Text: Joshua 10:1-4; Revelation 5:5-6
Adonizedek means “lord of justice.” In the text Adonizedek was going to do “justly” and defend himself from the Israelite “invaders.” I saw in this Amorite spirit a few things to be wary of today: an aggressive personal defense that gathers people around for personal protection.
It is important that we focus this thought of defending ourselves. I am not speaking about being in the military during war time, or protecting and defending your home and family from an aggressor; rather, I am speaking directly about the Christian who seeks to defend himself in a personal situation when verbally attacked or railed upon.
It is also very important to know that there are times when you will need to offer a defense in a situation cited above, as did the Apostle Paul in his appeal to Rome, but those times must be initiated by the Spirit of God and not the Amorite spirit for preeminence.
All that being said it is important not to allow this Amorite spirit to influence us unduly and remember that “the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge” (Psalms 94:22 KJV). When we are reviled to not revile again, “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39 ESV). Wesley penned, “The Greek word translated resist signifies standing in battle array, striving for victory. If a man smite thee on the right cheek – Return not evil for evil: yea, turn to him the other – Rather than revenge thyself.”
What is my point here? Before you can be bold as lion you must know how to be a sacrificed lamb. That was Jesus’ prerequisite: “And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion (emphasis mine) of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb (emphasis mine) standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth” (Revelation 5:5-6 ESV). And it needs to be our prerequisite as well.
Pray today for the grace to be a lamb…and the discernment in when to be a lion. Memorize Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”