Resist the Devil: How to Stay Clear-Headed & Unshakable While Under Spiritual Attack
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (KJV).
Think cautiously, clearly, coherently, level-headedly, and soberly — and keep your head on straight, staying free of the kind of hallucinatory thinking that is so indicative of drunks who can’t think right because they are “under the influence.” You need to be clear-headed,[960] on high alert, watchful, wide awake, and determined to maintain your guard and protect what is yours.[961] You need to know that the adversary is one who works like a prosecutor, looking for any tidbit of information he can get his hands on to accuse you, prosecute you, and try to take you down.[962] I’m talking about the devil — the one who is always hurling lies at people, verbally wrangling with them, and trying his best to ensnare and entrap them with accusations, lies, and slander.[963] Exactly like[964] a fierce, voracious lion[965] who threatens and roars incessantly —nonstop[966] — your adversary prowls around[967] seriously searching and seeking[968] for an exact prey or victim[969] that he can devour to the point of slurping up everything that remains, until nothing is left of the victim at all[970] (RIV).
1 Peter 5:9
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world (KJV).
You must intentionally and strategically make a plan by which you can resist[971] this enemy, and you must do everything you can to bolster and reinforce yourself[972] in faith (and in really knowing what you believe).[973] And you must continually know and never forget[974] that the same identical kinds of physical distresses and mental and spiritual agonies[975] are also coming against[976] your brothers — the whole Christian family[977] — who exist throughout the world.[978]
Footnotes
960. The words “think cautiously, clearly, coherently, level-headedly, and soberly — and keep your head on straight, staying free of the kind of hallucinatory thinking that is so indicative of drunks who can’t think right because they are ‘under the influence.’ You need to be clear-headed” are an interpretation of a form of νήφω (nepho), a word that means be sober and pictures one who has embraced sobriety as opposed to drunkenness and its negative effects. The word Peter used here conveys the idea of one who has decided to put away silly thinking and who has chosen to think cautiously, clearly, coherently, level-headedly, soberly, and straight as opposed to thinking like a silly drunk.
961. The words “[be] on high alert, watchful, wide awake, and determined to maintain your guard and protect what is yours” are interpreted from a form of γρηγορέω (gregoreo), which means to be attentive, to be on your guard, or to be watchful, and it primarily denotes the watchful attitude of one who is on the lookout to make certain no aggressor or enemy can successfully gain entry to his life or place of residence. It pictures one who is on high alert, whose attitude is to never let up in being watchful and wide awake to make certain no sinister force sneaks up to attack and overtake him. The very use of this word was meant by Peter to inform us that there is an outside sinister force always looking for a way to penetrate one’s life — thus the reason we are always to be on guard and on high alert.
962. The words “the adversary is one who works like a prosecutor, looking for any tidbit of information he can get his hands on to accuse you, prosecute you, and to try to take you down” are an interpretation of ἀντίδικος (antidikos), which is a compound of the preposition ἀντί (anti) and the word δίκη (dike). The preposition ἀντί (anti) means against, and the word δίκη (dike) refers to the judicial verdict of a court. As the word ἀντίδικος (antidikos), it pictures a legal prosecutor who uses evidence to bring a formal prosecution against an individual. By using this word, Peter was informing us that as a lawyer argues in a court of law, or as a prosecuting attorney argues vehemently against the accused, the devil attempts to bring a charge of guilt against a person on the basis of information he has gathered from the person’s past actions or deeds. Like an attorney brings formal charges against the accused based on a legal violation, the devil, like a prosecutor, looks for past failures to prosecute and try to convince us that we are guilty and therefore due punishment. However, the blood of Jesus is the answer, for when sin is confessed, it is cleansed, and although one may have failed in the past, once that sin and failure is confessed, it is cleansed, and those charges become no longer viable or true of a Blood-washed saint.
