A Kingdom Cannot Be Divided Against Itself
Reflections: We see the psalmist continuing his lament psalm, and how he has not stopped praying for God’s intervention in his life. In his deep relationship with God, he has suffered from youth a kind of melancholy or depression, and yet he continues to seek God in his state. Even those close to him have seemed to abandon him, and he has been stripped of all he has, except for his crying out to God. The lament psalms are a good reminder to us that there are times some have termed, “the dark night of the soul”, when all creaturely comforts have been stripped, and it even seems as though God has abandoned us as well. These times of apparent withdrawl of God’s presence and hand, refine our faith in deeper ways than when all is well.
In Deuteronomy, Moses comes to the end of his life and speaks his last words to the Israelites, namely that they should take to heart and obey all the words, which he had given to them which the Lord had instructed him. Perhaps learning from his own experience of disobeying God’s Word in the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert, he tries to pass on his learning through encouragement to those who would enter the Promised Land. Then, God takes him to the heights of Mount Nebo and shows him the country which his predecessors would possess. On one hand, he has regret that he could not enter into this Promised Land, but he humbly accepts the consequences of his sin. He also is given a glimpse of the land beyond the earthly Canaan that God has reserved for those who love and serve Him. As we serve God and get a glimpse of what He calls us to, we all fall short on some account! Yet we can pass on what we have learned to future generations what we have learned through our journey here on earth and even through our shortfalls.
Finally, Jesus continues to show His disciples what God’s kingdom looks like here on earth, as it is in heaven. Today, he confronts a demon who made a man mute. As he delivered the man, some were amazed, and yet others tried to associate the deliverance with Jesus’ association with evil. Jesus calls them on it by saying, “How can a kingdom be divided against itself?” It is helpful to know that there were some Jewish exorcists, who had various successes in casting out demonic forces. And yet the key to true deliverance is the power and authority by which the deliverance takes place.
“Beezlebul”, is a derisive term for Satan, the head of demons. It is also means “lord of the flies”. The point is Jesus is exposing the most powerful demonic force and saying that “with the finger of God” this force is driven out. Though Satan has real power it is all derived from God’s power, which is so much greater than Satan’s power that one word dispels it. That is why exorcism by any other means is only temporary. (See the next story about the demons that leave a place only to come back when it is unoccupied, and the person is in much worse shape that he started). But once a person is delivered in the name of Christ, it is permanent and complete. This is also why a Christian who has been converted and regenerated by belief in Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, can never be demon possessed. Once a person is inhabited by God’s power with the presence of the Holy Spirit, they are wholly God’s possession! So in summary, a Christian can never be possessed by a demon. Make sense?
We are reminded of these truths with the New Testament verse, “Greater that is He that is within you than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 As believers we will still battle the forces of evil, and we can be tempted by the evil, and yet we have within us this same power that Jesus uses to overthrow the man. This is a truth many Christians do not act upon or fully invoke. This is why getting in the Word and reading it equips us to handle whatever temptation comes our way. When we are tempted we can see that the evil is trying to get us to compromise who we are as sons and daughters of the King. As we trust in God’s Word and obey it in Jesus’ name and in His power and authority, the evil one has no sway over us! May God bless you richly with peace and joy as you meditate on this truths and build your life on them! As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2, “Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
Psalm 88:13-18
13 But I cry to you for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, Lord, do you reject me
and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;
they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor—
darkness is my closest friend.
Deuteronomy 32:44-33:17
44 Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
Moses to Die on Mount Nebo
48 On that same day the Lord told Moses, 49 “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. 50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”
Luke 11:14-28
Jesus and Beelzebul
14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. Genesis 15:1 (NIV)
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29
Precious Lord, we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We trust in the centuries of faithfulness and promise which began so long ago and continue today around the world. Amen.
In Deuteronomy, Moses comes to the end of his life and speaks his last words to the Israelites, namely that they should take to heart and obey all the words, which he had given to them which the Lord had instructed him. Perhaps learning from his own experience of disobeying God’s Word in the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert, he tries to pass on his learning through encouragement to those who would enter the Promised Land. Then, God takes him to the heights of Mount Nebo and shows him the country which his predecessors would possess. On one hand, he has regret that he could not enter into this Promised Land, but he humbly accepts the consequences of his sin. He also is given a glimpse of the land beyond the earthly Canaan that God has reserved for those who love and serve Him. As we serve God and get a glimpse of what He calls us to, we all fall short on some account! Yet we can pass on what we have learned to future generations what we have learned through our journey here on earth and even through our shortfalls.
Finally, Jesus continues to show His disciples what God’s kingdom looks like here on earth, as it is in heaven. Today, he confronts a demon who made a man mute. As he delivered the man, some were amazed, and yet others tried to associate the deliverance with Jesus’ association with evil. Jesus calls them on it by saying, “How can a kingdom be divided against itself?” It is helpful to know that there were some Jewish exorcists, who had various successes in casting out demonic forces. And yet the key to true deliverance is the power and authority by which the deliverance takes place.
“Beezlebul”, is a derisive term for Satan, the head of demons. It is also means “lord of the flies”. The point is Jesus is exposing the most powerful demonic force and saying that “with the finger of God” this force is driven out. Though Satan has real power it is all derived from God’s power, which is so much greater than Satan’s power that one word dispels it. That is why exorcism by any other means is only temporary. (See the next story about the demons that leave a place only to come back when it is unoccupied, and the person is in much worse shape that he started). But once a person is delivered in the name of Christ, it is permanent and complete. This is also why a Christian who has been converted and regenerated by belief in Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, can never be demon possessed. Once a person is inhabited by God’s power with the presence of the Holy Spirit, they are wholly God’s possession! So in summary, a Christian can never be possessed by a demon. Make sense?
We are reminded of these truths with the New Testament verse, “Greater that is He that is within you than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 As believers we will still battle the forces of evil, and we can be tempted by the evil, and yet we have within us this same power that Jesus uses to overthrow the man. This is a truth many Christians do not act upon or fully invoke. This is why getting in the Word and reading it equips us to handle whatever temptation comes our way. When we are tempted we can see that the evil is trying to get us to compromise who we are as sons and daughters of the King. As we trust in God’s Word and obey it in Jesus’ name and in His power and authority, the evil one has no sway over us! May God bless you richly with peace and joy as you meditate on this truths and build your life on them! As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2, “Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
Psalm 88:13-18
13 But I cry to you for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, Lord, do you reject me
and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;
they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor—
darkness is my closest friend.
Deuteronomy 32:44-33:17
44 Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
Moses to Die on Mount Nebo
48 On that same day the Lord told Moses, 49 “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. 50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”
Luke 11:14-28
Jesus and Beelzebul
14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. Genesis 15:1 (NIV)
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29
Precious Lord, we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We trust in the centuries of faithfulness and promise which began so long ago and continue today around the world. Amen.
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