Not Quickly Broken

J.J. Stark

February 2016

Week 7

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Not Quickly Broken

“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NKJV)

Ecclesiastes 4:12 is a very, very true verse.  It starts with “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him…” Now I grew up watching a lot of old western movies and TV series, and ironically enough, the series in particular really exemplified this…the main character always had a side-kick!  Roy Rogers had Gabby Hays, the Cisco Kid had Pancho, in Bonanza it was the Cartwright family, and shoot, even the “Lone Ranger” had Tonto!!  Without the side-kicks, (1) these shows wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining, but (2) the heroes wouldn’t be nearly as heroic, and for all we know, they may not be nearly successful.  Granted, the screenwriters could always plot it so they could win, but that’s beside the point.

Biblically speaking, God always works in twos and threes…He Himself is made up of three Persons.  He made Eve from Adam’s rib so she could come beside him, and he could have his arm around her.  The Lord may be working mainly in me, or someone else for that matter, but often He uses a second person to speak into my life, be it from a close friend or a perfect stranger.  “Two can withstand him…” The word ‘him’ can be referring to the devil himself; I believe this is one of the many reasons Jesus told His disciples to go out in twos in Mark 6:7 – “And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by tow, and gave them power over unclean spirits.” Two people joined together can stand back to back, but three can operate in a triangle, where you have more sides of protection, but a triangle also has points that can pierce and counterattack.  This is why a “threefold chord is not quickly broken”; two knit souls with God at the head, who can stand against them?

Application:  Today, I will pray, asking Christ first for strength to fully serve Him as the One, true God, and secondly that in His timing He will provide me a true brother that I can be bound to in spirit and soul in Christ.