Tearing Down Strongholds

578 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 17:12,13, "So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 "Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there."(2 Sam 17:12,13) Hushai continues to play to the pride of Absalom, painting a picture of utter annihilation of David and his forces with the sheer numbers of Absalom's loyal followers. David and his forces would be overwhelmed just as the grass is overwhelmed with morning dew. And if David is holed up in a fortified city, then let us bring ropes and tear the city down one stone at a time and throw them into the river. This dismantling of a city was usually done for the purpose of showing others not to mess with the conqueror. Again Hushai played to Absalom's pride. By the way, this strategy of “pulling down strongholds” is mentioned in 2Co 10:3-5, “ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” Remember your arguments against God? Remember how you exalted your knowledge and wisdom over the knowledge and wisdom of God? You had built fortifications of resistance and fleshly reasoning against God and His Word. What happened? You were overpowered by the Spirit of God, by the Word of God! Stronghold are basically, “wrong thinkings,” wrong reasonings if you will. And it is the preaching or proclaiming of the Word of God that tears down strongholds. The preaching of God's Word brings us to repentance and to repent is to “think differently.” And so as the Word penetrates our spiritual ears, by the grace of God, our wrong thinking is overpowered by the One who is greater than he who is in the world, and we come to the one true faith. Faith in God and His Word tears down strongholds, and it comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.