The Great Adversary

Peter directs our attention to a sobering reality in the second half of 1 Peter 5:8: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Here, Peter introduces Satan not merely as an adversary of God or the holy angels, but as our adversary—yours and mine. This truth underscores the personal nature of Satan’s enmity against all believers. While Satan is a finite creature, incapable of omnipresence or omniscience, he is described by Jesus as “the father of lies” and “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). Every sin and all forms of misery in this fallen world bear his fingerprints.

The Devil’s Role as Our Adversary

Peter’s use of the term adversary highlights Satan’s identity as an opponent, one who belongs to the opposing side of the great cosmic battle. He stands in direct opposition to the people of God, aiming to thwart God’s purposes and lead believers astray. What makes the devil a particularly formidable adversary is his invisibility. Unlike a visible foe whose movements and strategies can be discerned, Satan operates unseen, much like a sniper attacking from a concealed position. This spiritual nature allows him to exploit his craft in subtle and varied ways.

The Devil’s Activity and Strategy

Peter’s description of Satan as a prowling lion conveys both his activity and his malevolence. Satan is not a dormant enemy; he is actively seeking opportunities to devour. This activity wasn’t confined to the Garden of Eden or the temptations of Job and Jesus. Peter, writing after Christ’s exaltation, emphasizes that Satan remains active even in the apostolic age and continues to this day.

Why liken the devil to a lion? Consider the lion’s characteristics:

1. Formidability: A lion is one of the most powerful predators on Earth, and Satan is our most formidable spiritual adversary.
2. Fear-Inducing Nature: Lions evoke fear in their prey; similarly, Satan seeks to paralyze believers with fear.
3. Insatiable Appetite: Though figurative, the devil’s desire to inflict harm on believers is relentless.
4. Mercilessness: Like a lion tearing its prey apart without pity, Satan takes no remorse in the destruction he causes.

The Intelligence of Our Adversary

Satan’s craftiness is another aspect of his danger. Though he has lost the moral purity he once possessed as an angel, he retains his intelligence. This cunning is evident in his deception of Adam and Eve in the Garden, where he painted sin in the guise of virtue, suggesting that disobedience would make them “like God” (Genesis 3:5). Even today, Satan continues this strategy, masking vice as virtue and minimizing the seriousness of sin. He whispers lies that lead us to rationalize or underestimate sin, just as he did with Eve, saying, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4).

Exploiting Human Weakness

Though Satan cannot directly access our thoughts, he observes our behavior and exploits our weaknesses. With centuries of practice, he is adept at studying human conduct and orchestrating temptations tailored to our vulnerabilities. He knows when and how to strike, often leveraging situations, relationships, or environments to lead us astray. This relentless strategy reveals his deep malice and urgency, knowing his time is limited.

The Prowling Lion in Scripture

Peter’s imagery of a prowling lion aligns with descriptions in Psalm 10:8–10, where the wicked are likened to a lion ambushing the helpless. This highlights Satan’s power and cruelty but also reminds us that his strength is ultimately limited by God’s sovereign restraint. If not for God’s restraining hand, Satan would do far worse to us than he did to Job.

Our Need for Christ

The reality of Satan’s power and malice underscores our desperate need for Christ. Without Christ, we are defenseless—like someone cast into a lion’s den without armor or weapons. But for those who belong to Christ, there is hope and strength. The devil may surprise us, but he can never surprise God. He may overpower us, but he can never overpower the One who is greater. In Christ, we have access to divine strength and the armor of God, enabling us to stand firm against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10–18).

The Assurance of Victory

John reminds us in 1 John 3:8: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Through His death and resurrection, Christ has already won the decisive victory, binding the strong man and securing the final defeat of Satan. Though Satan’s prowling continues until Christ’s return, his ultimate doom is certain.

“The Devil Is Real” sermon (1 Peter 5:8-9)