1 Kings 22:19-23
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ” ‘By what means?’ the LORD asked. ” ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. ” ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you!”
In order to have a correct view of Scripture truths, we must consider particularly the style in which the Scriptures are written. Scriptures are accommodated to the weak apprehensions of fallen man. Hence in various descriptions of God, he is represented as having eyes and ears and hands, and as deliberating and acting according to circumstances, just as if he were a man like unto us. But we must not therefore conceive of him as a man, but only as ordering his dispensations towards us with unerring wisdom.
In like manner he is represented in the text as holding a conference with Satan, and as adopting a plan proposed by him for the effecting of purposes originating with himself. But we must not therefore suppose that God did not know how to effect his own purposes without any help from Satan; we must only understand that God overruled the devices of that wicked fiend for the accomplishment of his own will.
Indeed the particular representation here given, has an evident reference to what had actually taken place between the two confederate kings. They had put on their royal robes, and seated themselves on thrones in the midst of all their courtiers verse 10, in order to receive the counsel of the prophets respecting the projected war; and, agreeably to that, the prophet represents God as enthroned amidst all the heavenly hosts, and holding a counsel with them about the best method of inflicting on Ahab his deserved punishment. It is not intended that we should construe this literally, as if all these questions and answers were really uttered by the different parties in a public assembly; but merely that God determined to make the designs of Ahab the means of his destruction.
There is however one point which may obviously be collected from this account, namely, the power of Satan to deceive men; and it will form a very profitable subject for our present consideration. Let us then inquire into,
I. The sources of Satan’s power.
Satan has from the beginning been the great deceiver of mankind. Whence has Satan this power to deceive? We answer,
1. From his having so many other evil spirits under his command.
The fallen angels are many in number, and so numerous, that one single person possessed by devils called Himself “Legion,” because of the exceeding greatness of the number that dwelt within him. Of these there are different ranks and orders, just as there are of the good angels; and they are all united under one head, even “Beelzebub, the prince of the devils.”
Of Ahab’s prophets there were four hundred; and, through the influence of one spirit, they were all possessed by spirits perfectly united with each other for the accomplishment of one end. Now this gives them an immense advantage. Had there been but one, or only a few, we might have hoped to escape their notice, or be visited by them but seldom; but there is reason to believe that they are immensely more numerous than the human race, so that there is not a human being that is not infested with them, nor a moment of time when they are not ready to take advantage of us.
2. From his wisdom and subtlety.
“The serpent was the most subtle of the brute creation,” and was therefore made use of by Satan as an instrument whereby to deceive our first parents; and in reference to that event, Satan is called “that old serpent, the Devil! Revelation 12:9.” Of his subtlety there is much spoken in the Holy Scriptures. Like a fowler he spreads his net, and “takes men alive in his snare! 2 Timothy 2:26.” So deep are his “wiles” and “devices,” that no human wisdom can fathom them, no human sagacity escape them. As a spirit, he is a utter intelligence, like the holy angels, disrobed indeed of his holiness, but not of his intellectual powers. He knows what is suited to the dispositions of men, and what is most likely to prevail with them under all the circumstances wherein they are placed. In his assaults on our blessed Lord, he seized the moment most favorable for his purpose, and urged the temptations most likely to prevail. It is reasonable to suppose that the experience of six thousand years has contributed not a little to his proficiency and advancement in every species of deceit.
3. From his easy access to the minds of men.
A material being would have found difficulty in presenting himself to men on many occasions; but an immaterial or spiritual being finds no obstacles, except what arise from the internal principles of those whom he would assault. He has access to one as well as another at all times. What an immense advantage does this give him! Indeed, if it were not that we have good angels also attendant on us and ministering unto us, and, above all, that we have the Spirit of the living God continually dwelling in us for the express purpose of counteracting and defeating his influence—we could have no hope whatever of escaping from his toils.
4. From the number and influence of his confederates.
There is not a wicked man in the universe who is not actuated by him, and made subservient to his designs; from all of them therefore he derives much support; but especially from those whose situation in life gives them greater sway over the public mind. If he can prevail on a prince or monarch to exert his influence, he will gain a rapid ascendency over a whole kingdom. The instant that Jeroboam set up his golden calves, the whole people of Israel “willingly ran after his commandment.” If he can prevail on those in the prophetic office to sanction error by their preaching, or iniquity by their conduct, he will easily draw in their train the great mass of their followers.
The text shows us how the united testimony of four hundred prophets deceived even the pious Jehoshaphat; and the more pretensions to piety such prophets make, the more useful to Satan will their labors be; since he never exerts himself with more effect than when he “transforms himself into an angel of light! 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.”
