Biblical Vulnerability pt. 4

Scriptural Wisdom on Destructive Vulnerabilities

Welcome to the kingdom citizens blog!

Repairing what's undefended, exposed, & weak.

The last blog was an introduction into what a breach is and how Christ is the Repairer of the breach. Now we’ll take a look at 5 scriptures that elaborate on vulnerabilities that develop into breaches. Our first 3 scriptures will define 3 distinctively specified types of vulnerability. The last 2 scriptures offer insight and wisdom into how destructive vulnerabilities lead to breaches in our figurative walls. Pay attention to how to avoid becoming undefended, exposed, and weakened in mind, body, and spirit.

In our covenant with Christ, we are made clean by His blood and brought in under His care and guidance.

Genesis on Vulnerability

Genesis 42:8-9

8 But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.”

Genesis 42:11-13 (NASB)

11 We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies.” 12 Yet he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!” 13 But they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive.”

Genesis 42:9;13

Undefended: `ervah (er-vaw') Strong’s Hebrew: 6172, meaning, “Nakedness”.  

-Literally, this is associated with the shame of nudity.

-Figuratively, this is associated with the shame of disgrace or a blemish.

Whether it be bodily, social, or ritual in nature —`ervah relates to the indecency of being unclean. This type of shameful nakedness can be the result of improper behavior or the dishonor and abuse of dignity that accompanies the unlawful exposure of one's undefended parts (literal or figurative). This is not just nudity, like Adam and Eve when they discovered they were naked. This is a nakedness associated with a lack of protection from harmful outside elements. Biblical portrayals of this type of destructive vulnerability includes: Covenantal standards of modesty, sexual boundaries, interpersonal respect for duty, honor, dignity, civil and criminal regulations, and national sin.

In Joseph’s case, he falsely accused his brothers of being spies as a ploy to see his younger brother. A true spies intention is to remain hidden from discovery while searching for an unguarded breach to take advantage of. Using `ervah in correspondence with calling his brothers spies, reveals to us the national implications of a leader's oversight in regards to anything less than an ironclad defense. Joseph would be disgraced if true spies slipped under his radar unseen. 

What we learn from `ervah is how to be diligent in watching over our realm of influence. There is a guilt and shame associated with the spies and counterfeits that slip under our radar. We may not have an ironclad defense when it comes to our faith, relationships, ministerial pursuits, and life in general. But it's important to study the Word of God so that we can combat the counterintelligence that seeks to trick us into letting our guard down. 

Like Joseph, we know God is with us. When he recalled his dream and what his brothers did to him afterwards, he didn’t stand in shame or regret but power and authority. When we walk in His Word, we won’t run the risk of being undefended when spies lurk and danger stalks.

When we lay our sins bare before the Lord, that kind of vulnerability covers us in the midst of our exposure.

Nehemiah & 2 Timothy

Nehemiah 4:12-13 (NASB)

12 When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,” 13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows.

Nehemiah 4:13

Exposed: tschiychiy (tsekh-ee-khee') Strong’s Hebrew: 6708, meaning, “bare spot” — as in being exposed from a higher place like the glaring sun or high mountain looking down on a valley. 

Tschiychiy describes an area left exposed—an open space lacking any natural or built defenses. In its only appearance in the Bible, the word conveys a sense of danger, referring to sections of Jerusalem’s wall that were left unprotected and without reinforcement. This image is of terrain so open that attackers could see from miles away and plan to enter freely unless guards were stationed there.

Tschiychiy doesn’t refer to the shameful feelings of being breached like `ervah’s nakedness but is an actual place of vulnerability where the enemy can take full advantage unless guarded properly. In these areas of our lives, where the walls are broken down or malnourished, we must guard with diligence. Our hearts can be an exposed place; a vulnerability others are willing to exploit when we are not healed. 

2 Timothy 3:1-7 (NASB)

1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. 6 For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:6

Weak: gunaikarion (goo-nahee-kar'-ee-on) Strong’s Greek: 1133, meaning, “a little woman”. 

