Maintaining Balance

Three times in II Kings, chapter seven, an officer of the king is described as "a lord on whose hand the king leaned” (verses 2, 17, 19). This is an interesting way to describe someone, and the Hebrew word literally means “the third;” but just what does this officer do? Until recent times the answer to that question had been shrouded in mystery. Archaeologist W. W. Boulton uncovered some ancient pictures on Assyrian monuments that reveal the duties of this mysterious third man. The pictures show a chariot speeding into battle. There are three men in the chariot: one is the driver; another is the fighting man, with spear and shield ready for battle; and the third man is the balancer, shown holding two straps which are fastened securely to the back of the chariot. By shifting his body, this soldier prevented the chariot from being toppled by obstacles in the road or a sudden swerve. It is understandable that a king would not want to ride his chariot into battle without a faithful balancer on board as insurance against a preventable accident.

The passage in Kings illustrates the importance of maintaining a balance. Consider the talent and ability required to provide that equilibrium. This lord would not only have to be aware of his own body and strength; of necessity, he must be fully aware of his surroundings...watching the driver, watching the king, following the battle and keeping an eye on his own back. Is it possible that our own lives fall out of balance when we cease from paying attention? One moment of distraction and Satan has us off-kilter. The Apostle Paul said: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means , when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. [I Corinthians 9:27; see also 2 Timothy 2:4]