Sunday, July 19, 2026: The Danger of Strife Among God’s People!: Scripture Union Daily Guide
Are you looking for the Scripture Union Daily Guide 19th July 2026? Discover today’s devotional reading, Bible passage, and reflection to strengthen your spiritual journey. This Daily Guide provides clear, scripture-based insight and life applications to help you grow in faith, understand God’s Word, and live a Christ-centered life. Whether for personal devotion or group study, today’s message is a timely word for your walk with God.
TOPIC: The Danger of Strife Among God’s People!
BIBLE READING
2 Samuel 20:1-13
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.
6 David 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.”[a] 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.
8 While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.
9 Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.
11 One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. 13 After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.
QUESTION FOR MEDITATION
►Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
1 Samuel 19 ended with a harsh conversation between Judah and Israel over their share of David and bitterness set in, resulting in all that we read in today’s passage. Like Sheba, son of Bicri (2 Samuel 20:1-2), people who take advantage of a quarrel to advance their selfish ambition abound in every group; hence the wise counsel, “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so, drop the matter before a dispute breaks out” (Proverbs 17:14).
David placed himself under an oath to replace Joab with Amasa as Commander of his army (2 Samuel 19:13); but see Amasa’s action in the first official assignment from King David and the king’s response (2 Samuel 20:4-8a). Abishai was ready for the task and effectively executed the battle to victory. How are we handling the tasks the King of kings assigns us to do?
What made this tragedy befall Amasa (2 Samuel 20:9-10)? Amasa felt so unsuspecting of Joab who obviously had been bitter since the day the king determined to replace him. We must ever be alert against the wiles of the enemy (1 Peter 5:8).
And So:
Always be on your guard!
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us to discuss our differences in the open and sincere atmosphere that promote love and peace in your church.
Bible Reading Plan
2 Kings 18; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalms 48
Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.(Scripture Union Daily Guide 18th July 2026)