Definition: And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from 1 Kings 20:22. It’s a really important warning from God to King David! Here's a simple explanation: Basically, God is telling David to be very careful and vigilant. Let’s unpack it word by word: “And the prophet came to the king of Israel…” – This means God spoke to King David, likely in a vision or dream. “…and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest:” – David was being asked to watch and observe what he was doing. It’s like saying “Be careful with your actions.” “for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.” - This is the crucial part. The King of Syria, a powerful nation in the east, is planning to attack David and his kingdom. What does this mean? It’s telling us that David was in danger! God is warning him that he needs to be aware of potential threats and to take precautions against them. It's about protecting his people and his position. Why is this important? This verse is a part of the story of the Giants who lived in the land. God decided to test David’s faith and courage by sending the Giant to challenge him. It shows that even though David was powerful, he needed to be wise and watchful to avoid trouble. In short: God is warning David to stay alert because a powerful enemy (the King of Syria) is planning to attack him. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you more context about the story of the Giants?