July 21

Jul 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we look at verse 22
"A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust."

In Biblical times warfare was very close quarter. There were no artillery guns, tanks, mortars, or air strikes. The kings in those days built walled cities for the purpose of protection and defense. The higher and thicker the wall, the more secure the king and his men were. Some cities were geographically located to provide additional protection; such as on the highest point of elevation, or with sheer cliffs on one or more sides. Combined with the strongest of walls, these cities became strongholds for the king and his court to ward of threats of their enemies. King David chose Jerusalem as his stronghold (2 Sam. 5). King Belshazzar's stronghold was Babylon. So great were the walls of this city that the king and his court were having a drunken feast in his palace while being threatened by Darius, king of the Medes (Daniel 5). Eventually enemies penetrated the strongholds and conquered their enemies. And when they did, they would destroy the strongholds by tearing down the walls. This would keep any renegades from regrouping and using the city against the conqueror in the future. It was a lot of extra time and effort for the conquering armies, but it insured against future battles on the same location.
With that little bit of background, we can now more clearly see the principle being taught in today's proverb. It is not enough to conquer an enemy, an issue, or even a personal habit. One must destroy, or pull down the stronghold where the conquered is likely to regroup and become a problem again. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor. 10:4, 5 "The weapons we fight with are not weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Here is the principle of breaking down the strongholds of issues. They are demolished by seeking out, bringing forth, and exposing them to TRUTH - the knowledge of God. If there is an issue in the family, the workplace, or the church, which is proving to be irritable and divisive, then those in authority must do more than just squelch the issue. They must destroy the stronghold from which the issue continually regroups. Sure, it takes extra time and effort, but at least it isn't causing casualties. Paul and the apostles had to constantly spend extra time and energy breaking down strongholds in the early church - especially the church at Corinth. Read the context from which these two verses were taken! The strongholds from which irritable and divisive issues regroup and attack are destroyed by the proper authorities being bold to bring the issues forward and then firmly dealing with them in the light of the clear truths and sound principles found in God's Word. If the authorities are not willing to take the extra time and effort to do this, they will continue to find themselves dealing with conflict and tending the wounded.
How about the strongholds of personal habits. Jesus teaches this principle in Matthew 12:43-45. "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." Here's a new take on this passage for us. We always thought that it was good that the 'house' was swept clean and put in order. I think that was the mistake. I think the house represents the stronghold, and it should have been destroyed! It's like the conquered city whose walls were not broken down because the conquering army did not want to take the extra time and effort. When the renegades returned, there it was! They got some help from other renegades, reoccupied the city, and became an odious burden to the conqueror. Jesus makes it clear that He is comparing this analogy to the generation to which He is speaking. They had renounced sin, but they themselves had not repented of their own sin. They forgot to break down the house. The principle holds true for us today. Knowledge and public renunciation may clean the house for a period of time, but if the sin is not truly repented of, it will come back with greater force than before. One must truly turn away from the sin and break all contact. One must appropriate the grace of God through confession and prayer. One must then consciously make an effort to stay out of areas and situations that may stimulate old habits. Finally, one must make a commitment to renew their minds with the Word of God. It takes extra time and effort to break down strongholds. But by God's grace - it can be done.
Wisdom seeks to identify the strongholds used by the enemy, and makes the extra time and effort to destroy them.