So the hearts of all the men of Judah were turned toward David. All of them had the same purpose in mind. They sent a message to the king. They said, “We want you to come back. We want all your men to come back too.”
People from all the tribes of Israel began to argue among themselves. They were saying, “The king saved us from the power of our enemies. He saved us from the power of the Philistines. But now he has left the country to escape from Absalom.
Then the woman gave her wise advice to all the people in the city. They cut off the head of Sheba, the son of Bikri. They threw it down to Joab. So he blew his trumpet. Then his men pulled back from the city. Each of them returned to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
The war between Saul’s royal house and David’s royal house lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger. But the royal house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
You too will send for nations you do not know. Even though you do not know them, they will come running to you. That is what I will do. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have honored you.”
The Lord says, “I made myself known to those who were not asking for me. I was found by those who were not trying to find me. I spoke to a nation that did not pray to me. ‘Here I am,’ I said. ‘Here I am.’
And he was given authority, glory and a kingdom. People of all nations, no matter what language they spoke, worshiped him. His authority will last forever. It will not pass away. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
I will plant her in the land for myself. I will show my love to the one I called Not My Loved One. I will say, ‘You are my people’ to those who were called Not My People. And they will say, ‘You are my God.’ ”
The Lord your God will make you leaders, not followers. Pay attention to his commands that I’m giving you today. Be careful to obey them. Then you will always be on top. You will never be on the bottom.
The seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were loud voices in heaven. They said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah. He will rule for ever and ever.”