A “Three-fold Cord” of Protection

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (GOD’S WORD® Translation)
Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”  It is a well-known idiom. One international minister of the Gospel describes the Bible as a picture book. This is helpful because when we get the right picture of a situation in our minds it can help us stay focused on what is needed for victory to occur. One such picture can be created by combining three well-known scriptures into what Ecclesiastes 4:12 describes and as a “triple-braided rope.” The promise from the Word is that “it is not easily broken.”

The first scripture in our rope is Psalm 91:1-2 (AMPC):
 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!” This first cord in our rope is filled with powerful visuals. The word “dwell” is translated in Strong’s Concordance as “rest.” When we rest under God’s shadow (which indicates closeness to God) the remaining part of the passage shows the outcome – “He is my refuge and fortress in whom I trust – have great confidence in.”

The second strand is found in Psalm 91: 9-11 (NKJV):
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, ¹⁰ No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. The promise here is the benefits that come from making the Lord our refuge – NO evil shall befall us (it doesn’t mean it won’t try, but we are promised we will overcome and stay standing).

The final strand is found in Hebrews 1:14 (AMPC):
¹⁴ Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation? The last cord in our rope tells us that one of the jobs of angels is to be servants to those who will inherit salvation (believers). Their job is to act on behalf of us to help us inherit all that salvation is – healing, protection, and provision just to mention a few.

By taking these three scriptures, we can create an image in our mind of a “triple-braided rope.” Whenever a situation in the natural contradicts God’s Word, instead of focusing on the situation we can choose to see in our mind the “triple-braided rope” that surrounds it. Faith arises when our eyes are focused on the Word.

The beauty of Ecclesiastes 4:12 is that we have the Word available to create triple-braided ropes in any area of our lives that are being challenged; health, finances, restoration of relationships. A final blessing of the power of the triple-braided rope is this; as with any rope, the key to its effectiveness is in wrapping securely whatever is being held. When we use the Word of God to create a triple-braided rope for the challenge we are facing, we don’t hang on for dear life. We simply rest in the strength of the rope holding us in place. We are trusting, not trying. And, that is called AMAZING GRACE!

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