E-pistle for August 8, 2007
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation August 8, 2007
God Exposes Satan as "Leviathan"
(Job 41:1-34)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on identifying "Leviathan"
1. Notice that "Leviathan" is capitalized as a proper name, whereas,
"the behemoth" (Job 40:15) is a generic name, as are all the other
animals named in chapter 39.
2. "Leviathan" is given an entire chapter (34 verses), more than all the
animals in chapter 39 combined (33 verses), and triple the number of
verses used to describe "the behemoth" (10 verses).
3. "Leviathan" is mentioned elsewhere in the Scripture:
(1) Job cited "Leviathan" as associated with a curse, Job 3:8.
(Compare this verse with Genesis 3:1-19)
(2) The Psalmist wrote of God defeating ("breaking the heads") of
sea serpents . . . of "Leviathan," Psalm 74:13-14; Genesis 3:15;
again "Leviathan" is identified as a sea serpent in Psalm 104:25-26.
(3) Isiah wrote of the Lord punishing and slaying with His severe,
great, strong sword the fleeing and twisted serpent named "Leviathan,"
Isaiah 27:1; Revelation 1:16; 19:15.
Most Bible Scholars identify Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-15) as Satan; later
in that same chapter Isaiah write of "a viper . . . a fiery flying serpent,"
v. 29.
(4) John wrote about "the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil
and Satan," Revelation 20:2.
4. "Leviathan" according to the words of the Lord God Himself, is more than a
crocodile, a whale, a dinosaur, or a constellation of stars (all suggestions
which have been made by Bible scholars to explain this fantastic creature):
God said: "Out of his mouth go burning lights; sparks of fire shoot out.
Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth," vv. 19-21.
II. Meditation: on God's purposes in discussing "Leviathan"
1. Satan was introduced in Job 1-2 as the one who brought all the loss, death,
and suffering into Job's life; here in chapter 41, God pulled back the veil
covering the spiritual realm to reveal to Job the real source of all his troubles
and misery.
2. Job (or his biographer who authored this book) knew by divine revelation the
events which occurred in heaven, as recorded in chapters 1 and 2; chapter 41
discloses, also by divine revelation, the ultimate defeat and "caging" of
Satan which allowed Job's restoration and blessing as seen in chapter 42.
3. In this chapter (Job 41), the Lord emphasized man's weakness as compared
with the super-human strength of "Leviathan", who can be controlled and
defeated only by Almighty God, vv. 10-11.
4. God here vividly and graphically portrayed Satan's true malevolent nature;
an ugly, evil monster with a heart of stone, v. 24.
III. Revelation: on pride . . . the basic sin of Satan (Leviathan) vv. 33-34
1. "On earth there is nothing like him," v. 33 . . . "Now the serpent was more
cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made,"
Genesis 3:1. (See Revelation 12:9)
2. "Which (Leviathan) is made without fear," v. 33; even the other angels of
God, who are greater in power and might than mortal man, are cautious
when confronting Satan and his fallen angels, II Peter 2:4, 11; Jude 9.
3. "He beholds every high thing," v. 34; Lucifer attempted to exalt his throne
above God's, Isaiah 14:13-14; he continues to tempt people to sin by
appealing to the pride of life, I John 2:16 (See I Timothy 3:6).
4. "He is king over all the children of pride," v. 34; Satan is called the "ruler
of this world," John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; he is called the "god of this age,"
II Corinthians 4:4; he offers "all kingdoms of the world and their glory,"
to those who will bow down and worship him, Matthew 4:8-9.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Cultivate spiritual perception ("be sober and vigilant") so that I may
recognize Satan even though he comes disguised as an angel of light,
I Peter 5:8; II Corinthians 11:14.
2. Put on the armor of God so that I can stand and fight against the wiles
of the devil, Ephesians 6:10-18.
3. Control my temper, so that I do not give place to the devil, Ephesians 4:26-27.
4. Resist the devil, so that he will flee from me, James 4:7.
Jonah Pouts Over God's Mercy
(Jonah 4:1-11)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on what the Lord God prepared for Jonah
1. "The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah," 1:17.
2. "The Lord prepared a plant . . . that it might be shade," 4:6.
3. "God prepared a worm . . .damaged the plant . . . withered," 4:7.
4. "God prepared a vehement east wind . . . sun beat on head," 4:8
II. Meditation: on the spiritual applications seen here
1. God used the fish to teach Jonah obedience, and to provide him
deliverance from death.
2. God used the plant to teach Jonah spiritual values, and to provide
providential care for human need.
3. God used the worm to teach Jonah that human pleasures are
temporary, and to provide a spiritual test.
4. God used the wind to teach Jonah that God is in control, and to
provide discomfort so Jonah would establish God's perspective
as his own.
III. Revelation: on Jonah's bad attitude . . . "I'll do it, but"
1. I'll do it, BUT I DON'T WANT TO.
2. I'll do it, BUT GOD IS MAKING A SERIOUS MISTAKE.
3. I'll do it, BUT THESE PEOPLE DON'T DESERVE MERCY AND GRACE.
4. I'll do it, BUT IT MAKES ME VERY ANGRY.
5. I'll do it, BUT WITH A NASTY, HARSH, CONDEMNING SPIRIT.
6. I'll do it, BUT I'D RATHER BE DEAD.
7. I'll do it, BUT I HOPE IT DOESN'T WORK.
8. I'll do it, BUT IT'LL RUIN MY REPUTATION (MAKE ME LOOK FOOLISH).
9. I'll do it, BUT I COULD BE DOING SOMETHING MORE PRODUCTIVE ELSEWHERE.
(See II Kings 14L25 – a prophet in Israel during Jeroboam's reign).
10. I'll do it, BUT NOT MOTIVATED BY COMPASSIONATE LOVE.
11. I'll do it, BUT IT WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING PERMANENTLY.
12. I'll do it, BUT I REFUSE TO LEARN A SPIRITUAL LESSON FROM IT.
IV. Applications: on the fish, the plant, the worm, and the wind . . .
1. God has a purpose for every person's life but we often get into trouble
by disobedience until the only hope of deliverance is God's miraculous
power. The fish says, "JESUS SAVES."
2. We should not be exceedingly joyful over life's fleeting pleasures,
not suicidally depressed over disappointments . . . because "life is not
fair!" Remember: GOD IS IN CONTROL. The plant says, "GOD PROVIDES."
3. Just as a small worm can kill a thriving plant, so a "small" bad attitude
(pride, prejudice, self-pity, apathy) can ruin our faithfulness as God's
spiritual plants. The worm says "SATAN DESTROYS."
4. God sends (or allows) problems to come into our lives to discipline us,
to teach us true priorities, to humble us, and to draw us unto Himself.
The wind says, "THE HOLY SPIRIT DISCIPLINES AND TEACHES."
George Moore: "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs
and returns home to find it."
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