D. Scott Meadows

“Satan hindered us.” —1 Thessalonians 2:18

Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil [Gen 3], it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders [English verb: creates difficulties resulting in delay or obstruction; Greek verb: uses strong measures in causing someone not to do something] us. From all points of the compass [from every direction], all along the line of battle [against every soldier], in the vanguard and in the rear [battle leaders and supporters], at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour [at all times], Satan hinders us. If we toil in the field [planting], he seeks to break the plowshare [the largest blade of a plow, behind the coulter]; if we build the wall [protective boundaries], he labors to cast down the stones [building materials]; if we would serve God in suffering or in conflict— everywhere Satan hinders us.

He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. Fierce conflicts we had with Satan when we first looked to the cross and lived. Now that we are saved, he endeavors to hinder the completeness of our personal character. You may be congratulating yourself, “I have hitherto [until now] walked consistently; no man can challenge my integrity.” Beware of boasting, for your virtue [behavior showing high moral standards] will yet be tried; Satan will direct his engines [siege engines: battering rams, trebuchets, catapults, and towers] against that very virtue for which you are the most famous. If you have been hitherto a firm believer, your faith will ere [before] long be attacked; if you have been meek as Moses [Num 12.3], expect to be tempted to speak unadvisedly [foolishly] with your lips. The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will dash his tusks at your choicest vines. Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks [stops] our importunity [persistence], and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant (alert) in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labor, Sanballat and Tobiah [in Neh 2, 4, 6] are stirred up to hinder them.

What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side, and are doing the Lord’s work, and in his strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary.

—C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, 7 August PM

On 1 Thessalonians 2.18

The whole verse reads, “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” Paul is explaining why
he and Silas and Timothy had not yet come to visit the Thessalonian believers. It was not from a lack of love for them or joyful hope of them, but rather because of Satanic opposition in some form or other. Matthew Poole suggests it might have been disputing at length with philosophers in Athens, evading murderous mobs, quelling dissensions in the churches, or something else not expressly mentioned. William Gurnall wrote that the text describes a hindrance from duty and opposition against ministers of the gospel, while another noted Satan’s hindrance of face-to-face Christian fellowship.

The structure of this devotional message

I. Reality of Satanic Opposition
• From all directions, in all times and places, against every Christian
• In all our work and experiences

II. Particulars of Satanic Opposition
• Against our conversion
• Against our sanctification
• Against our prayer
• Against our Christian effort

III. Confidence Against Satanic Opposition
• Our position on the Lord’s side
• Our labor doing the Lord’s work
• Our participation in the Lord’s victory

Closing reflections

Spurgeon, consistent with Scripture, made much of the objective reality of Satan as the archenemy of Christians and the Church, yet without an unhealthy obsession or pessimism. Many professing Christians today tend either toward materialism and practically deny the invisible realm of infernal spirits arrayed against us, or toward superstitions due to distortion and exaggeration of the biblical testimony concerning these things.

Satan’s main efforts are not particularly sensational as in the movies. Rather, both with and without human instrumentality, he engages a long siege against the Church’s ordinary ministries: evangelism, discipleship, prayer, and various good works. He is formidable but not invincible. If he is hindering us, we can take great comfort in this. A man is known not only by the company he keeps but also by the enemies he provokes. A Christian or a church without observable opposition from the world and the devil is unworthy of the name. Those following in the steps of Christ and His apostles are, like them, always opposed. We carry on the noblest cause in the world. The hellish hostilities of Armageddon are only temporary; the lavish laurels of the New Jerusalem are eternal. Ω