5. From the willingness of men to be deceived.
This perhaps is the greatest source of his power. Men are not impartial judges of good and evil, or of truth and error. Their judgment is warped; they have corrupt inclinations which bias them, Isaiah 44:20; Jeremiah 8:5; Jeremiah 9:6. Their own “heart is deceitful and desperately wicked;” and hence, when Satan has undertaken to assault them, he finds traitors in their own bosoms ready to open the gates to him, and to admit him into the very citadel, before they are aware of his approach! The truth of this is manifested whenever an attempt is made to suppress evil or inculcate good. We see in a moment to which side men lean, and that arguments are weighed, not according to their real solidity, but according to the aspect they bear on our favorite propensities. Of course, this is extremely favorable to the interests of Satan, who needs only to present things to us in a specious view, and is sure beforehand that we shall be as ready to comply with his temptations, as he is to solicit our compliance.
The case of Ahab is one of daily occurrence. There are thousands who hate the light, and say to their ministers, “Prophesy unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits! Jeremiah 5:31.” It is obvious therefore that Satan finds in the sinful dispositions of men, the most successful advocate.
Having seen the sources of his power to deceive, we proceed to point out,
II. The limits of Satan’s power.
Doubtless Satan’s power is inconceivably great, since he deceived man even in his state of innocence, and from that time has “deceived the whole world, Revelation 12:9.”
1. But Satan’s power is limited in its duration.
Satan shall not always have the ascendant that he now has; there is a time coming, (and, we hope, at no great distance now,) when he shall “be bound, and deceive the nations no more for the space of a thousand years! Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:7.” What a blessed period will that be! What peace, and joy, and holiness will abound in the Church, when that wicked fiend shall cease from defiling and troubling the souls of men! Zechariah 14:20-21 with Isaiah 30:26; Isaiah 60:19-22; O that the happy period were arrived! May “God hasten it in his time!”
2. Satan’s power is limited in its objects.
As wide as his influence is, it is not universal; for God has delivered his chosen people from his malignant influence. We say not indeed that there are any so delivered, but that they need to be continually on their guard against him, Zechariah 4:1; Matthew 26:41; 2 Corinthians 11:3. But our Lord has assured us that “it is not possible for him to deceive the elect, Matthew 24:24;” and the reason of this is, that God has revealed to them his devices, 2 Corinthians 2:11; and armed them against his assaults, Ephesians 6:11; and engaged to “guide them by his counsel, until he receives them to glory! Psalm 73:24.”
A further reason is, that Jesus, our all-prevailing Advocate, “intercedes for them, that their faith may not fail Luke 22:31-32;” and hence it was, that, while “Satan desired to have Peter, as well as Judas, to sift him as wheat”—he could prevail over him only for a season; so that Peter rose again and overcame him, while Judas hanged himself, and became the everlasting prey of the destroyer!
3. Satan’s power is limited in its operations.
Satan could only persuade Ahab, but he he could not compel him. Nor can he influence any man in opposition to his own will. He is “a roaring lion;” and all before him are but as lambs; yet in prosecuting his malignant purposes against them, he destroys only those “whom he may devour,” not all those whom he would desire, 1 Peter 5:8.
This is a most encouraging circumstance; for, if only we cry to God for grace to desire, and strength to do, his will, we may defy all the hosts of Hell. Such resistance overcomes Satan, and makes him flee, 1 Peter 5:9 and James 4:7. No fiery dart that he can cast at us will pierce the shield of faith; nor all his skill enable him to withstand the sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:16-17, when wielded by a believing hand.
Advice.
1. Guard against obstinacy in sin.
A willful perseverance in sin constrains God to give men over to their own lusts, Psalm 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; Romans 1:26; Romans 1:28; Isaiah 66:4, and to leave them in the hands of their great adversary! To what a fearful extent God will proceed against us in this way, we cannot even read without horror! 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12. Beloved brethren, let me entreat you not so to provoke your God, as to bring upon yourselves this fearful curse. If once God says, “He is joined to idols, let him alone! Hosea 4:17; Hosea 9:12,” It would have been better for you that you had never been born!
2. Seek a saving interest in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ has vanquished that great enemy of God and man, agreeably to what was foretold to man in Paradise, Genesis 3:15; in the garden, and upon the cross, he vanquished him, Matthew 4:10; Colossians 2:15; and he has engaged to “bruise him under our feet shortly! Romans 16:20.” Seek then a saving interest:
in his death, to ransom you;
in his intercession, to preserve you;
and in his grace, to strengthen you!
So shall you “be more than conquerors through Him who loved you,” and shall enjoy the fruits of victory in Heaven, when “the deceiver of mankind shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone” to receive the due recompense of his sinful exertions in everlasting torment! Revelation 20:10.
Charles Simeon