This is a figurative and diminutive term that refers to a foolish woman. She is “little” in the sense that she is small-minded, silly, or contemptuous. This type of woman is spiritually immature, gullible, and easily led astray. Gunaikarion (goo-nahee-kar'-ee-on) doesn’t denote physical stature but lack of moral and intellectual discernment. Biblically, this is representative of the Church in times of unyielding disobedience. This is the type of person that complements the manipulative treachery of immoral people. 

When we are out of the will of God but still claim He’s our Lord, we fool ourselves into weakness that the Lord’s strength does not inherit. This is not the weakness that Paul takes delight in. Gunaikarion (goo-nahee-kar'-ee-on) is the result of the shame, guilt, and consequence of being “weighed down with sins” (v. 6). The Lord is still faithful to deliver someone truly repentant of this condition. However, the person who denies or resists the power of true salvation and restoration falls victim to a foreign godliness that is full of promises but completely empty of power. This is the foolishness of disobedience; the destructive vulnerability of the captive.

Ecclesiastes & Judges

These next 2 tie well together:

Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NASB)

2 A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart directs him toward the left.

Judges 16:18-19 (NASB)

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, she sent word and called the governors of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all that is in his heart.” Then the governors of the Philistines came up to her and brought up the money in their hands. 19 And she made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to humble him, and his strength left him.

The consequence of vulnerability in the wrong frame of mind or the wrong hands can lead to one’s destruction. Lack of awareness and lack of sense will lead you where you don’t want to go; a trap you can’t escape from. Wisdom is protection in regards to vulnerability. Discerning who we can trust and when is a great skill we should all pray to acquire. Spies will spy, predators will prowl, and a sincere friend will occasionally drop the ball. Knowing the difference provides clarity, security, and prepares against hidden motives.

The heart (layb: Strong’s Hebrew 3820) is defined figuratively as the mind, will, and feelings of a person. If a wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, it’s either because God interceded, or blessed them with the cunning, skill, and experience that lends them the foresight of knowing and respecting morale and consequence. A fool doesn’t have the sense to respect the awareness of morale or consequence. All they see is their end goal with a heart full of pride, prejudice, and rebellion.

Take a look at the example made of Samson in Judges 16:18-19. He didn’t expect his strength to vanish at the hands of the woman “he” loved.  So he kept the same trajectory, let his guard down, and discovered that Delilah cared more about money and public exaltation than Samson’s life or wellbeing. He was unaware and foolish. Samson was wise when it came to riddles but foolish when it came to women and covenantal standards of modesty. Samson and his strength was subdued in his folly. He fell asleep at the wheel and awoke to the aftermath of his destructive vulnerability. 

When Sampson shared all that was in his heart to Delilah, he gave away all his secrets. Now, the way it’s written for us to read, it sounds like a set up when Delilah kept asking him to reveal the secrets of his strength. Blinded by his love for her, he disregarded the traps she kept setting for him after begging him for the truth. Some truths are better left hidden, because vulnerable truths in the wrong hands can become the keys to your doom. 

Verse 19 says, “And she made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to humble him, and his strength left him.” According to Strong’s Hebrew: 6031, this Hebrew word for humble is `anah (aw-naw'), a verb that means to abase, defile, and ravish. Delilah belittled and degraded Sampson, seizing his strength with great delight. Sampson’s pride was humbled and his life ensnared. 

We must be careful not to allow our pride to diminish our wisdom. Some people have escaped harm so many times that they believe they’re too clever or skilled to fail. But we must remember that God opposes and humbles the proud. Be wise. Be aware of red flags. Cling onto the truth. Avoid being lulled to sleep in the lawlessness of your desires. Sampson had no business being with Delilah. She wasn’t just a pagan but a pagan in the enemy camp. Samson got too comfortable, gave up his secrets to the wrong woman, and paid the price for his foolishness in the end.

SELAH.

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I kept this one short and sweet but make sure to stay tuned in for this next blog post so you don't miss out on your word of instruction and encouragement. In our next blog we'll be observing the ancient Levant and revealing how coveted areas that were topographically vulnerable were protected. In the meantime, be blessed. Thank you and Godspeed!

Scripture of Emphasis:

Proverbs 18:10 (NASB)

^"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.”

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Thank You and God Bless!

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