Please Avoid The Commonly Repeated Jebusite Error!

2 Samuel 5:6-7
(6) The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” (7) Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion —which is the City of David.

When David became King of all Israel, he needed a headquarters from where he would operate. He needed a capital city from where his government would rule. In the vicinity was a Jebusite city. The Jebusites were supposed to be defeated and driven out of that place as part of conquering the Promised Land.

David decided that he would attack the Jebusites and take over their city and make it his home and capital city. The Jebusites heard of David’s plan and they laughed and mocked him. Our text today tells us that they told David that an army of lame and blind people would be enough to prevent him from taking over a city that was later referred to as Jerusalem. Jebusites underestimated David’s ability and that was their error.

David had been fighting guerrilla warfare against Saul for many years. David had a rag-tag army of various individuals who really didn’t look like an army. David had just become King of all Israel and was yet to have a stable army that could pose a threat to Jebusites. David had no experience in formal warfare and the Jebusites believed he was no threat. Underestimating the enemy is the error that Jebusites made and many people still make. Please avoid the commonly repeated Jebusite error of underestimating your enemy.

The Jebusite error of underestimating the enemy manifested itself in overconfidence. They told David that they were so confident of their security to the extent that the blind and lame could be sufficient defense against David. Overconfidence, pride, and arrogance are the last stages before unforgettable humiliation occurs. Please avoid the commonly repeated Jebusite error of underestimating your enemy!

David’s battle against Jebusites was so simple and straightforward that the Bible doesn’t give any details. The Bible just says, “Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion —which is the City of David.” No serious resistance worth creating a news or history item. They were simply defeated and driven off. David took over the city and it’s a Jewish city to this day.

After all that pride and arrogance they were simply defeated in a manner that there is nothing to record except David’s success. After all that chest-thumping, they did not give any challenge to David for the Bible to record or for military scientists to study. They were just defeated. The Jebusites failed the day they underestimated David. Please avoid the commonly repeated Jebusite error of underestimating your enemy!

If you underestimate a disease it can kill you when there was a possibility of treatment. If you underestimate the influence of your friends you will discover too late that they are responsible for your failure and lack of progress. If you underestimate the need to be nice to people, it will dawn on you one day that those you hurt are now responsible for your welfare when you are helpless. Please avoid the commonly repeated Jebusite error of underestimating your enemy!

Do not underestimate that drinking and smoking habit, it may soon be an irreversible addiction that takes you down and kills your ambition. Do not underestimate the hours you waste on social media, it could be the valuable time you are losing and will regret one day. Control how much time you spend online and on phone apps. Do not underestimate small spending, they amount to a large sum if you calculate. Small wastage could be your great loss finally. Please avoid the commonly repeated Jebusite error of underestimating your enemy!

May God help us and save us from overconfidence, pride, arrogance, and a know-it-all attitude that manifests itself even in our online comments and postings. May God help us to always be cautious and wise so that in all battles in life we get all victories, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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