963. The words “the devil — the one who is always hurling lies at people, verbally wrangling with them, and trying his best to ensnare and entrap them with accusations, lies, and slander” are a translation of διάβολος (diabolos), which is translated as devil in most places in the New Testament. It is a compound of the preposition διά (dia) and the word βάλλω (ballo). The preposition διά (dia) means through and carries the idea of penetration, as something that is penetrated all the way through from one side to the other. The preposition διά (dia) also denotes a going back and forth, like one who is verbally wrangling over something. The word βάλλω (ballo) means to hit or throw something, but it is also the word for the throwing of a net that entangles and captures. As a compound, the word διάβολος (diabolos) simply describes how the devil works. Like one who strikes repetitiously, he throws accusations and slander against his victims with the intention of breaking down their resistance and penetrating them. Like a lawyer, he verbally goes back and forth, wrangling with words to confuse and mentally entrap a victim. And like one who throws a net, he attempts to entangle individuals with his legal mental and verbal wranglings in an effort to trip them up and win his case.
964. The words “exactly like” are translated from ὡς (hos).
965. The words “fierce, voracious lion” are a translation of λέων (leon), the word for a lion, but because the devil is portrayed here as roaring, it indicates his voracious hunger and fierce readiness to attack.
966. The words “roars incessantly — nonstop” are a translation of ὠρυόμενος (oruomenos), which depicts the nonstop, ongoing roaring noise — here, in this case — of a lion that is looking for a victim to terrorize with its fearsome roar. This Greek word signifies loud roaring and singing aloud, at times, so as to drown out others. Satan often uses the tactic of loud, arrogant talk to try to drown out the voice of the Lord. While he can never stifle the direct voice of God, he seeks to speak over the top of the Spirit’s voice in the hearts of believers. The Greek tense here means that the devil is always roaring. Furthermore, Peter employs the comparative adverb ὡς (hos) to explain that the devil only acts like a mighty lion. His puffed-out chest and incessant boasting is nothing more than an acting job springing from his horrifically dark self-deception.
967. The words “prowls around” are an interpretation of a form of περιπατέω (peripateo), which means to walk around. However, it is a compound of the preposition περί (peri) and πατέω (pateo). The preposition περί (peri) means around, as something that is encircling, while the word πατέω (pateo) means to walk. In context, it pictures a lion who has located his prey and is now encircling it before the final attack commences. In this illustration, Peter was informing us that just as a lion encircles a victim, tightening his circle closer and closer as he zeroes in on the prey, the devil likewise encircles those he wishes to devour. Just like a lion, he narrows the circle and comes closer, until he is ready to launch a full-scale operation against a victim. But Peter instructs us as believers to think wisely and soberly and to resist him!
968. The words “seriously searching and seeking” are interpreted from a form of ζητέω (zeteo), a word that means to passionately, seriously, and zealously seek. It portrays the idea of one who is attentive, busy, constant, hard-working, and persistent in what he is seeking. The use of this word emphatically means the devil is serious about his victimization of people, and he zealously seeks out those whom he finds to be devourable.
969 The words “for an exact prey or victim” are an interpretation of τινα (tina), which can be translated exactly whom, but implies that one person is not susceptible to attack, so he looks for another candidate that he finds to be devourable.
970. The words “devour to the point of slurping up everything that remains, until nothing is left of the victim at all” are a translation of a form of the word καταπίνω (katapino), which is a compound of the preposition κατά (kata) and the word πίνω (pino). The preposition κατά (kata) means down, and the word πίνω (pino) means to eat or to drink. As a compound, it means to devour or to eat, but it importantly pictures a lion that has so completely devoured its prey that nothing is left of the carcass of the animal, including the spilled juices. After consuming all the meat of the victim, the lion then proceeds to slurp up all the juices that remain until nothing at all is left of its prey. Peter used this illustration to alert us that the devil not only wants to attack, but his intention is to slurp up everything that remains of his victims until they are completely devoured and liquidated.
971. The words “intentionally and strategically make a plan by which you can resist” are from a form of αν̓ θίστημι (anthistemi), which means to stand against or to stand in opposition of, and it demonstrates the attitude of one who is fiercely opposed to something and therefore determines to do everything within his power to resist it. It means to defy or to withstand. Militarily, this word was used to depict a pre-planned resistance. Hence, this is not accidental resistance, but it indicates one who has intentionally arranged himself against, who strategically opposes, or who organizes an orderly and planned resistance.
