How Can Satan Approach the Throne of God?
(See end of article for puzzles on Job 19-21).
After the Book of Job opens by introducing to us this man who is the greatest man of the east, we are given the opportunity to peer into the throne room of heaven where an assembly of angels has gathered on an appointed day. Into this gathering entered the adversary of mankind. This is indeed a strange picture which is presented on two occasions in Job (Job 1:6; Job 2:1). It is strange, because we have here the one who is all evil approaching the One who is all holy (Isaiah 6:3). It is strange, because we have the devil (the “deceiver”), the murderer from the beginning, and father of all lies (John 8:44) enter into the presence of the eternal Lord.
In consideration of the above, the words of the prophet Habakkuk seem to give some difficulty to the picture given in Job of Satan’s presence in heaven. Habakkuk says of the Lord, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on evil. . .” (1:13). The question one might ask is, “Does this contradict the instance of Satan’s attendance pictured in the heavenly assembly scene in Job?” “How is it that Satan can stand before the Lord when the Lord, according to Habakkuk, is not able to behold evil and look on evil?” Does this passage in Habakkuk contradict Satan’s approach to the throne in Job? Or is there more going on in the Habakkuk passage than might first meet the eye? Notice the following facts which show the second option to be the correct view.
Habakkuk begins his message by speaking of his struggle over the use of the wicked Babylonians as God’s agents of punishment of Judah [pictured to the left is an artist conception of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem]. The Babylonians exceeded in wickedness above those in Judah, so Habakkuk questioned how God seemed to prefer them over and above His own people. This is the context of Habakkuk 1:13.
This passage presents the prophet’s reaction to what he thinks to be an inconsistency in the nature of God. In the first part of the verse, Habakkuk sees God as being of such a nature that He is not able to even “behold” or “look on” sin. Yet, in the prophet’s view, this is not what is happening in the world about him. Babylon, Judah’s enemy, is being “beheld” and “looked upon” by God even though they have dealt treacherously and have acted wickedly. Not only does He look at them, but in the eyes of the prophet, He seems to remain silent at their wickedness.
Understanding what the prophet is saying and how he is using the terms “behold” and “look” are extremely important. Examining the meanings of these words shows that Habakkuk is speaking about the approval of iniquity rather than being in the actual presence of such. The word “behold” (raw-aw) according to Strong’s can mean to “approve, enjoy, regard, (have) respect.” The word “look” (naw-bat) according to Strong’s means “to scan, that is, look intently at; by implication to regard with pleasure, favor or care: - (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.”
Not only do these words show that Habakkuk is referring to the idea of approval in regard to God’s attitude toward sin, the second half of the verse shows this as well. What does Habakkuk mean when he says that God does not “behold evil” and that he does not “look on iniquity?” Habakkuk answers this by saying, “Wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously?” Obviously, the prophet is not stating here that God is just viewing the Babylonians and their wickedness. The prophet is rather concerned that the Lord is approving or is in favor with their actions.
Habakkuk 1:13 and Job 1:6 do not contradict one another. The first two chapters of Job clearly demonstrate that Satan is under God’s sovereign dominion. Even after his fall into condemnation at the beginning (1 Timothy 3:6; 1 John 3:8), Satan continued to have access before the throne of God.
Whether or not that access continues today is questionable (Revelation 12:10). The thing of which we need to be concerned today is his influence in temptation (Revelation 12:12; 1 Peter 5:8) and the subtle ways in which he works today (2 Corinthians 11:3). May we therefore beware, be sober, and be vigilant.
- Interactive version - job_chapter_19 ; printable version – job_chap_19
- Interactive version - job_chapter_20 ; printable version – job_chap_20
- Interactive version - job_chapter_21 ; printable version - job_chap_21
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Doctrine, Michael Carter
on November 9th, 2008
