Seize the Moment – Day 801

 

Use Your Brain Before You Flex Your Brawn!

2 Samuel 20

 

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, May 27.

 

Have you ever been in a situation where you used your brawn instead of your brain?

 

Immediately after Absalom’s rebellion was put down, another one, led by Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite revolted against David, who blew a trumpet and declared in 2 Samuel 20:1, “We have no portion in David, nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel!”

 

Trouble was following David, and the kingdom of Israel, at every turn! Not only was there a political division in the twelve tribes, but there was also a power struggle in the military. David promoted Amasa to lead the army, but Joab, the former general who had killed Absalom, could not accept his demotion, so he murdered Amasa. Joab was starting to flex his military might, again, when a wise woman called out to him in 2 Samuel 20:15-16:

 

They came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall. Then a wise woman called from the city, “Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, ‘Come here that I may speak with you.’ ”

 

She knew there was a better way to put down this rebellion than to see her entire city destroyed so she called for a negotiation. Essentially, she asked Joab what he wanted, and she gave it to him – the death of Sheba. Using her brains instead of her brawn, this unnamed woman won the victory, the army went home, and her city was left in peace (17-22).

 

Paul teaches us in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

 

Seize the moment and use your brain to be at peace with all people before you use your brawn to make peace.

God bless you!
 
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YOUTUBE:

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