Dissension Fails

 DEVOTION

2^ND SAMUEL

DISSENSION FAILS

2 Sam 20:14-26

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. 15 All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, 16 a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him." 17 He went toward her, and she asked, "Are you Joab?" "I am," he answered. She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say." "I'm listening," he said. 18 She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. 19 We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD's inheritance?" 20 "Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall." 22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem. 23 Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; 24 Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.

NIV

We do not know who this woman was, but it is clear that she settled the matter of the war between Sheba and Joab. Of course, the reason for Joab pursuing Sheba was that Sheba dishonored the king, and Joab was loyal to the king. As it turned out, Sheba lost his head because of his self-edification, wanting to be the leader, passing through all the tribes of Israel, gathering followers. Again, we can see that dissention or division is caused by jealousy or self-centeredness. We have witnessed this within worldly organizations, but it is a spiritual problem that occurs within the assembly of the righteous, at least within the assembly that thinks it is righteous. When dissension occurs within the church, there is spiritual sickness, unhealthy and unholy attitudes and behaviors working to destroy harmony, and the unity of the faith. Dissension creates division because there are Shebas at work, wanting their own followers, dividing up the church. They are acting under the command of self, which is being influenced by the dark forces of evil, rather than by the Holy Spirit. That is not to say that all leaders within the church should demand loyalty; however, if there is a man who is loyal to the Lord and has been called to shepherd a church, it is the unloyal who dissent, for their loyalty is not to God but to self. Should there be a leader, a preacher, a pastor, who is not loyal to God, he should not be able to gather, or create a division in the house of God, because he is seeking personal gain, like Sheba. Our task is to always look to the Lord and his truth, remaining loyal to our King of kings, Lord of lords, and to live in harmony with each other. Jesus said that He would build His church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Jesus builds, but man tries to destroy. Let us keep our eye upon Jesus and look full into his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. If we are keeping our eyes upon Jesus, then unity stands, dissension fails.