Scripture Daily

Context No. 3680 of 4322 · 1 Kings

Context · Reflection

1 Kings 20:7-11: in context

7Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.” 8All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen, and don’t consent.” 9Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” The messengers departed and brought him back the message. 10Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” 11The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’”

Ben-hadad, the arrogant king of Syria, besieges Samaria and sends boastful, escalating demands, and finally threatens to grind the whole city to dust with his vast army. Ahab's reply is a proverb worth remembering: tell him, let not him who straps on his armor boast like him who takes it off.

In other words, do not boast of victory before the battle is even fought. The one still putting on his armor, just going into battle, should not brag like the one taking it off, having already won. It is a pointed warning against premature boasting and overconfidence. Ben-hadad was already celebrating a victory he had not yet achieved, and, as the story goes on to show, his boasting proved empty; he was defeated. There is wisdom here for us. Do not count your triumphs before they come, and do not let confidence swell into boasting before the outcome is decided. Humility waits to see how things end; pride crows too soon and is often humbled.

Am I ever tempted to boast of victories before they are won, and do I keep the humility that waits, unlike the one who brags while still strapping on his armor?

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