972. The words “to bolster and reinforce yourself” are interpreted from a form of στερεός (stereos), which pictures a bolstering or reinforcing process that results in a person becoming so firm, solid, and steadfast that he becomes very difficult for an enemy to move or to push around. (Trump:) It must be noted that Greek writers used the term στερεός (stereos) to describe a fixed, well-established, immovable position of advantage. The word sits in the same semantic domain as ἵστημι (histemi) which means to set something in place that will not be moved. This word correlates to the Hebrew word קּום (koom), which most often signifies — particularly in the book of Genesis (e.g., Genesis 6:18; 9:11; 17:7) — the establishing of God’s immovable, unchanging covenant. In secular Greek, Homer employed στερεός (stereos) to convey this concept by saying, “Thou knowest how firm my spirit is and unyielding: I shall be as close as hard stone or iron.” Additionally, when writing to a young pastor Timothy about the sureness of God’s covenant promises, Paul said, “…The foundation of God standeth sure [altogether immovable — στερεός (stereos)]…” (see 2 Timothy 2:19).
973. The words “in faith (and in really knowing what you believe)” are a translation of τῇ πίστει (te pistei), which pictures one being strong in a rock-solid, unshakable faith but also lends itself to mean that one must be convinced to the core about what he believes because attacks may come to shake one’s faith. Bolstering and reinforcing one’s faith, and undergirding what he believes, makes him unshakable when attacks do come.
974. The words “continually know and never forget” are an interpretation of εἰδότες (eidotes), a continuous form of οἶδα (oida), which here denotes a truth that must be continually understood and not be forgotten or overlooked.
975. The words “physical distresses and mental and spiritual agonies” are interpreted from a form of πάθημα (pathema), a Greek word that describes deep physical distress or emotional agony, and it pictures one who undergoes suffering that is thrust upon him.
976. The words “coming against” are from a form of ἐπιτελέω (epiteleo), a compound of the preposition ἐπί (epi) and the word τελέω (teleo). In this case, the preposition ἐπί (epi) is an intensifier that means against, and the word τελέω (teleo) is derived from τέλος (telos), which pictures completeness, maturity, or perfection. The form Peter used in this verse portrays something that is trying to come against or to impose itself against the completeness, maturity, and perfection of fellow brethren in the world. Thus, Peter was reminding his readers that they are not alone in the assaults they are facing — other brethren in the world are also feeling the brunt of this opposition, as much is coming against them too.
977. The words “your brothers — the whole Christian family” are a translation of ὑμῶν ἀδελφότητι (humon adelphoteti). The word ὑμῶν (humon) means your and the word ἀδελφότητι (adelphoteti) is a derivative of ἀδελφός (adelphos), which is a term to describe two or more who were born from the same womb — thus, brothers. It later came to be used in a military sense to depict brothers in battle or comrades. But here it is plural, ἀδελφότητι (adelphoteti), and pictures a brotherhood. Although the female form is ἀδελφή (adelphe), here the word is ἀδελφότητι (adelphoteti), which includes all believers in Christ, male or female.
978. The words “throughout the world” are a translation of ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ (en to kosmo), which means throughout the world. But it should be noted that the word κόσμῳ (kosmo) in this verse is derived from the word κόσμος (kosmos), a word that is often used in the New Testament to convey the idea of society or a world order. In Second Corinthians 4:4, Paul wrote that Satan is the god of this “world” — the word “world” in that verse is also κόσμος (kosmos). It was Paul’s way of saying that Satan invisibly works in the systems of the world, which would include such systems as the courts, education, entertainment, government, medicine, politics, science, and so forth. In fact, when Peter was writing, it was the world order of that time that was coming against the Church and trying to halt the advancement of the Gospel. As it was true then, it is likewise true today that Satan works through world systems to oppose the Gospel message that has the power to set men free from the shackles that hold them captive.
