Grace Notes // When We Were Kings Part 2
Week 10 // Seven Arrows
Written by Dillon Turner
This week, Freddy Washington brought a powerful word out of 2 Kings 13:10-19 about participating in God’s victory in our lives. Through the dying words of Elisha, God demonstrated the power of following through enthusiastically with God’s designs to ensure victory.
The Passage
In this passage, Elisha laid on his deathbed, and Israel had just been attacked to the point that only a portion of their cavalry remained. King Joash of Israel visited Elisha and the prophet instructed him to take a bow and arrow and shoot it out of the window to the ground, a seemingly pointless task. Joash obeyed and shooting his arrows three times in total. Joash returns to Elisha and is accosted by the prophet. Elisha explained that those arrows represented the victory of the Lord, and if he wanted to destroy Syria and save his people completely, he should’ve fired off the arrow five or six times. However, since he only shot off three arrows, Israel would only see three victories.
The Message
The focus of Sunday’s message was obedience. Freddy quotes Isaiah 1:19 and says “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Reminding us of the seven arrows God has given us as symbols of His victory which are: the Word of God, prayer, worship, the name of Jesus, fasting, testimonies, and thanksgiving. Each of these arrows on its own carries immense power and authority, but altogether, they echo in the complete victory of God in our lives.
The Takeaway
Freddy pointed out that King Joash probably didn’t know exactly why he was doing what he was doing when he was shooting his arrows. If I were in his shoes, I would probably be frustrated and questioning Elisha’s instruction. Syria just nearly wiped out all the chariots and horses of Israel. Why am I wasting time shooting these arrows into the ground? I need Elisha to give me instruction on how to defeat the enemy. I just need to quickly breeze through this practice and then we can get to the stuff that actually matters. Then I think back to some of the times that fasting has been the hardest for me in the midst of difficult seasons. Why am I starving myself right now? I need help. I need God to save me. I don’t need to be doing this silly practice.
Sometimes God hands us a quiver of arrows and instructs us to shoot in obedience. This obedience is a call to partnership.
When we believe God can work miracles in our lives, and we fully and enthusiastically partner with him, we see His complete victory. That is both extremely encouraging and challenging. It’s encouraging to see that we can partner with the all-powerful creator God to live in victory, but it is difficult at times to give Him our full “yes.” Personally, it is easy for me to share my testimony, pray, and worship, but like I said earlier, I have had trouble in the past with fasting. In order to walk in the victory of the Lord, I have to partner fully. God isn’t looking for an earthly level of good enough, He wants to see our full obedience and partnership. He is faithful to fully complete the blessings he has for us. Are we faithful to give our complete obedience?
Processing Questions
What arrows feel the easiest to offer to God?
What arrows do you struggle with?
What would it look like for you to give God your full “yes?”
How does it feel to know you have full access to God’s victory?