Why Did Satan Cite the Psalms?

[seekingHiswisdom]

If in the wrong location, someone please move.

When the devil meets Jesus in the wilderness, the two engage in a "Scripture battle." Yeshua quotes from Deuteronomy three times, but Satan cites Psalm 91.

Of all the biblical options, why does the devil draw on this particular text?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

If in the wrong location, someone please move.

When the devil meets Jesus in the wilderness, the two engage in a "Scripture battle." Yeshua quotes from Deuteronomy three times, but Satan cites Psalm 91.

Of all the biblical options, why does the devil draw on this particular text?

To show that the devil was not allergic to quoting scripture passages.

 

[seekingHiswisdom]

To show that the devil was not allergic to quoting scripture passages.

Seems reasonable, but then... what he quoted

“He will command his angels concerning you... lest you strike your foot against a stone” (91:11-12). This quote from the Prince of Demons is ironic since Jews in Jesus’ day used Psalm 91 as a prayer against demonic forces!

In Hebrew, the psalm says not to fear “the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noon” (91:5-6). The Greek Septuagint teaches not to fear “the thing that walks in darkness… and the demon (δαιμονίον; daimonion) at noon.” (90:5-6 LXX). The later Aramaic translators added even more demons: “You shall not fear the terror of the demon that goes about in the night… nor the company of demons that destroy at noon…. No plague or demons shall come near your tent.” (PsTargum 91:5-6, 10-11).

Surly Satan had to know what he was saying?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Seems reasonable, but then... what he quoted

“He will command his angels concerning you... lest you strike your foot against a stone” (91:11-12). This quote from the Prince of Demons is ironic since Jews in Jesus’ day used Psalm 91 as a prayer against demonic forces!

In Hebrew, the psalm says not to fear “the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noon” (91:5-6). The Greek Septuagint teaches not to fear “the thing that walks in darkness… and the demon (δαιμονίον; daimonion) at noon.” (90:5-6 LXX). The later Aramaic translators added even more demons: “You shall not fear the terror of the demon that goes about in the night… nor the company of demons that destroy at noon…. No plague or demons shall come near your tent.” (PsTargum 91:5-6, 10-11).

Surly Satan had to know what he was saying?

It's just to say, just because a human is quoting scripture .. it doesn't mean they speak for God.

 

[Divide]

I think satan used the Psalm 91 scripture because it is a powerful scripture and with the stakes high, he needed to nudge a response from Jesus. It didn't work of course and Jesus just quoted more scripture back at him. That was a no lose situation because Jesus handled it like that.

 

[seekingHiswisdom]

It's just to say, just because a human is quoting scripture .. it doesn't mean they speak for God.

Satan was not human, but maybe

Satan was attempting to make Jesus prove he was the Son of God. The Messiah. I think it is as simple as that.

IOW... Satan’s logic went this way: Psalm 91 is talking about the Messiah, so then Jesus of Nazareth, if you really are the Messiah, then Psalm 91 should apply to you. Now prove it.

 

[seekingHiswisdom]

I think satan used the Psalm 91 scripture because it is a powerful scripture and with the stakes high, he needed to nudge a response from Jesus. It didn't work of course and Jesus just quoted more scripture back at him. That was a no lose situation because Jesus handled it like that.

Okay....

This was a question that I read a couple days ago and it gave me pause as I, admittedly, never thought about it nor remember any "church" teaching on the subject or even televangelist talk on it.

My first reaction was that Satan, in trying to entice Jesus quoted scripture... that both knew well... to possibly promote a false belief that he really was not such a bad guy and that he was well aware Jesus would be protected by the angels and therefore if Jesus would do as he(Satan) said, no harm would come to him......

BUT I as well as we all including Satan would know that Jesus knew perfectly well what he was up against... so that was a dumb thought of mine....

The author of that question had replied to it and I honestly think their reply was as dumb as my idea...
From the Israel Bible Center that is coming to my email these days....

Israel Bible Center​

The best place to fully understand the Bible

lp.israelbiblecenter.com

Satan’s Use of Scripture ​

“He will command his angels concerning you... lest you strike your foot against a stone” (91:11-12). This quote from the Prince of Demons is ironic since Jews in Jesus’ day used Psalm 91 as a prayer against demonic forces!

Psalm 91 in Jewish Translations ​

In Hebrew, the psalm says not to fear “the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noon” (91:5-6). The Greek Septuagint teaches not to fear “the thing that walks in darkness… and the demon (δαιμονίον; daimonion) at noon.” (90:5-6 LXX). The later Aramaic translators added even more demons: “You shall not fear the terror of the demon that goes about in the night… nor the company of demons that destroy at noon…. No plague or demons shall come near your tent.” (PsTargum 91:5-6, 10-11).

