II Kings 9

Elisha sends a prophet to anoint Jehuverses 1-3

And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets

and said to him

Gird up your loins – and take this box of oil in your hand

and go to Ramoth-gilead – and when you come thither

look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat

the son of Nimshi – and go in

and make him arise up

from among his brethren

and carry him to an inner chamber

Then take the box of oil – and pour it on his head

and say

Thus says the LORD

I have anointed you king over Israel

Then open the door – and flee – and tarry not

Prophet gets Jehu apart from other soldiersverses 4-5

So the young man – even the young man the prophet

went to Ramoth-gilead

And when he came – BEHOLD

the captains of the host were sitting

and he said

I have an errand to you – O captain

And Jehu said

To which of all us?

And he said

To you – O captain

Prophet anoints Jehuverses 6-10

And he arose – and went into the house

and he poured the oil on his head

and said to him

Thus says the LORD God of Israel

I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD

even over Israel

You shall smite the house of Ahab your master

that I may avenge the blood of MY servants

the prophets – and the blood of all the

servants of the LORD

at the hand of Jezebel

For the whole house of Ahab shall perish

and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisses against

the wall – and him that is shut up and left

in Israel

and I will make the house of Ahab like the

house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat

and like the house of Baasha the son

of Ahijah

and the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel

and there shall be none to bury her

And he opened the door – and fled

Soldiers declare Jehu kingverses 11-13

Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord

and one said to him

Is all well?

Wherefore came this mad fellow to you?

And he said to them

You know the man – and his communication

And they said

It is false – tell us now

And he said

Thus and thus spoke he to me

saying

Thus says the LORD

I have anointed you king over Israel

Then they hasted – and took every man his garment

and put it under him on the top of the stairs

and blew with trumpets

saying

Jehu is king

Jehu tells his soldiers not to let word get outverses 14-15

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi

conspired against Joram

(now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead

he and all Israel

because of Hazael king of Syria

but king Joram was returned to be

healed in Jezreel of the wounds which

the Syrians had given him

when he fought with Hazael king of Syria)

And Jehu

said

IF it be your minds

THEN let none go forth nor escape out of the city

to go to tell it in Jezreel

King Joram concerned about Jehuverses 16-20

So Jehu rode in a chariot – and went to Jezreel – for Joram lay there

and Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram

and there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel

and he spied the company of Jehu as he came

and said

I see a company

And Joram said

Take an horseman and send to meet them – and let him say

Is it peace?

So there went one on horseback to meet him – and said,

“Thus says the king – Is it peace?”

And Jehu said

What have you to do with peace?

turn you behind me

And the watchman told

saying

The messenger came to them

but he come not again

Then he sent out a second on horseback – which came to them

and said

Thus say the king – Is it peace?

And Jehu answered

What have you to do with peace?

turn you behind me

And the watchman told

saying

He came even to them – and come not again

and the driving is like

the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi

For he drives furiously

King Joram went out to meet Jehuverses 21-22

And Joram said

Make ready

and his chariot was made ready

And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out

each in his chariot

and they went out against Jehu

and met him in the portion of

Naboth the Jezreelite

And it came to pass – when Joram saw Jehu

that he said

Is it peace – Jehu?

And he

answered

What peace – so long as the whoredoms of your mother Jezebel

and her witchcrafts are so many?

King Joram tries to run from Jehuverses 23-24

And Joram turned his hands – and fled

and said to Ahaziah

There is treachery – O Ahaziah

And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength

and smote Jehoram between his arms

and the arrow went out at his heart

and he sunk down in his chariot

King Joram dies in field of Nabothverses 25-26

Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain

Take up – and cast him in the portion of

the field of Naboth the Jezreelite

For remember how that

when I and you rode together after

Ahab his father

the LORD laid this burden on him

Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth

and the blood of his sons – said the LORD

and I will requite you in this plat

said the LORD

Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground

according to the word of the LORD

King Ahaziah of Judah killedverses 27-29

But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this

he fled by the way of the garden house

And Jehu followed after him

and said

Smite him also in the chariot

And they did so at the going up to Gur – which is by Ibleam

and he fled to Megiddo – and died there

And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem

and buried him in his sepulcher with his fathers

in the city of David

and in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began

Ahaziah to reign over Judah

Jezebel prepares for Jehuverses 30-31

And when Jehu was come to Jezreel

Jezebel heard of it – and she painted her face

and tired her head

and looked out at a window

and as Jehu entered in at the gate – she said

Had Zimri peace – who slew his master?

