#128: Watch and Withstand
Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.
II Kings 6:10
In Matt. 16:11, Mark 12:38, and Luke 12:15 [1] the Lord tells His audience to “Beware” of three things: certain leaven; scribes; and covetousness. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ spent much of His ministry warning His disciples of dangers from false teachers and false ways. Why does the Lord give us warnings?
As much as the kings of Israel opposed the Lord, they tended to listen to the prophets when they thought it was in their best interest to do so. With Ben-Hadad probing for an advantage, King Joram of Israel listened to the military warnings given by Elisha. King Joram sent soldiers to garrison and defend the location and in each situation the advantage was turned from Syria to Israel. The language of verse 10 is striking. Elisha warned the king not just once or twice but many times, “and he was watchful there.”
The text today teaches us a basic truth: The Lord gives warnings so that we would be watchful and thereby avoid and defeat sin and evil. The language of Kings is remarkably similar to the language of Ephesians 6. We are wrestling not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand… being watchful to this end (Eph. 6:18).
When the King of Israel was warned by Elisha of the approaching enemy seeking to gain the advantage on him, the King immediately filled the week point in his defense with troops, defended it, and laid in wait to resist and even defeat the enemy if the opportunity presented itself.
The Lord warns us of the enemy that is attacking and has attacked us many times before. There would be nothing better for God’s enemies than for us to allow sin to gain the upper hand and devour us as many have been devoured before. So the Lord calls us to be watchful against this evil which always seems to be probing for advantage. The Lord calls us to prepare for the attacks of the evil one. How can we do it?
When a physical army was coming against Israel, King Joram quickly moved the troops he had ready into position. He deployed them to maximum effect when they were most needed. If the king did not have troops or if they were not prepared to move into battle, Israel would be quickly overtaken.
What about us in our spiritual battle? The Lord gives His people truth; His righteousness; the gospel of peace; faith; salvation; the Word of God; and prayer (Eph. 6:14-18) that we may apply them in our Spiritual warfare. When the enemy comes with doubts, we put up our shield of faith and hold fast because we are girded with the truth; righteousness; peace; and salvation. We are able to strike back for we have the Word of God (our sword) and prayer.
But what if we have not been attending to the Word very much? What if we have neglected the means of grace found in the church? What if we have forgotten the Word that was supposed to be hidden always in our hearts? What if we have been weakened in our faith and are tired of standing firm for the truth? Will we be able to stand against the fiery darts of the evil one or will his arrows pierce us through?
The Lord warns us that the enemy is coming quickly and gives us the remedy. Be strong in the Lord and put on the whole Armour of God. The tense is present. Don’t get strong in the future but rather “Be strong” in the Lord now. Put on the Armor of God. So that when the attacks come soon you will not be unprepared but fully prepared to stand in the gap and resist the fiery darts of the evil one. To be strong in the Lord we must be strong in the Word, strong in the faith. We must give all attendance to all the means of grace that God has graciously given us for this very purpose.
When Elisha warned, the king of Israel listened and moved to defend himself accordingly. When the Lord warns us, may we be strong in the Lord, watch for the evil one, and withstand him when he comes. For those whose hope is in the Lord, final victory is altogether certain. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).
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[1] “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matt. 16:11). “Beware of the scribes, who desires to go around in long robes…” (Mark 12:38). “Beware of covetousness: for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
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