Matthew 4: Wilderness Victory (7)
Pray Psalm 111.1-3.
Praise the LORD!
I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
The works of the LORD are great,
Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever.
Sing Psalm 111.1-3.
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
Praise the LORD! O let my heart give thanks here amid His chosen race!
Your works are great, O LORD, and sought by all who know Your grace.
For Your work is full of splendor, LORD, and of majesty most pure;
Your righteousness, O glorious God, forever will endure!
Read aloud and meditate on Matthew 4.1-11.
How does the devil try to attack us?
Prepare.
1. How many different ways did the devil try to tempt and defeat Jesus?
2. How did Jesus defeat the devil and his temptations?
Meditate.
When Joshua led Israel into Canaan, the promised land was filled with people who worshiped false idols, practiced devilish rituals, and fought constantly with one another. At the battle of Jericho, the walls came tumbling down, and with the walls of Jericho, the rule of pagan nations in the land of promise. The fall of Jericho was the death knell for paganism in Canaan, at least, for a season.
Just so, Jesus’ victory over Satan in the wilderness brought down the walls of his flimsy domain and sent him and all his ilk into captivity (cf. 2 Pet. 2.4). Jesus’ temptation was a great battle in the spiritual war for God’s throne, and He showed that nothing would keep Him from claiming the crown that had been prepared for Him from before the foundation of the world. Jesus’ victory in the wilderness sounded the death knell for Satan and his minions. Though the war continues until the King returns in glory to end it once and for all, ultimate victory was secured there in that Judean desert. All that remains is for Jesus and His followers to plunder the strong man’s domain, freeing people from the lie, and restoring the reconciled world to God and His goodness.
Matthew’s gospel will continue from here to reveal the Lord’s battle plan and strategy, and to enlist us in the glorious work of seeking His Kingdom and righteousness. But the foundation for everything was laid here, in Matthew 4.1-11. We are to learn from Jesus that, in whatever we do in life, we must choose the truth of God rather than the lies of the devil; we must resist the allure of the flesh—satiation, self-serving, power, and all the rest—and look to God and His Word to direct our steps. Only the Word of God is a Sword sufficient to keep the devil at bay, and to allow us to continue the conquest of the earth in the train of our conquering King (Rev. 6.1, 2).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Then Jesus was led up
by the Spirit
into the wilderness
to be tempted
by the devil” (Matt. 4.1).
The progression of that verse is startling.
How was Jesus led into the wilderness?
By the Spirit.
Why was He led there?
To be tempted by the devil.
This conflict was definitive and frightening.
Yet it needed to happen.
The victory had to be won.
God, Who does not tempt, allowed the devil to do so.
For Jesus’ victory, and the devil’s demise.
It has been opined that “to learn to be longsuffering, one must first be long bothered”.
Thus, growth comes after the struggle for righteousness’ sake; and it is why we are told to
work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2.12).
The full impact of all the Jericho crumblings and crashings around us—God’s people vs. false idols, devilish rituals, and perverse in-fightings—will result in the reclamation of the earth for God’s Kingdom purposes.
God was always in charge of every “by the Spirit” that occurred in Jesus’ life; starting with His birth.
Each step was orchestrated by His loving, sovereign Father.
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be registered” (Lk. 2.1).
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov. 21.1).
We believe this truth when it pertains to God’s dear Son Jesus.
But, I wonder, do we also believe this when it pertains to ourselves?
We will be led “by the Spirit” into our own wilderness,
to face times of temptation from the devil, for our Kingdom growth and goodness.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.”
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (Ps. 119.67, 71).
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8.28, 29).
And through these fearful, trembling, and growing times “we are to learn from Jesus…choosing the truth of God rather than the lies of the devil…looking always to God and His Word to direct our steps” out of the temptations into the victory.
Just like Jesus.
And let the walls come a tumblin’ down!
Reflect.
1. You will be tempted. How should you prepare for it each day?
2. Do you have a prayer partner or soul friend? How might one of these help you in growing through temptation?
3. What happens if we’re not prepared for temptation, to grow through it?
In the temptation of Christ it appears that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring; but he can be resisted. It is a comfort to us that Christ suffered, being tempted; for thus it appears that our temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins, they are afflictions only. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 4.1-11
Pray Psalm 111.4-10.
Praise the Lord for all His many wonderful works, especially the work of Jesus, in freeing us from bondage to sin, fulfilling the promise of God’s covenant, translating us into His Kingdom, and opening the treasures of His Word for understanding and wisdom.
Sing Psalm 111.4-10.
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
You have caused Your many wondrous works to remain before our face.
For You are full of mercy, LORD, and abounding all in grace.
For all who fear You, You provide; Your covenant endures.
Your pow’r You show Your people, LORD, and make the nations theirs.
The works of Your all-sovereign hands are faithful, LORD, and just.
Your precepts evermore are true and worthy of our trust.
You have sent redemption, to us, LORD, in Christ of cov’nant fame,
and we in wonder, grace, and awe adore Your holy Name.
All they who would true wisdom know must learn to fear You, LORD,
And in that wisdom daily live and praise You evermore.
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.