Jehu commands Jezebel to be thrown downverses 32-33

And he lifted up his face to the window

and said

Who is on my side? Who?

And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs

and he said

Throw her down

So they threw her down

and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall

and on the horses – and he trode her under foot

Jehu wants Jezebel buriedverses 34-35

And when he was come in – he did eat and drink

and said

Go – see now this cursed woman – and bury her

for she is a king’s daughter

And they went to bury her

but they found no more of her than the

skull – feet – palms of her hands

Prophecy of the LORD fulfilled regarding Jezebelverses 36-37

Wherefore they came again – and told him

and he said

This is the word of the LORD – which HE spoke by HIS servant

Elijah the Tishbite – saying

In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs

eat the flesh of Jezebel

And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon

the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel

so that they shall not say

This is Jezebel

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 7 And you shall smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. (5358 “avenge” [naqam] means to grudge, punish, revenge, or take vengeance)

DEVOTION: The Bible tells us that we are to leave vengeance to the LORD. The LORD is the one who is responsible for our enemies. The LORD will deal with them. HE has a good memory. HE doesn’t have to have things happen in our time frame. HE is long-suffering. HE is gracious. HIS judgment is sure.

Sometimes bad things happen but the LORD is in control. Jezebel had killed HIS prophets. Jezebel had killed HIS followers. She did evil in the sight of the LORD. She brought the worship of Baal to Israel. She threatened Elijah. He ran. He was spared.

Now we have Elisha as the prophet of the LORD. He had Jehu anointed king of Israel. The LORD gave Jehu the assignment to kill of the descendants of Ahab. Ahab was spared but his descendants were going to be killed by Jehu.

We would like the LORD to take vengeance right away on those who hurt us. We are not to take vengeance ourselves on those who mistreat us or lie about us. It is hard to wait on the LORD’S timing but HE is always right in HIS timing.

Here we see the LORD doing what HE said he would do by the word of Elijah. It took HIM many years but HE kept HIS word. HE will do it today for us.

We need to wait on HIM regarding people who mistreat us. Are we willing to wait for HIS timing and not grow bitter waiting? We face trials to improve our relationship with the LORD. Trials cause us to become more dependent on HIM and not on ourselves. If we don’t become more dependent on HIM, we will turn bitter toward our enemies. Let’s depend on the LORD!!!

CHALLENGE: Patience is a virtue the LORD wants in all of HIS servants. Wait on the LORD!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? (3785 “witchcrafts’ means sorcery, incantations, the art of sorcery, black magic, the acts of obtaining powers from spirits, often with the associative meanings of rebellion and seductive false religion)

DEVOTION: Jehu knew what was right and wrong regarding the religion of Israel. He knew that idolatry and witchcraft were wrong but he didn’t do anything about it until he was anointed king.

Too often we know something is wrong with the worship that is going on in our world. We don’t say too much because we are afraid of hurting people that we love. We want to get along as long as we can. This means that if we are not confronted concerning our belief regarding some practices of those around us we can get away with it but there comes a time when we are asked what we believe regarding certain things.

Jehu knew what was wrong and now had an opportunity to say something about his beliefs. So he stated it to the king when he knew that the LORD had anointed him to be king.

We have the power given to us of the LORD to face those who are worshiping in a wrong manner and confront them regarding their false worship. Many people try to please the world and their beliefs and the LORD and HIS standard. It doesn’t work well for our testimony.

If we know that something is wrong we need to speak the truth in love to our friends, relatives and fellow church members. Compromise is not the answer to having genuine worship of the LORD.

False worship spreads faster than true worship of the LORD because to worship the LORD in spirit and in truth takes a lot of work each day with the help of the Holy Spirit who gives us strength to fight sin in our life.

CHALLENGE: False worship is sin!!!

: 26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, say the LORD; and I will requite you in this plat, says the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD. (7999 “requite” [shalam] means to be completed, be finished, fulfill, casue to fulfill, recompense, restore, restitution, or to be completed)

DEVOTION: God does things in HIS timing not in ours. HE waited to revenge the blood of Naboth that Jezebel worked out with a letter that she signed her husband’s name to for the execution of Naboth under false charges.

The LORD is patient. HE knows when things should happen according to HIS plan. HE make take years to right a wrong done to a believer but HE will make sure that those who sin against one HIS children or against those who are Christians will understand that they have done wrong and have not gotten away with it.

Vengeance is the LORD. HE does it in HIS timing and in HIS way. We should not be looking for vengeance in our own power. We need to wait on the LORD. HIS timing is always perfect.

