The Wise Woman of Abel

640 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 20:14 -19, “And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went after Sheba. 15 Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down. 16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, "Hear, Hear! Please say to Joab, 'Come nearby, that I may speak with you.'" 17 When he had come near to her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." 18 So she spoke, saying, "They used to talk in former times, saying, 'They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,' and so they would end disputes. 19 "I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" (2 Sam 20: 14-19) Sheba has gone through the land seeking recruits for his rebellion against David and at last finds himself and the other rebels holed up in the city of Abel. Joab pursues him to the city and then following the military procedures of the day, he builds a rampart of dirt and brings in a battering ram intent on breaching the walls of the city and then likely razing it and plundering it and killing most of it's citizens. War is never pretty and things are about to get very ugly for the innocent citizens of Abel. I find it interesting that this city bears the name of the first innocent victim of bloodshed in the Bible....Abel. And just as in the case of Cain a voice of wisdom (the wise woman) speaks against the plan of shedding innocent blood. Ge 4:6 says, “So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." As I write this devo, I just received a text message informing me that abortions are taking place at the local abortion clinic today. That means sidewalk counselors will be there, (like the wise woman of Abel) with the voice of wisdom imploring those bent on shedding innocent blood to find an alternate solution. They will be echoing the words of the wise woman who asked, “Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" Because the Bible tells us that children are a heritage from the Lord ( Ps 127:3) Considering an abortion? May your heart be open today to the message of the wise woman of Abel, that you may be spared the pain of a siege of guilt against your soul.