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e-pistle

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President            FreeWay Foundation           March 25, 2015

 

God exposes satan as "leviathan"

(Job 41:1-34)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on identifying "Leviathan"

            1.  Notice that "Leviathan" if 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)  Isaiah 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 wrote of "a viper . . . a fiery flying serpent," v.29.

                        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")

            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; II 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 11:14; he offers "all the 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.

 

 

 

 

Seek those things which are above

(Colossians 3:1-24)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on a believer's position in Christ

            1.  Believers have been raised with Christ to sit with Him at the place of

                 authority . . . "the right hand of God," v. 1.

            2.  Believers are to "set (focus) their minds on spiritual things, not on

                 physical things, v. 2.

            3.  Believers have absolute security because their lives are hidden with

                 Christ in God, v. 3.

            4.  Because Christ literally is the believer's life, they also will appear

                 with Him in glory, v. 4.

II.  Meditation:  on "taking off" and "putting on"

            1.  Remove (take off, get rid of):  (vv. 5, 8-9)

                        (1)  Fornication              (5)  Covetousness         (9)  Malice

                        (2)  Uncleanness            (6)  Idolatry                   (10)  Blasphemy

                        (3)  Passion                  (7)  Anger                      (11)  Filthy Language

                        (4)  Evil Desire              (8)  Wrath                      (12)  Lying

            2.  Receive (put on; cultivate):  (vv. 10, 12-15)

                        (1)  Knowledge              (5)  Kindness                 (9)  Tolerance

                        (2)  Holiness                  (6)  Humility                   (10)  Forgiveness

                        (3)  Acceptance             (7)  Meekness               (11)  Love

                        (4)  Tender Mercies        (8)  Long-suffering         (12)  Peace

III.  Revelation:  on the positive results of such a changed life

            1.  Spiritual edification and encouragement of each other, v. 16.

            2.  Worship, including singing with grace to the Lord, v. 16.

            3.  "Whatever you do . . . do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

                 give thanks," v. 17.

            4.  "Whatever you do . . . do it with your whole heart, as to the Lord

                 and not as unto men," v. 23.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Rejoice in my position of authority and security in Christ.

            2.  Focus my mind on spiritual things, allowing Christ to really "BE" my life.

            3.  Renounce sin and embrace righteousness in my daily living.

            4.  Worship God and serve others (with Thanksgiving) in the name of the

                 Lord and with my whole heart . . . as UNTO the Lord.

 

Remember this chorus?

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me;

All His power and passion and purity.

O Thou Spirit divine, All my nature refine

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

 

 

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