Today we have many groups that are against the LORD and HIS true church. The true church is the one that is preaching and teaching the Word of God alone. Not man’s wisdom but God’s wisdom for all those who are believers to live by.

Too many sermons in places that are called the “church” are not even from the Word of God. The message from the pulpits of more churches than are preaching the truth of the Word of God are spreading false teachings.

We sometimes wonder why the LORD doesn’t strike those who preach false doctrine are not killed on the spot but the LORD is longsuffering. It is something that we have to learn because our personal feelings seem to want to have it happen immediately.

CHALLENGE: Waiting on the LORD is something we are commanded to do. God is patient. HE will give everyone an opportunity to become a follow of HIM even though HE knows most will not!

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. (6320 “painted” [puwk] means glistering, fair colors, to spread a paste or aromatic cream, to apply to a surface, as of makeup, or eye cosmetic)

DEVOTION: Exterior appearance is not important to the LORD. HE looks at the heart of people to see what they are really like. It is the interior that the LORD always looks at to make HIS judgment.

We have a tendency to think that if we look good on the outside people will be impressed with us and think that we have our act together. They will think that they can follow us because they see that we seem to know what we are doing in relation to the LORD. This is the wrong way to judge people.

We need to ask the LORD to help us discern what is going on internally with those we call friends. The outward appearance can cause us to be envious of someone who seems to have the clothes and the external appearance that attracts others to themselves.

As believers we need to watch out for this form of judgment. We all seem to want to be around people who have an external beauty and possessions. This is not what the LORD looks at or for in HIS servants.

Jezebel thought that if she looked out the window all dressed up and made up that Jehu would think she was something but she was wrong. Her external looks didn’t impress him. He asked who was for him and asked them to throw her out the window. There were willing takers.

Don’t get deceived by external appearances of those we want as friends. Look at what is going on in their hearts. If they want to take you away from the LORD avoid them. If they want to serve the LORD with a genuine heart you can have them as your friends because they will challenge you to be a better servant of the LORD.

CHALLENGE: The world wants us to be worldly and so do some of those who want to be our friends.

: 36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, ‘This is the word of the LORD, which HE spoke by HIS servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel” (5650 “servant” [‘ebed] means slave, subject, worshiper, subordinate, subject, mark of humility and courtesy, minister or bondman)

DEVOTION: Elijah was taken up to heaven but the people remembered his prophecy regarding the future of Jezebel.

The LORD is long-suffering regarding HIS judgment. HE is not one to forgive someone who is not willing to repent. She never repented of her actions, in fact, even when her son was killed by this former commander, she would fix herself up to see if she could influence him.

She had killed a man to get a field next to the palace. She had lied and send a note in the name of her husband to have the man killed for the field. Well, she did get him killed but the in the end she was to see her family killed and left for dead in that same field as a judgment from the LORD.

When God makes a statement regarding judgment it is going to happen just as HE states it. It might take a while but it will always come true. This means that the judgment HE has proclaimed on all those who have rejected HIS Son Jesus Christ will come true in the future.

HE is still long-suffering and states that HE is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance means that everyone has an opportunity to become a believer based on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Those who reject HIM will not find their names written in the Book of Life that is opened at the Great White Throne Judgment. On the basis of their decision to reject Jesus Christ they will spend eternity in the lake of fire.

CHALLENGE: Never doubt that the LORD will keep HIS word regarding those who deserve HIS judgment for their treatment of HIS servants.

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 3, 6, 7, 12, 25, 26, 36

God – Elohim (Creator)verse 6

LORD God of Israelverse 6

People of the LORDverse 6

Servants of the LORDverse 7

Word of the LORDverses 26, 36

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Hazael – king of Syriaverses 14, 15

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Killing prophets of the LORDverse 7

