1 Peter 5:8-9, Resisting (1)

Let us consider this passage line by line.  First, the devil is …

·        Your adversary.  Devil means slanderer.  He is an opponent, the opposition in a ”lawsuit”.  Satan, like the other attorney, accuses the brethren before God.

·        Walking about.  This emphasizes the fact he is real.  Read Satan’s role in Job 1-2 where he is roaming the world, but reporting to God.  He is powerful but not omnipresent, all-knowing and so forth.

·        Seeking to devour.  He wants to destroy what God is doing.  He is aggressive like a hungry lion.  Note from elsewhere in Scripture that Satan has authority …

o      Over this world (1 Jn. 5:18; 2 Cor. 4:4; Jn. 12:31).

o      To deceive (2 Cor. 11:14; Jn. 8:44; Gen. 3).

o      To tempt or test (Rev. 12:10; Mt. 4:3; 1 Th. 3:5).

o      Over his angels (Mt. 12:24; Eph. 2:2).

The believer is to …

·        Be serious.  The word sober means to be under control.  Satan is not a joke.  And victory over him is not found in humor.

·        Be watchful.  We are to pay careful attention.  This command is often associated with prayer (Matt. 26:38,40,41; Col. 4:2).  It is related to 2 Cor. 2:11 where Paul says we are not ignorant but know Satan’s schemes.  Part of watchfulness is being aware of how Satan’s “philosophy” is working its way into our lives and the life of our church.  (We will consider these schemes in tomorrow’s post.)

·        Resist.  This is the basic tactic for Christians in dealing with the devil (same word in Jas. 4:7; Eph. 6:13 which the NKJV translates withstand).  It means to set against, stand face to face against. It is not just “standing still;” it is a very aggressive stance.  As Wm. Hendriksen put it,

The standing of which Paul speaks is not that of a brick wall that is waiting passively, as it were, for the assault of the battering ram.  The soldiers referred to here are drawn up in battle array and rushing into the fight.  They are both defending themselves and attacking.  Only when they make full use of God's armor will they be able to "stand their ground", that is, to withstand the foe, stand up against him, repulse his onrush and even gain ground.

We will continue to consider this important subject in tomorrow’s post.