Homilist Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.… We have here a highly figurative representation of the Eternal and His spiritual kingdom. And a remarkable meeting of the great God and some of His intelligent creatures. The passage teaches concerning Satan — I. THAT HE HAS A PERSONAL EXISTENCE. Acting as a person, he "goes to and fro in the earth." 1. The personality of his existence is suggested by reason. (1) As there are existences gradually sinking beneath man down to nothing, so there may be intelligent beings existing above man, up to the highest point of creatureship. (2) As men have fallen and become rebels against God, there is nothing improbable in the supposition that there are beings above man who have done the same. (3) As the fallen amongst men become the tempters of others, and this in proportion to their depravity and power, it is very probable that amongst the fallen ones above us there are leaders in wickedness. Because of this natural probability, almost all peoples in all lands have believed in an arch-fiend, a malignant "god of this world." 2. The personality of his existence is confirmed by human history. It is almost impossible to account for the absurdities which men entertain, and the enormities which they perpetrate, without going up to some foul spirit who blinds the eyes and flames the passions of men. 3. The personality of his existence is declared in the Bible (Matthew 4:3; John 8:44; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 12:10, etc.). He is called by different names, Satan, Devil, Old Serpent, Prince of the Power of the Air, Beelzebub, Dragon, etc. II. HE IS AN INTRUDER INTO THE SACRED (1 Kings 22:19-23; Matthew 4:3). Wherever the sons of the Almighty assemble, Satan is amongst them; he is there to bias the intellect, and to pollute the feelings. III. HE IS AMENABLE TO THE ETERNAL. Jehovah asks him concerning his movements, and concerning his opinions. IV. HE IS A VAGRANT IN THE UNIVERSE. Going to and fro implies — 1. Homelessness. 2. Zealousness. V. HE IS A SLANDERER OF THE GOOD. He slanders man to God, and he slanders God to man. He is diabolus, breaking the harmony of God's moral universe by slander. VI. HE IS A SLAVE OF THE INFINITE. He can only act by permission. God uses him as His instrument. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. |
    |