The Presidential Prayer Team

A threefold cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12

God made three such a special and interesting number! This number has many important points of reference. It is the basis of everything from the triangle to the three points defining a plane. It is the first odd prime number in math. Your home, Earth, is the third planet from the Sun. You are also a combination of three: body, mind, and spirit. Plus, time exists in three places: past, present, and future. The significance of three permeates the entire universe.

Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, references a cord of three strands as a picture of unity. Like the number three, his analogy spurs thought-provoking meditation. However, in context, he was contrasting the value of partnership in an attack with the vulnerability of someone who is alone.

Solomon was tremendously blessed in earthly life. Unfortunately, he allowed those blessings to draw him away from the God of his father, David, until he ignored the Law of Moses and drifted into pagan worship. He ultimately defined his life as futility and foolishness. Yet, despite his disappointment, he acknowledged that three are better than one.

The Lord is honored when people and nations adhere to Him and His principles as they seek to live in peace. Pray for the officials of the United States as they consider alliances and agreements, seeking God in those decisions and basing their commitments on His standards. Ask the Lord to work out His will and purposes in this nation as voters cast their midterm ballots. Pray for America’s church leaders to be wise in their associations.

Today’s Verse: Ecclesiastes 4:12

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ⁶even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.