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1 Peter 5:8
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
We have read in our study of 1 Peter many exhortations to endure persecution well, to suffer for the sake of Christ knowing that God will reward His children for their faithfulness (1:3–8; 3:8–17; 4:1–6, 12–19). As Peter draws near to the close of his epistle, he reminds us that one supernatural threat stands behind all the persecutions that Christians endure. We are talking, of course, about Satan.
The Apostle in today’s verse refers to Satan as our “adversary the devil,” highlighting the reality that he is the chief enemy of the church (see also Matt. 13:24–30). Peter warns that Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The roaring refers to persecution that—like a lion’s roar—seeks to intimidate believers. Those whom he ends up devouring are those who buckle under the pressure of persecution and impenitently keep silent about Jesus or turn away from the Savior.
Knowing that Satan is the reality behind all the threats that Christians face in this world, how are we to respond? Peter counsels us to do two things: Be aware and resist Satan by remaining firm in the faith (vv. 8–9). In today’s verse, he writes that we are to “be sober-minded; be watchful” (v. 8). We must think clearly, knowing that persecution is intended to cause us to deny Jesus and lose our souls in order to save—for a time—our bodies. Remembering this truth will help us not to succumb to our fear of the devil’s roaring and be devoured. Peter’s exhortations to be watchful and sober appear in other New Testament texts that talk about the last days, indicating that the devil’s activity is particularly pervasive in the last days (e.g., see 1 Thess. 5:6). Jesus brought the last days in His death, resurrection, ascension, session (sitting) at God’s right hand, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:14–36). Consequently, Satan will be especially on the prowl until Jesus returns. We must therefore be on the lookout. We must, as Matthew Henry comments, “be vigilant; not secure or careless, but rather suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, and, under that apprehension, to be watchful and diligent to prevent his designs and save our souls.”
We are no match for Satan in our own strength. Thankfully, Jesus has secured victory for His people over the devil. Augustine of Hippo writes, “Who could avoid encountering the teeth of this lion, if the lion from the tribe of Judah had not conquered?”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
We are more likely to succumb to the threat of persecution by denying the Lord if we are not aware of Satan’s schemes. He uses the threats of physical danger, loss of income, and other such things to tempt us to stop thinking about our eternal destiny and instead deny Jesus for the sake of bodily comforts and safety. Let us be aware of his schemes so that we can be prepared to recognize why he sends persecutions and to respond faithfully to them.
For further study
- Matthew 4:8–10
- 2 Corinthians 11:14
- Ephesians 4:27
- Revelation 12:7–17
The bible in a year
- Esther 10–Job 2
- Acts 7:23–34