Angels in His Corner

Matthew 4: Wilderness Victory (5)

Pray Psalm 35.1-4.
Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”
Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after my life;
Let those be turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot my hurt.

Sing Psalm 35.1-4.
(Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Contend, O Lord, with those who strive with me! My shield, my strength and buckler be!
Engage with spear and axe to fight and rescue me with all Your might!
My soul with Your salvation soothe, and vanquish all who oppose Your truth. 
Let those ashamed and humbled be who would destroy and humble me.

Read Matthew 4.1-11; meditate on verse 11.
Do angels come and minister to you? In what ways?

Prepare.
1. What did the devil do following these three attempts to get Jesus to worship him? 

2. What did the angels do?

Meditate.
Knocked down three times, the devil pleads “No más, no más” and leaves the ring. He is defeated. He is beaten. But more than that: he is bound. 

I’m arrested by Matthew’s “behold”. He uses this device not only to create a sense of immediacy—putting us, as it were, right into the action—but also to emphasize what’s happening. Angels arrive to “minister” to Jesus. The word is were serving or even were “deaconing” Him. This activity went on for a while (as the imperfect form of the verb suggests), and we can imagine that it involved them giving Him food and drink; bearing Him up in His weariness; and celebrating His victory over Satan. 

The heavens, we can be sure, erupt in shouts, as angels stream back and forth through the veil to serve the Lord and ready Him for the next phase of His earthly sojourn. Jesus was true Man, and as such, He experienced human frailties, albeit without sin. To be tempted is not sin. When temptation comes, it’s a call to battle; and we must be ready to bring the Word of God to bear against any unrighteousness. God will honor our standing in His Word, just as He did Jesus’.

Let’s not miss the fact that angels exist to serve the needs of God’s servants. We don’t see them, but they always stand at the aid of those who are determined to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (cf. Ps. 104.4 and Heb. 1.7, 14). We should be greatly encouraged by this, and emboldened in our walk with and work for the Lord.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The Scriptures that Satan had used incorrectly were now coming to fruition for our victorious Savior:

“No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Ps. 91.10, 11).

“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; 
His truth shall be your shield and buckler” (Ps. 91.3, 4).

God’s Truth did protect Jesus from the perilous pestilence—Satan.

We must keep that alias of the enemy’s in mind, “perilous pestilence”.
For that is exactly what he was to Jesus, and what he is, even today, to us.
Or as Peter described him, “like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5.8).
Never are we to forget that he sees us as his weakened prey. Vulnerable, and unarmored, 
if we hunger for anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ and His glorious Kingdom.

Peter’s remedy? “Be sober, be vigilant…resist him, steadfast in the faith…” (1 Pet. 5.8, 9).
This was always true for Jesus and is equally true for us.
Jesus, as the Son of Man, was killed by His enemies, seemingly unprotected. 
But His death was God’s plan for our salvation.
“But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, 
for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, 
that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2.9).

God will protect us, through His angels’ interventions, until such time as we are called to die.
God’s Word will always be true and reliable. His promises will never fail. Nor will His love.
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3.22, 23).

Once, when Jesus had angered the religious by reading Isaiah 61.1, 2 as pertaining to Himself— “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk. 4.21)—their hatred for Him became murderous. However, it was not Jesus’ time to die, so He just miraculously walked away. Like Daniel and his friends (see Dan. 3, 6).

“So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, he went His way” (Lk. 4.28-30).

When we read and believe the Scriptures aright, never testing or tempting God, but following the Word as we ought, working in His Kingdom, daily and to the end, resisting the devil at every turn, Matthew 4.11 will be as true for us as it was for Jesus: “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

“Because he has set his love upon Me,
therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, 
because he has known My Name. 
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; 
I will be with him in trouble; 
I will deliver him and honor him. 
With long life I will satisfy him, 
and show him My salvation” (Ps. 91.14-16).
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Ps. 91.11).

Reflect.
1. How does it affect your walk and work for the Lord, knowing that angels are serving you?

2. Why is it important that we should always be ready to resist the devil?

3. How can believers help one another in this?

Having rejected Satan’s offer of bread, assistance from angels, and earthly kingdoms, Jesus was immediately visited by angels who helped Him. Earl Radmacher (1933-2014), NKJV Study Bible note on Matthew 4.11

Pray Psalm 35.22-28.
Pray that the Lord will fight for you today as you go forth to serve Him, even to the extent of sending angels to defend you against every foe (Ps. 35.5, 6). Shout for joy and be glad in the Lord!

Sing Psalm 35.22-28.
(Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Stir up, O God, and wake to my right; defend my cause with all Your might!
And judge me in Your righteousness; let not my foes bring me to distress.
Let shame, dishonor be their gown who would Your holy ones bring down.
Let all who would themselves exalt be humbled, shamed, and brought to naught.

Let all rejoice triumphantly who would our vindication see.
Let them exalt the Lord above who love the ones that Jesus loves.
And let our tongues declare Your praise, and worship Jesus all our days.
Let those whom You are pleased to bless forever declare Your righteousness!

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

For a closer look at what happened in the wilderness of Judea and why that matters so much, order a copy of our book, Satan Bound.

Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from If Men Will Pray. Our Crosfigell teaching letter has a new series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is studying the Church and why we need it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.