#127: Protect the Kingdom!

Published by Ben Stahl on November 26, 2020November 26, 2020

And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.

II Kings 6:9

In Spring 1942 the U.S. Signals Intelligence division assigned to the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor broke Japanese naval code and learned that the Japanese were planning to attack Midway Island. The intelligence breakthrough allowed the Pacific Fleet to send nearly every asset it had to Midway and surprise the Japanese with a successful ambush that destroyed four irreplaceable Japanese aircraft carriers for the loss of one quickly replaced U.S. carrier.

Long before such interception and code breaking techniques were available the King of Israel had infallible intelligence on the movements of the King of Syria from the Lord God Almighty which was communicated through His prophet Elisha. Elisha sent messages to the King directing him to the exact town or strategic location which the King of Syria would strike next. This allowed the King of Israel to quickly occupy and defend the location in advance of Ben-Hadad’s arrival.

The English translation gives the sense that Ben-Hadad would camp somewhere waiting for the King of Israel to arrive and the latter would avoid the area thanks to the warnings of Elisha. But the actual meaning of the Hebrew is not so much “don’t pass by,” but rather, “don’t leave unguarded.” The King of Israel quickly manned, fortified, and defended each location so the Syrian’s plans were thwarted and they could not attack (Luke 14:31-32).

The prophet of God as a watchman among the people of Israel was called to look out at the dangers facing the people from within and without and call the king to action when appropriate. In this way, the prophet was protecting Israel from the fiery darts of the wicked one. If Israel ignored his warning they may very well be destroyed in battle at the hand of King Ben-Hadad but Elisha would have done his duty. However, at this time, the king of Israel did just as he was warned and protected the vulnerable position.

Christian, the enemy is coming upon you from many directions and with great ferocity. He desires to find you asleep, weak in your faith, and unarmed for the day of battle. The Word of the Lord warns you that the time is now to wake up out of your sleep. Salvation is nearer than when you first believed. The night is almost done. The day is at hand. Rather than giving into the powers of darkness at the last hour let us cast off the works of darkness, be rid of them completely and put on the whole Armor of God. Walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting, not in drunkenness, not in strife, or envy, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Read the Bible. Attend to the preaching of the Scripture. Pray without ceasing. If you do so, you will be well fortified, and when the wicked one comes he will find that there is no provision in your flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof (Romans 13:11-14).

God has seen fit to give you great intelligence in His Word. He has even given you His Spirit of truth to abide with you. The whole playbook of the enemy is laid out before you with many examples of past successes and failures. The Lord has given you the necessary spiritual weapons for the spiritual warfare that you are in. Will you take God’s warning and guard the vulnerable places or will you allow the enemy to break through and sin to abound?

“Therefore, my beloved…stand fast in the Lord, beloved” (Philippians 4:1).

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