Satan’s Silly Mistake ​

So, it turns out that the devil’s decision to cite Psalm 91 was the worst possible choice to make. Since Psalm 91 was a prayer that guarded against demons, Satan chooses verses that were meant to drive him away! This comedy of satanic errors would have elicited a hearty laugh from Matthew’s original readers, and it shows that, according to evangelist, the devil is a bit of a dunce!

So, in addition to posting it here and a couple of other places... that has not provided an exciting or insightful answer.... I went looking.

This one made a little sense to me....

The Devil is a Master Scripture Twister (Think EVE and the apple)​

“And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot...
www.letterofmarque.us

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalms 91:11–12)

In order to help us better understand the devil's gambit in this temptation, here is what one one Bible commentator wrote regarding Satan's use of scripture on this occasion:

" devil's temptation has in reality two objects: Christ should demonstrate His divine Sonship; He should, in this manner, gain a great number of disciples, probably the entire populace, at one bold stroke. The devil even quoted Scripture to accomplish his purpose, Ps. 91:11-12, omitting, however, the very essential words "to keep thee in all thy ways," which are practically a norm for the proper understanding of the entire passage. But Jesus was fully equal to the occasion. Without going into the matter of falsifying Scripture in his own interest, He tells the devil that there is a passage which reads: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God, Deut. 6:16. Any attempt to reach the ground below by any means outside of those suggested by a correct understanding of nature's laws would be a challenging of God's protective care, for which there is no promise in the Bible. Note: In a similar way, the devil is always attempting to make us presumptuous, daring, foolhardy, without the promise and command of God. It is the pride of our hearts which he intends to incite, together with the feeling that we are in no need of God's protective care. But the one effective way of meeting all the attacks of the Evil One and vanquishing him quickly and surely is to use the words of Scripture as weapons of defense and offense. Before these powerful onslaughts the devil must give way and be routed completely. - Kretzmann, Popular Commentary

This Gospel passage has faithfully served the church as a warning against the agents of the evil one who skillfully twist and misinterpret the Bible and it is also a sign post that points us to the sixth and seventh petitions of the Lord's Prayer:

But I finally arrived at a seemingly logical conclusion. ONLY IF...

Satan was attempting to make Jesus prove he was the Son of God. The Messiah. I think it could be as simple as that.

IOW... Satan’s logic went this way: Psalm 91 is talking about the Messiah, so then Jesus of Nazareth, if you really are the Messiah, then Psalm 91 should apply to you. Now prove it.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Satan was not human, but maybe

Satan was attempting to make Jesus prove he was the Son of God. The Messiah. I think it is as simple as that.

IOW... Satan’s logic went this way: Psalm 91 is talking about the Messiah, so then Jesus of Nazareth, if you really are the Messiah, then Psalm 91 should apply to you. Now prove it.

James made a similar point in the latter half of Chapter 3 of his letter in the bible.

Someone can be making a point, but be speaking according to demonic wisdom.

It's good to take heed, just because someone is quoting the bible, it doesn't mean they speak for God.

 

[Divide]

Okay....

This was a question that I read a couple days ago and it gave me pause as I, admittedly, never thought about it nor remember any "church" teaching on the subject or even televangelist talk on it.

My first reaction was that Satan, in trying to entice Jesus quoted scripture... that both knew well... to possibly promote a false belief that he really was not such a bad guy and that he was well aware Jesus would be protected by the angels and therefore if Jesus would do as he(Satan) said, no harm would come to him......

BUT I as well as we all including Satan would know that Jesus knew perfectly well what he was up against... so that was a dumb thought of mine....

The author of that question had replied to it and I honestly think their reply was as dumb as my idea...
From the Israel Bible Center that is coming to my email these days....

Israel Bible Center​

The best place to fully understand the Bible

lp.israelbiblecenter.com


So, in addition to posting it here and a couple of other places... that has not provided an exciting or insightful answer.... I went looking.

This one made a little sense to me....

The Devil is a Master Scripture Twister (Think EVE and the apple)​

“And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot...
www.letterofmarque.us

In order to help us better understand the devil's gambit in this temptation, here is what one one Bible commentator wrote regarding Satan's use of scripture on this occasion:





But I finally arrived at a seemingly logical conclusion. ONLY IF...

Satan was attempting to make Jesus prove he was the Son of God. The Messiah. I think it could be as simple as that.

IOW... Satan’s logic went this way: Psalm 91 is talking about the Messiah, so then Jesus of Nazareth, if you really are the Messiah, then Psalm 91 should apply to you. Now prove it.

Right. That's what I said more succinctly, lol. It didn't work! And Jesus being man had the Psalm 91 protection that we all enjoy today. I read an article that said that the disciples regularly prayed the Psalms to God. That God loves it when you pray His own scripture and words to Him.

I think it was actually a cheap shot how satan tried to tempt Jesus.. Satan had to know better, right? (How could anyone be that dumb)