“It’s Worth Wisdom”
The Best Yes – Week 3
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church
Scripture: 2 Samuel 20:1-7, 14-22 (NLT)
1 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. 6David 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.
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. 15All 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.
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The Best Yes is a series inspired by the book of the same name by Lysa Terkeurst. This series and it’s visual materials are used by permission of Elevation Church resources in Charlotte, NC. Copies of the book are available for purchase in the welcome center.
A troublemaker arises
Absalom, the son of David, had been causing trouble. He tried to overthrow his father the king, but David loved his son and asked for his life to be spared.
Now in chapter 20, we meet Sheba, who is a troublemaker capable of causing more harm than Absalom, and David sends Joab and his men to pursue him. We meet a woman who intervenes – much like Abigail did in week one of this series – to save her city from destruction.
I
Troublemakers cause issues in their current location, and they will cause trouble in their eventual destination. The location doesn’t matter when the HEART is the problem.
The woman who resolves the issue is unnamed, but her wisdom brings peace.
I. She was wise in her APPROACH.
Our approach often determines our outcome in conflict.
1. She was bold to call out for Joab – she was brave for the sake of safety.
2. She was humble as she offered to serve.
“Pride and disgrace are always holding hands…but so are wisdom and humility. As believers, the enemy wants to leverage the pride in our hearts to create a judgmental, arrogant view of the people God loves unconditionally.”
Hold people CLOSE as we hold them ACCOUNTABLE. – That has the potential to be one of the hardest statements to apply you will ever hear preached or written. Isn’t that difficult?
II. She was wise in her ASSURANCE.
In the moment of siege, the city of Abel was considered to be an enemy when it was really a harbor of peace.
1. Conflict will cause you to label the wrong enemy.
2. Momentary weakness in conflict can bring:
a. Offense
b. Insecurity
c. Fear
d. Anger
3. “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
4. Peace is the calming of the conflict to put our assurance and focus in the right PLACE.
III. She was wise in her ADVICE.
Every decision, conversation and action of the woman who brought peace contributed to the reputation she needed to be taken seriously.
1. A lifelong effort to show wisdom will pay off in conflict.
2. By establishing patterns of wisdom, we gain the credibility to offer wise advice in the middle of tense situations. Patterns of wisdom:
a. Being involved in church
b. Growing as a disciple
c. Living generously
d. Spending time reading the Bible and praying to God
e. Working for peace and resolution without judgment
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
The woman is known for her WISDOM, not for her NAME.
1. Are you known for what you stand for, or who you are?
2. Are you known for how you conduct yourself, or what your name is?
3. Are you known for when you rise from adversity, or how you take credit in success?
Three questions to apply from this message:
1. How would you honestly describe the reputation that you have with other people? Do you even want to answer that question?
2. What is something you had to fight for patiently that God proved his worth?
3. Does God’s faithfulness in your past give you assurance for your future?
Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
When I consider #TheBestYes it should always be one that brings peace and forgiveness to the hardest moments of my life.
#TheBestYes
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