Every Bible reader knows that Satan was angry with the children of Israel, with their leaders and especially with their prophets who were persecuted and slain. Jerusalem became the target of satanic attacks ever since God had chosen it. No city on earth was destroyed as many times as it was. Even right to the end, God makes the city of Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people (Zec 12:3). We, therefore, should not be surprised, if Satan gathers all his powers to hit the church of the living God and do harm to her. But the gates of hell will not prevail against her.

The Holy Scripture speaks from the beginning of men of God who had a responsibility and a ministry. Both are recorded of them, the good and the bad things, the mighty acts they did, and also what they did wrong. Nobody can put aside David and throw away his Psalms or doubt what he said in the Name of the Lord, simply because he did things which were not right. Would God have thought this way, then He would have to do away with all of His servants. Even the prophets to whom the Word came were just men, although they were called gods (Ps 82:6; Jn 10:35). We have to see the difference between the earthen vessels and the divine contents within them.

In 1^st Chron. 21:1 we read, “And Satan stood up against Israel, and enticed David to number Israel” We could ask, “Why was it so harmful for him to do it?” The harmful thing was that Satan had set a trap for David, and he was acting under a false inspiration. Although he was a prophet, he slided into a trap. Since the garden of Eden we know, how subtle the enemy is and the tactics he uses. But usually we detect those things with others and not ourselves. When it fits into his concept, he even uses the scripture, but always hands it back in a twisted way. When David realized what he had done, he cried out, “I have done very foolishly” (verse 8). Being a prophet, he knew that revelation comes spontaneously by inspiration. In this case, he had to recognize that it also can come from the wrong side, through which great damage was done to the people of God. Satan was against Israel, so we read, and he began at the highest point to accomplish what he had purposed. Since the New Testament church is in existence, Satan is against her, and he always uses people with great influence.

Peter experienced a spontaneous satanic inspiration. The Lord corrected him at the spot and said, “Get thee behind Me, Satan. Thou art an offense unto Me; for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men” (Mt 16:23). The words of Jesus, “…thou meanest not what is godly but what is human” are of very great importance. We must comprehend that Satan can hide behind human, plausible arguments. He spoke to Eve about getting wise. In James 3:14-16, we read about earthly, human wisdom, which is at the same time called demonical. Wherever Satan is using the human head, the reasoning, he influences the person by false inspiration. Therefore, strife and jealousy and all the rest are left behind Of the fruits which then become obvious, one can easily detect what spirit was at work. The Spirit of God will always come forth with divine wisdom, and this is described in James 3:17-18, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceabe, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by them that make peace.”

God’s men experienced mighty victories and also defeats. They were recommended and reprimanded, but everything happened to their best. They were founded and grounded and went on with God. They were not responsible towards any man, but to God only. Others drew them into the situation of making them accountable to them, like is shown with the friends of Job. But not they were right, Job was. He said, “How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times have ye reproached me; ye are not ashamed that ye make your selves strange to me. And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself” (Job 19:2-4). The sad story of Job tells us that Satan was furious against him, and, therefore, made the destruction, so that even his wife suggested that he should curse God and die. For a consolation, we are told to watch the end the Lord prepared for Job (Jam 5:11).

The wrath of God was kindled against his friends who made his life even more miserable. At the end, Job had to pray for them; otherwise, God would have destroyed them. A servant of the Lord stands or falls only to His Lord and not to someone else – not to a wife, not to a family, not the church – but to the Lord only who took him into His service. Paul writes under the leading of the Holy Spirit, “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be held up; for God is able to make him stand.” (Rm 14:4)

Every Bible reader knows that Satan was angry with the children of Israel, with their leaders and especially with their prophets who were persecuted and slain. Jerusalem became the target of satanic attacks ever since God had chosen it. No city on earth was destroyed as many times as it was. Even right to the end, God makes the city of Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people (Zec 12:3). We, therefore, should not be surprised, if Satan gathers all his powers to hit the church of the living God and do harm to her. But the gates of hell will not prevail against her.

The Holy Scripture speaks from the beginning of men of God who had a responsibility and a ministry. Both are recorded of them, the good and the bad things, the mighty acts they did, and also what they did wrong. Nobody can put aside David and throw away his Psalms or doubt what he said in the Name of the Lord, simply because he did things which were not right. Would God have thought this way, then He would have to do away with all of His servants. Even the prophets to whom the Word came were just men, although they were called gods (Ps 82:6; Jn 10:35). We have to see the difference between the earthen vessels and the divine contents within them.

In 1st Chron. 21:1 we read, “And Satan stood up against Israel, and enticed David to number Israel” We could ask, “Why was it so harmful for him to do it?” The harmful thing was that Satan had set a trap for David, and he was acting under a false inspiration. Although he was a prophet, he slided into a trap. Since the garden of Eden we know, how subtle the enemy is and the tactics he uses. But usually we detect those things with others and not ourselves. When it fits into his concept, he even uses the scripture, but always hands it back in a twisted way. When David realized what he had done, he cried out, “I have done very foolishly” (verse 8). Being a prophet, he knew that revelation comes spontaneously by inspiration. In this case, he had to recognize that it also can come from the wrong side, through which great damage was done to the people of God. Satan was against Israel, so we read, and he began at the highest point to accomplish what he had purposed. Since the New Testament church is in existence, Satan is against her, and he always uses people with great influence.

Peter experienced a spontaneous satanic inspiration. The Lord corrected him at the spot and said, “Get thee behind Me, Satan. Thou art an offense unto Me; for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men” (Mt 16:23). The words of Jesus, “…thou meanest not what is godly but what is human” are of very great importance. We must comprehend that Satan can hide behind human, plausible arguments. He spoke to Eve about getting wise. In James 3:14-16, we read about earthly, human wisdom, which is at the same time called demonical. Wherever Satan is using the human head, the reasoning, he influences the person by false inspiration. Therefore, strife and jealousy and all the rest are left behind Of the fruits which then become obvious, one can easily detect what spirit was at work. The Spirit of God will always come forth with divine wisdom, and this is described in James 3:17-18, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceabe, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by them that make peace.”

God’s men experienced mighty victories and also defeats. They were recommended and reprimanded, but everything happened to their best. They were founded and grounded and went on with God. They were not responsible towards any man, but to God only. Others drew them into the situation of making them accountable to them, like is shown with the friends of Job. But not they were right, Job was. He said, “How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times have ye reproached me; ye are not ashamed that ye make your selves strange to me. And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself” (Job 19:2-4). The sad story of Job tells us that Satan was furious against him, and, therefore, made the destruction, so that even his wife suggested that he should curse God and die. For a consolation, we are told to watch the end the Lord prepared for Job (Jam 5:11).

The wrath of God was kindled against his friends who made his life even more miserable. At the end, Job had to pray for them; otherwise, God would have destroyed them. A servant of the Lord stands or falls only to His Lord and not to someone else – not to a wife, not to a family, not the church – but to the Lord only who took him into His service. Paul writes under the leading of the Holy Spirit, “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be held up; for God is able to make him stand.” (Rm 14:4)