Kings Were Meant to Cover
God created men to cover. In the beginning, God created the male-man with His own hands. God made the woman from the rib of the man. Both the man and the woman were given dominion with the calling to co-lead. God created them to lead together. It is evident that God spent time with the man. God placed the man in the Garden of Eden with the command to take care of all He had created. Adam was responsible for God to take care of His creation. He was called to guard the garden from any external sources. The man was responsible for protecting the garden from every kind of assault. In short, the man was responsible for covering the garden and everything that was in it.
Adam’s role was to mirror God as a coverer. Another subtler inference of this word refers to a protector. One of the characteristics of God, our Father, is that He covers those that He is responsible for. God is always taking care of His people. David captured this concept when he wrote the 91st number of the Psalms. He wrote: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely He will save me from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:1-4) David confirms the truth that God is not only his covering but provides coverage for all. It is imperative that men understand God has called them to provide coverage.
Being called to provide coverage and covering are two very different things. Today men struggle to provide the coverage that is so desperately needed by families. We live in a culture today where a large percentage of fathers are missing in action. The number of children that have grown up without a father in their lives is staggering. David provides an example that is missing in the experience of many wives and numerous children. 2 Samuel 8:15 declares: “David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.” The point to be made is how David reigned. A king is recognized for his influence. Any ruler’s authority must be respected if he is to be successful. Every king must accept the responsibility to do what is just and right for all his people. Every man was born to reign. Every man was created to provide a covering for his kingdom. A man’s kingdom is his family!
Men must accept the responsibility to provide coverage for their families. Husbands must engage in the battle for the respect of their wives. Men can only address the volume of children lacking coverage. Fathers are the only ones created to bring healing to children who are confused by their absence. Covering is so essential. It is not a surprise that men are struggling to walk in the divine call of fatherhood—to provide covering. Wives and children need present-day Eden where they are covered. Today’s families are desperate for covering. Anything uncovered is exposed. Sons and daughters remain vulnerable in the absence of fathers. I encourage every man to respond to the calling to lead, but one cannot lead without covering.
May the Lord call men back to their homes. Let us pray that the Father restore the hearts of fathers to their children. We must believe the Lord to heal the hearts of men and restore every man to his kingdom. God created men to provide coverage.