Falseverse 12

Conspiredverse 14

Whoredomsverse 22

Witchcraftsverse 22

Treacheryverse 23

Cursedverse 34

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Prophetverses 1, 4

Anointverses 3, 6, 12

Avengeverse 7

Servantsverse 7

Peaceverse 22

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Elishaverse 1

Sent one of the children of prophets

One of children of the prophetverses 1-9

Ramoth-gilead

Jehu – son of Jehoshaphat

Anoint him

Anointing Jehu king of Israelverses 3-31

Kill the house of Ahab

Told other solders

People of the LORDverse 6

House of Ahabverse 7

To be killed

Avenge blood of God’s servants

Jezebelverses 7, 10, 22, 30-37

Doges shall eat her

Witchcrafts

Looking out of window at Jehu

Thrown down from window

Jeroboam – the son of Nebatverse 9

Baasha the son of Ahijahverse 9

Joram – king of Israelverses 14-26

Home healing from wounds

Sent someone to see if Jehu came in peace

Eleventh year

Ahaziah – king of Judahverses 16-29

Fled away

Died in Megiddo

Carried to Jerusalem

Naboth the Jezreeliteverses 21, 25, 26

Whose portion of land was taken by Jezebel

Jehoramverse 24

Bidkar – captain of Jehuverse 25

Ahabverse 26

Davidverse 28

Elijah the Tishbiteverse 36

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

9:11–13 What has been done in secret now moves quickly into the public arena. Jehu’s “fellow officers” anxiously inquire about the prophet’s message. Such an odd visitation could easily have disrupted the camp and troubled the soldiers.⁸⁴ At first Jehu dodges their question by calling the messenger a madman. Pressed for an answer, Jehu tells all and receives immediate, enthusiastic support. At least a certain segment of the military wants him to overthrow Joram. He is declared king, but he has much to do for the proclamation to be more than wasted breath.

For now Elisha fades from the scene. He will emerge again later, but the bulk of his work the author chooses to describe is over. Elisha has protected the company of the prophets, the widow and her family, and even the nation itself. He has modeled the Lord’s grace by healing Naaman and has convinced Naaman that there are no other gods. Elisha has demonstrated the Lord’s sovereignty over political affairs in Judah, Israel, and Syria. He has concluded the ministry of his mentor, Elijah. Without question he has proved a more-than-worthy successor to his master. (House, P. R. (1995). 1, 2 Kings (Vol. 8, p. 287). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

9:11–13. The officer’s calling the prophet a madman probably refers to the prophet’s behavior in running away so quickly (v. 10). Jehu tried to change the subject when his friends asked him what the prophet had said. He implied that his companions knew the prophet was a little odd. Perhaps the young man’s clothing identified him as a prophet. Jehu’s friends would not be put off, however. Sensing that the prophet’s mission was important, they wanted to know what had happened. So Jehu explained that the prophet had anointed him king over Israel. Immediately the officers arranged a little ceremony (cf. 1 Kings 16:16). They spread their cloaks … under him on the bare steps.… blew the trumpet, and shouted, Jehu is king! These were customary rituals for announcing a king (cf. 2 Sam. 15:10; 1 Kings 1:34, 39; Matt. 21:7–9). (Constable, T. L. (1985). 2 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 555). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

9:11 this mad fellow. The soldier demonstrated his disdain for Elisha’s servant (vv. 1, 4) by referring to him as crazy or demented. In Jer 29:26 and Hos 9:7 this same term was used as a derogatory term for prophets whose messages were considered crazy. Jehu’s response referred to the prophet’s “babble,” not his behavior. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Ki 9:11). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

Ver. 11. Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord, &c.] The rest of the captains of the army, who served under Joram as he did: and one said unto him, is all well? one of the captains, the greatest of them, as Kimchi; he inquired whether he brought any ill news, since he came and went in such haste: wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? so profane men, especially the worshippers of Baal, as those captains might be, were wont to call the prophets of the Lord, because of their habit, their manner of living, and the gestures they sometimes used in prophesying, and especially because of the things they prophesied of; and even prophets were sometimes called so, because, in the time of their prophesying, they appeared as madmen, and in a phrensy: and he said unto them, ye know the man, and his communication; you saw by his habit of what profession he is, and you may easily guess what he talked of, as such men usually do, about religion, and one whimsical thing or another, reproving men for their sins, and telling them what they ought to do; and such-like things you may well imagine he has been talking of to me; you rightly call him a mad fellow, and you may well suppose his discourse was agreeably to his character, and not worth relating and hearing; this he said, to put them off inquiring any further. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 799). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

The “servant” was not a free man. He was subject to the will and command of his master. But one might willingly and lovingly submit to his master (Exod. 21:5), remaining in his service when he was not obliged to do so. Hence it is a very fitting description of the relationship of man to God.

The Septuagint translates ˓abad and its nouns by 7 different Greek roots that give more specific meanings to the term. Through these the basic uses of ˓abad come into the New Testament. Notable is Jesus’ fulfillment of the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah: “That signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus (Acts 4:30; rsv, nasb, niv, “servant Jesus”); and another important use is Paul’s personal use of “a servant of Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:1; kjv, rsv, niv; but more precisely, “bond servant” in nasb). (Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.)

