Strongholds

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

STRONGHOLDS

Prov 21:22

22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

NIV

Wisdom is always preferable to strength. It is possible to be both, but this saying is making the point strength alone has no value. Those who put their trust in their own strength will be pulled down. This certainly implies those who reject the power of God in their lives and rely on their own abilities, their own skills to make their way in life. They have built their life as a fortified city, but wisdom will prevail against them. We can argue with them until the cows come home and it might be simply like speaking to a brick wall. This does not relieve us from the responsibility of sharing the gospel message. However it is the wisdom that comes from God that will tear down their strongholds. This wisdom from God is Jesus. He said that he would built his church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against him. James tells us if we lack wisdom, we are to ask God and he will give it to us liberally without finding fault.

James 1:4-5

 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

NIV

So then it is possible that we can attack the stronghold of the mighty with the wisdom given to us by God and we can prevail. Yet on a more personal level, do we build any strongholds within our heart and mind? Do we build the stronghold of good works, or good deeds? Do we build the stronghold of self-reliance for our needs or wants? Do we build a stronghold of security through money? Do we build strongholds of education or knowledge? Do we build strongholds of physical appearance? There are so many ways we can construct a stronghold in our heart, yet the wisdom that comes from God can tear them down. He attacks our strongholds and pulls them down one by one until all we are left with trusting in is Jesus. It would be far better never to attempt to build any in the first place. This is once being freed from the bondage of the law, not to put ourselves back into bondage to some law of our own. Let us simply be wise and leave all our trust in Jesus.