Thread: Satan in the Old Testament

How is he portrayed?

Are there changes between the OT and NT?

Is he bound and so is much freer in the OT? What's the proof?

What does Jesus mean when he says he saw Satan falling from heaven? Is he now not able to approach the throne?

Can you give me exegetical insights into the following passages:


JOB 1 and 2

I Chronicles 21


and


Zechariah 3


I will be away trekking for a week. Can you give me any insights, commentaries, links, sermons so that I can start right away on looking into this when I get home.

In short: What does the OT say about the Devil, especially in those three passages, and what implications does it have for beleivers.

*Settles in for discussion*

This and other topics pertaining to spiritual warfare interest me very much, and I have been seeking to further understand this topic myself. I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.

I don't have time to get into all your questions Perg but there is a big difference in the way Satan and demons are portrayed.

In the OT we find God sending evil spirits and even Satan (Job) on missions and he is seen more as an agent of wrath than a militant roaring lion.

At the incarnation God sent an entire army of angels to prepare and protect the birth. This was the arrival of the Kingdom, this was the Seed of the woman so God sets a military op in motion that had never been seen before and I believe it's safe to surmise that Satan was doing the same thing.

During Christ's earthy ministry the demons are much more visible and active. They are manifesting themselves through physical maladies and supernatural power. God permits this to demonstrate how Jesus dispatches them with 'a word'. No rituals, no ceremony just the authority of his word.

At the crosss, Satan is bound and no longer able to deceive nations. Jesus went into the house of the strongman (Satan) and took authority and plundered his possessions.

Satan and his demons lost nearly all of there power but they still know how to deceive through illusion and superstition. A strong demon will even cast out a weak demon just to fool the pagans. It's mostly show.

So the way I see it, in the OT the demons are God's agents of wrath. In the NT they are permitted more activity in order to demonstrate Christ authority over all things.

Today, they are still agents of God's wrath and discipline and are totally subject to Christ.

Any comments and/or commentary links to how Satan is portrayed in these three specific references:

JOB 1 and 2
I Chronicles 21
and
Zechariah 3

It may be due strictly to the dialogue I am currently engaging, but I would be interested in the Hyper-Dispensational view of this. Would Satan attack the Jews in a different manner than he does "the Church" since they're different entities etc? I think I'll ask them come next discussion.

Good topic.

Here's a book recommendation on this subject: "Satan Cast Out" by Frederick Leahy This is a unique book in that there aren't many books written on the subject from a Reformed perspective.

Donald, his book "God, Satan, and the Jews" may answer your question as well.

Both books are available here:

http://www.covenanterbooks.com/book/...derick%20Leahy

Any links to internet commentaries on these 3 OT passages?