Eternal Things
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

One of the most difficult handicaps for a Christian to overcome is spiritual nearsightedness. It is easy to see temporal things but hard to think on eternal things.

Paul, however, in the midst of an extremely busy and difficult temporal life, somehow did manage to keep his sights on that eternal life to which he was called. The wonderful redemption that Christ purchased for us with His blood is nothing less than “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12); and therefore “he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). Consequently, as joint-heirs with Him, “they which are called . . . receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). He is, surely, the “God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus” (1 Peter 5:10) and has there provided for us “everlasting habitations” (Luke 16:9).

All of these eternal things—eternal redemption, eternal salvation, eternal inheritance, eternal habitations, and eternal glory—are of infinitely greater value than the temporal things that crowd our minds and limit our goals. They are all a part of the wonderful eternal life we have already received through faith in Christ. It is significant that the phrase “eternal life” (or “everlasting life,” which is the same Greek phrase) occurs no less than 44 times in the New Testament. God speaks of it often, and so should we!

The very first eternal thing mentioned in the Bible is the “everlasting covenant” God has made with all men (Genesis 9:16). The last is the “everlasting gospel” to be preached to all men (Revelation 14:6). (HMM (Institute for Creation Research)

Joshua 1

The people pledge their allegiance to Joshua’s leadership.

INSIGHT

The genius of God’s moral code is that everything He requires of us is for our own good. When we violate His code of life, we suffer harmful consequences.

Joshua’s success is dependent upon not deviating from God’s Law. God instructs Joshua to meditate on the Law day and night so “that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it” (1:8). When Joshua does according “to all that is written in it,” then “[he] will make your way prosperous, and then [he] will have good success.”

Anything less than obedience to God is not only disappointing to Him-it is self-destructive. There is more than one reason for faithfulness to His Word.(Quiet Walk)

NO OTHER PERSON

There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
The New Testament says that the most important question that we must face is that of Jesus Christ; for, it tells us, our life in this world here and now, the whole meaning of death, and indeed our life throughout eternity depends entirely and solely upon our answer to this question: “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” The New Testament does not hesitate to say that. Listen to the apostle Peter saying it unequivocally in one of his first recorded sermons: “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)—this name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now that is a dogmatic assertion, I agree, but there is no more dogmatic book in the world than the New Testament. It never comes and says, “You have read many other books and been interested in their theories—now read me and see what you make of me. Perhaps you will find me more interesting than the others.” No; rather, it makes a definite pronouncement. Here, it tells us, is the only way for men and women to know God and to be reconciled to Him. Here is the only way whereby they can be delivered from the thralldom and the serfdom of life in this world and from its sin and its evil. Here is the only way whereby they can be delivered forever from the fear of death and the grave. And here, says the New Testament, is the one and only way in which men and women can avoid spending eternity in a state of misery and wretchedness and torment. That is its statement, nothing less. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). It is one or the other; everything is dependent upon this person.
A Thought to Ponder
There is no more dogmatic book in the world than the New Testament.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 12-13, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

Bruising the Devil
“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” (Romans 16:20)
This is an intriguing promise, suggesting that believers can somehow inflict bruises on the devil, who is perpetually seeking to “devour” them (1 Peter 5:8). This promise is a clear allusion to the primeval assurance of Genesis 3:15, when God promised that the unique “seed” of “the woman” would eventually “bruise” (actually “crush”) the head of the old serpent, the devil. This prophecy will finally be fulfilled in Christ’s ultimate victory, when Satan first will be bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit and then confined forever in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:2, 10).
In the meantime believers, who also in a sense are the woman’s spiritual “seed” (Revelation 12:17), can repeatedly achieve local and temporary victories over Satan and his wiles by resisting him “stedfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9). If we resist him as Jesus did with relevant Scripture, then God promises that he will “flee from you” (James 4:7). Such local victories can be obtained over these dangerous teachers whom Satan is using (note Romans 16:17-19, just preceding today’s text) “shortly” in this manner, but we need to be continually alert against his recurrent attacks. The ultimate victory over Satan, of course, will be won only by the Lord Jesus when He returns, and we must “be sober, be vigilant” (1 Peter 5:8) until that time.
Whether we are aware of it or not, we must perpetually “wrestle…against the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12), who will be casting “fiery darts” (v. 16) against each believer. Finally, with the sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God (v. 17), we can even by God’s grace inflict spiritual wounds on Satan himself!

(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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