GOD’S DEVIL by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC

Introduction:  The response to our new series on Job has been amazing, but for those of you who are wondering about our end-times series, just know that we haven’t forgotten it. In fact, we are again laying the groundwork for our end-times series. We went through our series on Romans to understand the role of Israel in end-times prophecy. Through this series on Job, we will understand the role of Satan in end-times prophecy. Years ago, R. C. Sproul, the founder of Ligonier ministries, recounted when he was studying under G. C. Berkouwer, famous theologian at the Free University in Amsterdam, that one day when he was listening to a lecture by Berkouwer that his mind sort of wandered of, as often happens, when Berkouwer made a profound statement, and his mind snapped back – “There can be no sound theology without a sound demonology.” In other words, says Sproul, “if Biblical revelation is taken seriously we must take seriously what Scripture teaches concerning the satanic realm” (taken from Erwin Lutzer’s book God’s Devil). Many of us try to study the Bible, especially end-times prophecy, with a very basic and even misguided understanding of Satan and his work. No wonder, we fail to interpret Scripture properly. No wonder, we misunderstand key doctrines. If I may add, no wonder we find ourselves defeated in the Christian life. We have an Enemy who is fighting us day and night. Failure to understand him and his tactics is the source of much of our defeat. In today’s message from Job, we will try to rectify this problem.

Job 1 (page #777) 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

Pray: Before we dive in and talk about Satan and his work, let us pray for God’s guidance and protection upon us.

Context: To begin with, the name “Satan” comes from the Hebrew noun “Satan” which means “accuser” or “adversary” (See Will Kynes’ article in Oxford Encyclopedia of Bible and Theology). At times, that word is applied to even certain human figures, but we will focus more on the angelic figures. The Hebrew word “Satan” when translated into Greek is “diabolos,” which gives us the English title “Devil.” This title has the added meaning of “slanderer.” In Revelation 12:9 both the names are brought together with some added information: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Now we know for sure that this has been one and the same individual who has been causing all the trouble throughout history.

To better understand Satan, we need to go to the beginning. I know y’all are thinking the book of Genesis. Actually, it is the book of Job 38 (page #825) 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Can you imagine the angels of God shouting for joy to see God created the heavens and the earth! Can you see them high-fiving each other! So, if they are celebrating at the foundation of the earth, then they were the first objects of creation on Day 1. Why? Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

What about Satan more specifically?

• Ezekiel 28      11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Obviously, this lament was not just about the king of Tyre. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. 18 “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.” ’ ”
• Isaiah 14.       12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” That name “Lucifer” is Latin. The actual Hebrew word is “heylel” which means “light bearer” or “shining one” or “morning star.” Just like the previous passage, the lament is against the king of Babylon. “…How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Based on these passages, Satan was a cherub. He was powerful. He led worship. He was a bright shining angel. But, then he decided to ascend into heaven and exalt himself. He wanted to be like the Most High. 1 Timothy 3:5 identifies his sin as pride. When he fell, he took one-third of the angels with him:

• Daniel 8:10 “And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.”
• Revelation 12      3 “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.”

When did his fall happen? Probably after Day 7 of creation because so far after each day, starting with the third one, God said “it was good” or “it was very good.” Then, with the 7^th day, God blessed and sanctified it. So, anything like the fall of Satan had to be after the seventh day, maybe somewhere in the week after creation week.

When did Satan come to Eve as a serpent? Remember, in Genesis 1:28 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…” An average menstrual cycle is about 28 days, which means that Eve could have gotten pregnant somewhere there, but she hadn’t yet. Also, God had developed a habit of walking with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. Maybe he had been doing that for 21-28 days. All that to say, it was somewhere between the 3-4 weeks that the serpent came to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden – Genesis 3        1 “….And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” I’m sure, if you grew up in church, you heard messages on how Satan caused Eve to question God’s Word and doubt God’s goodness. I want to raise a more basic question – why did Satan choose to indwell a snake? The Hebrew word for snake is “nachash.” Quite interestingly, the Hebrew word for bronze is “nechoshet.” These words come from the same root. What is the connection? If you’ve ever seen bronze, it is bright and shiny. In fact, in Numbers 21, when it talks about Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, it is “nachash nechoshet.” In 2 Kings 18:4, Hezekiah, king of Judah, “removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.” How interesting that God’s people were worshipping a bronze serpent whose name rhymed with “Satan.” Nonetheless, there’s something about Satan and brightness. 

As you know, Satan was cursed, and in that curse, there was the promise of redemption (the protoevangelium) – Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” When Jesus went to the cross, Satan’s head was bruised, but he is still alive. There’s coming a day when he will be cast in the lake of fire. Jesus mentioned it in Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” Also, Revelation 20:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Why doesn’t God just get rid of him? Why not just destroy him forever? Why not send him to the other side of the universe along with his hordes and lock him up in some cosmic prison forever? Why not just throw him in the Lake of fire now? God’s ways are not our ways. They are higher. Lucifer thought he could do better than God so he will allow him to retain certain power to prove that. God would use his diabolical schemes to bring out those things that we wouldn’t have experienced otherwise – love when unlovable, grace when undeserving, forgiveness when unfaithful, and much more. He will demonstrate that he is worthy by maintaining his holiness by being a God who hates sin. He will maintain his justice by being a God who will punish sin. He will maintain his love by being a God who comes down to give his life for us.

How will Satan do what he wanted to do? With lies and murder. John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” As you know, he did that with Job. He did that with David in causing him to take a census of his troops, when they had won because of God’s power and faithfulness, not their own strength. He did that with Joshua the High priest – Zechariah 3       1 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.

God uses his evil work to prove us, refine us, discipline us, and even bless us. He also uses it to judge those who choose to reject the gospel of Christ.

Since the cross, he knows he has limited time – Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Sometimes, he is subtle and alluring – 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” Other times, he is brash ad attacking – 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

What is the attitude that you should have towards Satan?

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

1 John 4:4 “…He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The title of my sermon “God’s Devil” is from Martin Luther. Erwin Lutzer said – “The devil is just as much God’s servant in his rebellion as he was God’s servant in day of his sweet obedience.” Don’t fear. Don’t attack him. Stand behind Christ and press on. Pray.

Are you saved?