“Sheba, the Benjamite”

 “And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.” (2 Samuel 20:1)

Introduction.

King David has defeated his son, Absalom. But that is not the end. A new leader has appeared in Israel. His name is Sheba.

There are two main factions. The tribe of Judah, led by King David, and the ten tribes of Israel, led by Sheba. Sheba is a Benjamite, the same tribe King Saul had come from.

The message from God now turns from the Sins of King David, to the Sins of Israel.

The Cockroaches

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” (Psalms 2:1-4)

The people of Israel were not unlike today’s world. Some wanted what other’s had, and were willing to do whatever was necessary to get it. Even it that meant clinging to others, who only served their own ambitions.

Sheba is referred to as being Belial. Belial is the Hebrew word for Devil. Sheba is in the service of evil. Those who oppose King David are convinced that they are more holy than David. They forget all about Saul’s sins and their own.

Although King David had sinned, God’s punishment had been made evident to all of Israel in the light of day. Just like the light causes the cockroaches to flee, so does the light of God.

Sheba is Bait

Sheba is an obvious danger to the Kingdom of Israel.

“And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.” (2 Samuel 20:6)

Before King David calls on Abishai to pursue Sheba he had called on another general, Amasa.

“Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present

So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.”(2 Samuel 20:4-5)

Amasa had been Absalom’s commander-in-chief.

“And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.” (2 Samuel 17:25)

Amasa now has the opportunity to lead King David’s army, however, like a one legged lizard Amasa is moving slowly, if at all.

The light comes on when King David sends Abishai to stop Sheba’s rebellion.

Stay Tuned…