Topical Bible: The Devil: Character of Cowardly

◄ The Devil: Character of Cowardly ►

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The Devil, also known as Satan, is depicted throughout the Bible as a being of immense cunning and deceit, yet his character is marked by cowardice. This trait is evident in his methods and interactions with humanity and God.

1. Avoidance of Direct Confrontation: The Devil often employs deception and manipulation rather than direct confrontation. In the Garden of Eden, he approached Eve in the form of a serpent, subtly questioning God's command rather than openly challenging it (Genesis 3:1-5). This indirect approach highlights his reluctance to face God’s authority head-on.

2. Fleeing from Resistance: James 4:7 instructs believers, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This verse underscores the Devil's cowardice, as he retreats when met with firm resistance from those who stand in God's strength. His power is limited, and he cannot withstand the authority of God exercised through faithful believers.

3. Preying on the Vulnerable: The Devil targets those who are weak or isolated, as seen in his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He approached Jesus after forty days of fasting, attempting to exploit His physical weakness. However, when Jesus rebuked him with Scripture, the Devil departed, unable to withstand the truth and authority of God's Word.

4. Fear of Judgment: The Devil is aware of his ultimate fate and fears the judgment to come. Revelation 12:12 states, "Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." His fury is rooted in fear, knowing that his defeat is certain and his time is limited.

5. Seeking to Devour but Avoiding Direct Battle: 1 Peter 5:8 describes the Devil as a "roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Yet, like a lion, he seeks the opportune moment to attack, often avoiding those who are spiritually vigilant and protected by faith. His roar is more about intimidation than actual power, revealing his cowardly nature.

6. Manipulation through Lies: Jesus identifies the Devil as "a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). His reliance on lies rather than truth is a testament to his cowardice, as he cannot stand in the light of truth and must resort to falsehoods to achieve his ends.

The Devil's cowardly character is a consistent theme in Scripture, revealing a being who, despite his malevolent intentions, is ultimately weak and fearful in the face of God's power and truth.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Objections from the Revelation and the First Epistle of St. John ...
... through the baptism of truth from each character, [935] and ... so has subjoined: "But
to the cowardly, and unbelieving ... who doeth sin is of the devil, inasmuch as ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter xix objections from the revelation.htm

St. Peter
... that without his Lord he might become cowardly and helpless ... and give place to Satan
the Devil, that he ... thorough and complete change in his character, and made ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xviii st peter.htm

The Seventh Beatitude
... and seek after it in the cowardly fashion of ... to notice that the climax of Christian
character, according to ... the multitude below, and frees the devil-ridden boy ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the seventh beatitude.htm

The Armour of God
... lawyers' quibbles, fighting like the barbarians, cowardly and afar ... men of both sides
of God's character; for both ... the world, the flesh, and the devil with the ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xi the armour of god.htm

Peter's Denial and Repentance.
... It was a cowardly lie, even more cowardly than common ... been asked at what point of
Peter's character the vulnerable ... But the devil who was sifting him had a much ...
/.../xviii peters denial and repentance.htm

The Yoke of Christ.
... from the world, the flesh, and the devil, to circumcise ... for the spoiler or defrauder;
he is cowardly and narrow ... Yet such is the character of which Christ gave ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon viii the yoke of.htm

Hazael
... of the dog in you, or of the devil, if you ... to grow up to manhood with a fairly unspotted
character; a few ... nothing to look forward to, and it is cowardly to give ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/hazael.htm

The Two Sons.
... more subtle or more successful wile of the devil than this ... first son was bold,
unblushing rebellion; the character of the second was cowardly, false pretence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/x the two sons.htm

The Peter of History and the Peter of Fiction.
... he was the first to withdraw from them in cowardly fear of ... No character of the Bible,
we may say, no personage in ... is traced to a deceptive vision of the devil. ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 26 the peter of.htm

Friendship; Or, David and Jonathan
... can be true friends; mean and cowardly men can ... battle against the world, the flesh,
and the devil. ... fault with them, and blackening their character, and showing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon v friendship or david.htm