Sweeter Than Honey

By C. H. Macintosh
In Judg. 14:5-9, we find that Samson was pursuing his journey, and when he came to the vineyards of Timnath "behold, a young lion roared against him." So it was when Jesus came into the world, He found Satan going about as a roaring lion and he roared, too, against Him.
How crafty was his device to put the young child to death through the proclamation of Herod the king to slay all the young children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under! How the roaring of the lion is heard in this.
Again, how he tried to overcome the Savior by direct temptation, as well as by the hatred of men, their scorn, rejection, and snares to catch something out of His mouth that they might accuse Him. In how many ways the lion roared against Him! But the tongues of the despising Pharisees, as well as of the infidel Sadducees and Herodians, were silenced by Him, and all Satan's temptations resisted.
We are told in this typical narrative that "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him [Samson], and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand." (v. 6.) So the Lord Jesus not only resisted Satan, but destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. This He did, not by taking human weapons, for instead of taking anything in His hand, He was crucified through weakness; His hands and feet were pierced. It was through death that He triumphed over Satan.
He went into death for us, even the death of the cross to pay the penalty of our sins. By going through death and rising out of it triumphantly, He destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Had Jesus remained in death, Satan would have gained the victory, but Christ rising out of death thus set aside victoriously Satan's power, and gave us deliverance from the fear of death. Thus death is abolished and Satan vanquished for all who believe on the Son of God.
Though Satan is still the deceiver of the world, and the accuser of the brethren, and his messengers are allowed of the Lord to buffet the Lord's servants, yet nothing of the kind is permitted unless for our benefit. "All things work together for good to them that love God." What a triumph Christ accomplished, when He did by Himself purge our sins, and sat down on the right hand of God!