Timing plays a crucial role in spiritual warfare. The adversary uses time to great effect, and those who do not understand his strategy can never walk in victory. When does the devil tempt us? From Jesus’ example, we know that times of need are an auspicious time for the devil to tempt. Jesus had fasted for 40 days and nights and was hungry afterwards. That was an occasion for the devil to tempt Him. Satan tried to induce Him to use His position as the Son of God to command stones to become bread. Note that there was a legitimate need here; the only problem was that Satan wanted Him to meet that need at his instance and not God’s.

We must be particularly careful at the following times: when in dire need of something, idle, and tired. They are potent times for the enemy to attack.

Before getting to our text, we see an instance in David’s life where he did not manage the season well and became a victim of the tempter. The Bible records: “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.” II Samuel 11:1 NKJV. Battles were fought at specific times in those days. Rather than go to battle, David chose to stay back in Jerusalem. That was the occasion for his misdeed with the wife of his lieutenant. In our text, Ahitophel was playing the devil’s advocate. He was going to lead Absalom’s army to pursue David at the time he was “weary and weak”. We must be particularly careful at the following times: when in dire need of something, idle, and tired. They are potent times for the enemy to attack.