A Recovering King

When thinking about your relatives, have you ever wondered if fog and heaviness might be very close relatives of yours?

I despise doubt and unbelief and how it creeps slowly upon me, fogging my mind and weighing down my life. Do you ever get that? Fortunately, I’m in recovery from the most recent visit of my relatives.

I was today reminded of a scene in my favorite trilogy of films, Lord of the Rings, and specifically, The Two Towers. In it, the marvelous King of Rohan, Theoden, has been under the terrible influence of a demonic spellbinder. While Theoden still sits on the throne, he no longer believes he is much of anything, not much of value, and he no longer understands the meaning of his own crown, even though it still sits on his head. Further, the mighty sword of his authority and kingdom lays useless and wasted on the floor. Instead, others of lesser, ignoble birth and evil intent direct a kingdom now in chaos.

As God would have it(!), Gandalf and a trio of valiant warriors break through to rescue him, and Gandalf immediately exposes and rebukes the spellbinder, releasing the king. Rising slowly to his feet, the king’s senses and eyes grow clearer. “Dark have been my dreams of late,” he says wistfully. Theoden looks at his hand and can scarcely move its fingers.

Gandalf, intent upon restoring the King, says, “Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword.”

The King’s second in command offers it to him, and, slowly taking it into his grasp, Theoden draws it from its scabbard. The evil, wormy spellbinder instantly squirms in fear, while the King looks at the sword in wonder. Suddenly, understanding lights his eyes and his face grows fierce. The recovering King glowers at the enemy and angrily hurls him out of the throne room. “Get out! You have no business here!”

“Hail! Theoden King!” comes the triumphant shout from everyone all around, who look to the recovered king with renewed wonder, awe and thankfulness.

So, how are you, royal son? How are you, regal daughter? How have the thoughts playing in your head matched up to the dazzling crown of royalty that God has put upon your head? Has The Spellbinder been whispering “dark dreams” to you, too? Is he making the attempt to get you lost, to get you to forget who you are?

“Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword.”

Remember what God has made of you, take Him at His word, and act like He meant it. He did! Throw off the lies that say anything else or anything less! Praise The King who shares His glory with you. That’s amazing! You may remember your crown by singing a song to God—loudly! Shake the ceiling with it! Or maybe proclaim an important truth aloud—“I am a holy and righteous son of God, and I will never be anything less!” It might help to yell it. Or perhaps you might grasp your Bible and thrust it heavenward as the sword that it is.

1 Peter 2:10 “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, in order that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

That is you! Try reading it loudly and with your name in it. That’ll bring revival to your thinking and kick the evil one’s butt out the door. He has no place with you. You’ll regain faith and strength and stand again as the royal son or daughter you are. And that is the greatest thing in this world—there’s nothing better than who God has made you to be. Nothing and no one. The Spellbinder will scurry off, his butt kicked, now fearful of recovered royalty.

“Hail to the King!”