The Life of DavidSample

Day 26: 2 Sam. 20 x Brett + Amanda Bell, Levites at UPPERROOM

What can happen when a person acts based on their conviction from the Lord?

In 2 Samuel 20:16, a wise woman calls out to Joab, who is over Israel’s entire army, to spare her nation because of one troublemaker who sought to continue the revolt in the tribe of Abel Beth Maakah–Sheba son of Bikri.

This wise woman knew of the heritage that the Lord had placed on her city and the nation of Israel as a whole. We don’t know how she was able to gain the audience of Joab, but we love the bravery and conviction of this unnamed, wise woman who saved her nation from division and her town from destruction.

The Lord could have chosen a man or someone who was already in authority in that city, or He could have spoken directly to Joab, but it is significant that He empowered a woman to be a mother protecting her home and her people. Her leadership and boldness led the people rallying together to remove Sheba, the threat to the city. It can be easy to dismiss our conviction from the Lord because we feel like an unlikely candidate. But the Lord is always looking for people willing to partner with Him.

We want to know the Lord’s heart and desires so well that we can recognize rebellion and disunity and have the wisdom and boldness to act on it. We want to be those the Lord can entrust with His conviction.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the way You speak to us through the gift of conviction. Would You give us the wisdom and boldness to lean into that conviction, even if it is against what is happening around us? Help us partner with Your desire and Your will, and guide us in fighting for unity. We lay all fear down at Your feet, and we say yes to You. Amen.