Protecting God
In this Article we look at the Coronation of King Joash who was only 7-years old, and looking at themes and symbols, we get to this understanding. The story is in 2 Kings 11:2-17, and is well worth a read, but in summary, when Athaliah the Queen Mother saw that her son the king was dead, she set to and slaughtered all her children, grand-children and family and to then appointed herself as the ‘Reigning Monarch.’
2 Kings 11:4-17 “And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son. And he commanded them, saying, this [is] the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; And a third part [shall be] at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king. And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in. And the captains over the hundreds did according to all [things] that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David’s spears and shields, that [were] in the temple of the LORD. And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, [along] by the altar and the temple. And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and [gave him] the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.” 2 Kings 11:17 “And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people; between the king also and the people.”
Now Jehoiada who is the High Priest, gathered an army of soldiers and gave them spears and shields from out of the Temple Armory which King David had stored there, and then set them about the young King to protect him and to spare not and to slay any and all that came too close to harm the new King. Now the weapons given were firstly “Shields.” Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Romans 10:17 “So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Thus a ‘Shield of Faith,’ is a shield we use to protect ourselves and others from the attacks of evil with a firm ‘It is Written,’ or “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Do we make “Faith” our shield, to use Biblical Truth, and thus deflect temptation and sin, Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Therefore the shield protects us from the ravages of sin and its deathly consequences, do we also protect God by our Faith Shield?
2 Kings 11:12 “And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and [gave him] the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.” Revelation 17:14 “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.” The ‘Testimony’ is in essence the Five-Books of Moses, or Genesis to Deuteronomy, the outline of how to live daily, run businesses, and how to worship God; in essence, the whole Bible.
Now the other weapon issued was a ‘Spear,’ Now in Hebrew, ‘Sword’ is Strongs 2719 [Chereb] and this word covers all cutting instruments, knives, axes, spears, anything used to slaughter. A ‘Spear’ is Strongs 2595 [Chaniyth] which is pitching a tent, camping, but mainly as a weapon, anything for thrusting. It appears that each night the soldier thrusts his spear into the earth, claiming his patch, the tent covering is attached, and that is sleeping accommodation all sorted out for the night. Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” A sort of spear, Revelation 2:16 “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” So we get a strong connection between ‘Swords,’ ‘Spears,’ ‘Shields,’ to the word of God, Scripture, ‘thus saith the Lord.’
Quote; “In the presence of the assembled inhabitants of earth and heaven the final coronation of the Son of God takes place. And now, invested with supreme majesty and power, the King of kings pronounces sentence upon the rebels against His government, and executes justice upon those who have transgressed His law and oppressed His people. As the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed. Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam’s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The whole wicked world stand arraigned at the bar of God, on the charge of ‘High Treason’ against the government of heaven. They have none to plead their cause; they are without excuse; and the sentence of eternal death is pronounced against them. It is now evident to all that the wages of sin is not noble independence and eternal life, but slavery, ruin, and death.” {FLB 356}
In the ‘Ancient Near East,’ when the army called, the ladies found the thickest coat or jacket, and then sewed bits of metal, stones, whatever was available, to make it more protective from the slashing of enemy swords. Now it is intriguing that the ‘High Priest’ wore an ‘Ephod,’ which was a thick vest, tied tightly to the body, and the front and shoulders were covered by large, tough, precious stones, now does that not look like a ‘Battle Dress,’ it sure looks like that to me, the tribes of Israel are to be the protection?
Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.” 1 Samuel 17:47 “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” Isiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.” Are you wearing the garments of salvation, covered with the jewels of God, protected under the shadow of his wings, encircled by the armies of Heaven like a tent tied to your spear thrust into the ground, protected by God?
Revelation 4:6-7 “And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.” One writer showed good connection that Mathew is ‘The Lion of the Tribe of Judah,’ Mark is ‘The Ox,’ Luke is ‘The Man,’ and John is ‘The Eagle,’ thus the four Gospels, the Four Beasts, the four sides of the Holy City, are all intertwined and interconnected, so which Flag and Which Gospel is yours? Luther; “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other – my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.” Make “Scripture” your Sword, Spear and Shield, protecting yourself and also “Protecting God.”
