Part Seven, Anxiety Fades; Satan Broken, Psalm 91:12-13

“They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down” (vv. 12–13).

 Your foot against a stone: The context of the psalm emphasizes that angels carry us up in their hands and, as a result, we journey differently. The usual human troubles that come in life are faded, and we are spared.

 Lion and cobra represent dangerous enemies, both physical and spiritual. The psalmist will overcome as angels protect him from the complexities and anxiety of the attack. Both rabbinical and evangelical scholars submit that guardian angels protect God’s people (Exod. 23:20; Psalm 34:7; 103:20; Matt. 18:10; Heb. 1:14). “Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word” (Psalm 103:20).

These two verses (Ps. 91:12–13) direct us to something, or should I say, to someone greater.

“And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, He will command His angels concerning You to guard You, and on their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It is said, You shall not put the Lord Your God to the test.’ When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him” (Luke 4:9–13; cf. Matt. 4).

Satan uses the same temptations he used with Adam and Eve.

1. Temptation of the flesh: You may eat of any tree (Gen. 3:1); If you are the Son of             God, tell this stone to become bread (Luke 4:3).
2. Temptation of private gain: You will not die (Gen. 3:4); You will not hurt Your      foot (Luke 4:11).
3. Temptation of personal power: You will be like God (Gen. 3:5); I will give you all             this (Luke 4:5–6).

All temptations are wrapped up in these three points.

Had Jesus acquiesced to Satan’s temptations He would have been yielding to a lesser power and would have nullified Himself as Messiah and Savior of the world.

Jesus highlights Psalm 91:13 to His disciples. “The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ And He said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven’” (Luke 10: 17–20).

The disciples were elated they were victorious in their service to the Master. Jesus responded saying, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” This does not mean that at that moment Satan was falling from heaven.

Satan wishes he had the power of heaven (Isaiah 14:12–17), but he does not! Jesus was saying that Satan was falling from greatness and his dominion. His power had been broken, and in the Name of Jesus, Satan was brought to his knees, bowing before the authority of God the Son.

Points to Ponder:

1. Our walk is different as angels carry us in their hands.
2. Anxiety fades and complications diminish from the enemies’ attacks because angels perform God’s Word on our behalf.
3. Satan is brought to his knees before the authority of the name of Jesus.
4. We rejoice, not because of the deeds we do in service of the Lord, but rather we rejoice in the work that God does through us. It is all Him, not anything that we do; therefore, we boast in Him and humbly praise Him that our “names are recorded in heaven.”

“Let us think of the whole host of angels, how they stand by and serve his will, for Scriptures say: “Ten thousand times ten thousand were doing service to him, and they cried out: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth; the whole of creation is full of His glory.” Then let us gather together in awareness of our concord, as with one mouth we shout earnestly to him that we may become sharers in his great and glorious promises.” — Clement of Rome (ca. AD 96)