“Wait a second, before we do this, can we stop and think about the outcomes this action will cause?  What if we…”  How many times have you heard one voice suddenly stand up in a heated committee meeting to declare a pause with words of wisdom delivered in such a way that it changed the whole course of thinking? The “new plan” offered by a quiet person from the back of the room often causes a momentary calm as minds are changed from “off with their heads” to “oh, I see what you’re saying.”
“That would be a better approach to solving our problem and ultimately accomplishing our real goal.”

I have been in many meetings of the mind such as these in my former professions as a leader and a follower.  The pause is welcome.  The pause with words of wisdom is God’s intervention.

King Saul was a Benjamite.  Since the death of Saul, the house of Benjamin had been a rival of David since he became king of Israel. Old jealousies and bitterness prompted Sheba, also a Benjamite, to call for a revolt against David. In doing so, Sheba hoped to take the monarchy by force and return it to the house of Benjamin.  Sheba was adamant and determined in his quest. He called upon the Israelites to follow him and rebel against King David. David, who had just defeated Absalom’s rebellion, put down Sheba’s rebellion as well—but it came about when a wise woman stepped forward just  before the bloodshed of hundreds with a better plan.  She convinced Joab and her city to give the head of Sheba to Joab, the commander of David’s army.

2 Samuel 20

Sheba Rebels Against David

Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,

“We have no share in David,
    no part in Jesse’s son!
Every man to his tent, Israel!”

² So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

³ When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

⁴ Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” ⁵ But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

⁶ David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.” ⁷ So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

⁸ While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.

⁹ Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. ¹⁰ Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.

¹¹ One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” ¹² Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. ¹³ After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

¹⁴ Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites, who gathered together and followed him. ¹⁵ All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. 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 Bikri, 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 Bikri 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.

David’s Officials

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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Has God called you to stand up and speak for him in the middle of chaos to offer His words of wisdom?  Fear not, God is with those who speak for Him.  Yes, it’s a scary thing to do but if it is God leading; He provides where He guides.  He gives us the words while calming the room by the power of His Holy Spirit.  He gives strength and wisdom to his servant prophets with ears of understanding to accomplish His will and purpose.  God prepares hearts with the softening agent of His Spirit to receive His message of wisdom and truth. That’s how God works! I seen with my own eyes and on occasion have been the one to  deliver His words while shaking in my boots!  HIS words, not mine!

INTERESTING TO KNOW—

“For the third time in the “David story,” a woman changed the course of events. Abigail was the first (1 Samuel 25), and the woman of Tekoa was the second (2 Samuel 14). Here in chapter 20, the wise woman called to Joab from the wall and assured him that her city was not in league with any rebels and therefore didn’t deserve to be attacked. Perhaps she was thinking about the law in Deuteronomy 20:10–16 requiring that a city first be given an offer of peace before it was attacked. When Joab explained that it was only Sheba he was after, she persuaded the citizens to kill the rebel leader and save the city. Sheba wasn’t a scapegoat, however; as a rebel against the king, he deserved to be slain. Sheba wanted to be head of the army, but instead, his head was thrown over the wall to the army.” –Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

When God wants to change public opinion to conform His will; He will use those whose hearts are fully committed Him.  “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

Yes, but God will sometimes use unbelievers in the process and details to accomplish His plan. We see many examples through His Word! Herod, Pilate, the religious leaders in Jesus’ day, as well as David’s life with wise women with a plan to stop needless bloodshed.  God intervenes in ways that is often beyond our thinking.  But know this above all—seek the wisdom of God.

To seek the wisdom of God, the Bible directs you to ask God for it, study His word, and fear Him. Specifically, James 1:5 encourages asking God for wisdom, as He gives generously. Proverbs emphasizes that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fear spoken of here means to be in awe of our God who created all, knows all and is in all. Additionally, seeking wisdom involves understanding God’s word and applying it to your life, which includes seeking knowledge and understanding from Him. Before reading God’s Word, we must first seek our God of the Word. Ask His Holy Spirit who lives inside us to guide us as we read.  God answers prayers like this—I’ve seen it and heart it with my own eyes and ears!

Wisdom defined are “skills for living.” If we are seeking to walk with God; we must seek His wisdom!  Makes sense, right?  “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6  “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 

God requires us to “seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8) 1 Peter 5:6 encourages believers to “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Other verses like James 4:10, Luke 14:11, Proverbs 22:4, and Psalm 25:9 also highlight the benefits of humility and the consequences of pride. See Philippians 2 for our Perfect Example of humility from Jesus our Savior and Lord!

Lord,

You are all we need, in truth more than enough, to be and do what you desire from us. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Continue to give us your wisdom throughout this day in all the details of our lives as we desire to do your will and purpose for your glory as well as our good.

In Jesus Name, Amen