Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Wed. Devo - Off With Your Head, Devil!

Read 2 Sam 20: 4-26
Sheba, another type of Satan, is trying to usurp the kingdom from David. David sends Amasa to rally the men of Judah and be back in 3 days. When he doesn't return David has to take matters into his own hands and gathers Joab's men, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites. The Cherethites and the Pelethites were life guardsmen and messengers. They sound like angels to me. (When flesh and blood can't be found, angels are always at our disposal.) David knew that Sheba was more harmful than Absalom. (New levels; new devils.) I don't understand what happened next. Joab kills Amasa. Aren't they on the same side? I guess tardiness is punishable by death in Joab's army. (A little scarry). Then Joab takes the men Amasa gathered and pursues Sheba. He had gone to a city called Abel. Joab's men surround the wall and start battering it to tear it down. One of the women of the city sought out Joab to ask him why he was tearing down their wall. She declares that she is a faithful follower of God and does not deserve to be killed. She finds out that he only wants Sheba so she promises to throw his head over the wall. She gets the whole town on her side and they cut off Sheba's head and throw it over the wall. Whalla! The war is over and everyone goes home happy. Well everyone but Sheba. So what does this have to do with us? We will never be through fighting the enemy until Jesus comes and sets up his realm of peace (Solomon's rule). Until then, we have to be armed to fight. As far as we are concerned the devil has already been beheaded by the resurrection of Jesus. This wise woman knew who she was and what to do. She not only saved herself, but the whole town and she defeated God's enemy. May we be shrewd like this woman...wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Well...she wasn't exactly harmless, now, was she?