2 Samuel 20:7

2 Samuel 20:7 says, And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.  Joab and his men left in pursuit of Sheba, who was now attempting to take the throne away from David.  Just because one threat to our relationship is Jesus Christ as our King, or even to His authority, dies doesn't mean that another will not immediately arise, so we need to always be ready for the battle.   Verse eight adds, When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.  Joab had a sword sewn into his garment, but as he went along, it fell out.  Sometimes, the things that we may secretly put our faith in may fail us.  That is why we should publicly proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ alone at all times.  Verse nine continues, And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.  Along the way, Joab pretended to care about Amasa's well-being, taking him by the beard as if to kiss him in a friendly gesture. There are still people today who pretend to care about us, but who secretly want to destroy us.  Verse ten concludes, But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. Amasa didn't pay attention to the sword in Joab’s hand, not thinking of him as a threat.  Joab once again murdered someone that he had reason to dislike.  When we put our own desires above those of others, especially if we have reason to dislike them, we often do things that God would not approve of.  Afterwards, Joab and Abishi continued to pursue Sheba as if nothing bad had happened.  We cannot ignore God's law and do evil things and just go on with our life as if nothing bad has happened and be successful as followers of Christ and expect to never be held accountable.  Verse eleven states, And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.  One of Joab’s men called for those who favored Joab and were for David to follow Joab, but the two things were not necessarily the same.  David would not have approved of what Joab did.  We cannot ask people to follow us if they want to be obedient to God if we are doing things against God's will.  Verse twelve adds, And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.  Amasa was bleeding to death in the highway when a man saw people standing still around him.  Even though we were told he was dead, we are also told that he wallowed in blood, so his death may  not have been immediate, and evidently no one was attempting to help him.  If we see hurting people today, hopefully we will do more than just stand and look at them.  Verse thirteen continues, When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.  It seems the only help anyone offered Amasa was to move him out of the highway.  Sometimes, if we are in distress today, all people seem to want to do is move us out of the way so that they will not have to see us.  They then followed Joab as he pursued Sheba.  We need to be careful what leader we follow today.  Joab seemed to be doing whatever kept him in a position of power and making choices that brought him satisfaction over his enemies with no honor or compassion, and some people are still this way today.  We should never blindly follow after them. Verse fourteen says. And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.  Sheba went throughout Israel trying to gather the people to follow him.  Matthew Henry says that Sheba was able to get a few people to follow him, but it was very few.  It seems that there will always be a few people who will follow anyone.  Verse fifteen adds, And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.  Sheba and those following him eventually hold up in Abel, and Joab’s force battered the wall.  We may need to knock down some walls that have been built up against God in order to reach people with the gospel.