Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - 1 Peter 5:8 - 5:8
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Observe here, 1. A double duty exhorted to, sobriety and vigilancy: Be sober, be vigilant, be sober and temperate in all things: sober in your enjoyments; sober in your employments; sober in your recreations. Be neither drunk with wine, nor worldly cares; the latter is the worst of the two . A night's sleep cures the former, but the worldling is drunk all the year long, never sober night nor day. And to sobriety we are exhorted to add vigilancy, a watchful care and diligent circumspection over all our thoughts, words, and actions, that we may not displease God in any thing, Be sober, be vigilant.
Observe, 2. The reason or motive to enforce the duty, Because your adversary the devil, goeth about, &c.
Where note, How every word contains a special motive to Christian watchfulness. He is your adversary, who will do you all possible mischief: he is the devil, an accuser, and one that seeks all advantages against you; he is a cruel adversary, a lion,yea, a roaring lion which adds terror to his cruelty: he a restless adversary, He goes about seeking whom he may devour; what soul he may devour, for that's the bait he gapes for. It greives the devils, those apostate angels, to find the souls of men appointed to fill up those vacant places in heaven, which they turned themselves out of. It is a delight to them to plunge souls into the same condemnation and misery with themselves.
Observe, 3. The duty of resistance, urged upon us in order to our preservation, with the weapon put in our hand for that purpose:
Whom resist, steadfast in the faith; that is, be steadfast in your faith, that you may resist him: and by the help of your faith you shall overcome him.
Learn hence, 1. That the devil is the restless adversary and unwearied enemy of mankind.
2. That all the pains which Satan takes is, in order to the destruction of precious souls.
3. That the way to overcome him is by resisting of him, not by yielding to him: he is a cowardly enemy, and a conquered enemy; resist him, and he will run.
4. That faith is the weapon by which the Christian is enabled to resist the tempter, and to repel the force of his fiery temptations.