Psalm 41:9
To have enemies who openly oppose is one thing; but it is quite another thing to have enemies with a false front. Satan as such an enemy approached Eve in paradise, thus also through Judas Iscariot he approached Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, and today attacks us through crafty, deceitful enemies.
We sing of that in our versification with these words:
Yea, he who was my chosen friend,
In whom I put my trust,
Who ate my bread, now turns in wrath
To crush me in the dust.
Or as David wrote it in Psalm 41:9, Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, Iiatli lifted up his heel against me.
Anger can easily arise in our souls when we read of the deceitfulness of Judas, when he betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Matthew 26:49). But the question is, "Are you angry with the devil? Do you loathe him, or consider him your friend?''
It is easy to be angry with Judas and stop right there. Satan who moved and used Judas seems like such a mystical being. We talk about him, and may even with the mouth condemn his works. Yet, do you see him as a person, and hate him as an enemy of Christ? Is he your friend or your foe?
The sad reality is that we are so often pleased with him and consider him as our friend. We like the things into which he leads us. Is he not the one who so often makes life enjoyable for us?
But remember that what he did to Jesus through Judas he is continually doing to us, and lifts his heel against us. He uses men who pose as Christians and lovers of Christ seemingly concerned with our spiritual well-being. Through them he comes with such crafty, subtle false doctrines. Is not the world full of doctrines, while only one is what God says?
Remember then Gethsemane and the treachery of Judas. Be on your guard and keep in mind that from the beginning Satan's approach and attack is deceitful. But remember too, that God used him to bring His Son to the cross for our salvation. Satan cannot win. God's counsel stands.
Read: Matthew 26:47-57
Psalter versification: 113:8
Daily Meditations
on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #381
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Deuteronomy 7 ; Deuteronomy 8:1-20
Luke 7:36-50 ; Luke 8:1-3
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 12:1
****
Quote for Reflection:
Homer C. Hoeksema: "Paradise the first was an earthly picture of the heavenly paradise, the new and eternal kingdom of God in Christ. The first Adam was a picture of the second Adam: Christ, the head of the new, united creation. The midst of the garden is an image of God’s communion with man. The river is an image of the flow of life from God in Christ eternally to his people. The tree of life is a picture of the heavenly tree of life" (Unfolding Covenant History, vol. 1, pp. 113-114).
..