AGAIN! "Jealousy is as cruel as the grave" and following close behind it is hatred and bitterness that soon leads to division and even death. Tribal jealousy initiated by Sheba who was from the tribe of Benjamin started a latent rebellion again. Jealousy makes unstable any fellowship or work of God because people look to other people instead of to the Lord for guidance.
Sheba was a man without honor who had a defiant attitude toward David, the Lord's anointed king. He may have wanted to rule the kingdom himself. But whatever the reason was behind his antagonism, it could not be left unchallenged to fester a sore among the people of God. Some problems can be settled reasonably and others must be dealt with firmly and finally.
For some reason, Amasa who had just been made chief officer by David even though he had served as leader of Absalom's army, was too slow in carrying out the king's command. Even though he was Joab's cousin, he should have been wary of the friendly greeting offered to him by Joab. "The king's business requireth haste" is not some mere suggestion. When we are under divine commission, our time is not our own. Everything we do should be done to accomplish our God-given task as effectively, efficiently and as quickly as possible. "The vows of God" are on us.
The violent death of Amasa by a violent, ruthless, vengeful, pitiless man like Joab reminds us that "they who live by the sword shall die by the sword." There are depths of hatred in some people that are hard to understand. Such animosity may be caused by pressures applied on a person that seems to be, and maybe are, unfair. It may be the result of unfulfilled ambition. It may be because of the circumstances of life into which we have been born. Whatever the cause or reasons we may seek to blame for what happens to us, each one of us is personally responsible as to our response to life's event and the circumstances in which we are found. To blame others for any misfortunes that happen to me, does nothing at all to absolve me from my personal response, reaction and attitude. No one has the power to make me lose self-control. That is up to me. Joab was a brilliant and violent military leader, who did not like to be told what to do unless it agreed with his own personal agenda. Stubbornness and self-will have both positive and negative results. When a person is under authority of another, our obligation is to obey that person.
One hundred miles north of Jerusalem was the city of Abel that was known throughout Israel as a place of fair judgment and wise counsel from those who lived there. It was to this place Sheba and those who followed him went. When the city was surrounded and besieged by Joab's army, and ramparts were being built against the walls to break a way into the city, a wise woman came to the wall to talk to Joab. Perhaps a man may have died if he came to talk to Joab, but this wise woman wanted clarification as to what exactly was the cause of this attack.
Most of the answers to a problem can be found if the problem can be stated briefly in one sentence. To be able to articulate the causes of division and unrest in understandable terms, takes wisdom and careful thought. When that is done there are usually only one or two alternatives to take to avoid impending disaster. One man out of touch with God and His people, if left unchallenged, can create terrible havoc. There is only one way to deal with those who cause division. This true "mother in Israel" quickly understood the problem, used wise words and had a plan of action to defuse the whole matter. The trouble-maker was dealt with and the matter was concluded when the trumpet sounded across the land. The civil war was truly over and peace was restored to God's people. "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God."