Monday, March 15, 2010

Is Satan mentioned in the Old Testament?

Is Satan mentioned in the Old Testament?

It would appear Satan is mentioned in the Old Testament more than one time, which would indicate he is a real being, the fallen Lucifer, which is documented in
1 Chron 21:1-2
21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."
NIV

Job 1:6-7
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan , "Where have you come from?"
NIV
This whole story of Job has Satan all over the complete book, mentioned way too many times to include.

Zech 3:1-2
3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan , "The LORD rebuke you, Satan ! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
NIV

Indeed, Satan is referred to as the morning star in:
Isa 14:12-15

12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star , son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."
15 But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit.
NIV
In the Hebrew text the word translated morning star is really two words which would be directly translated son of the dawn.

In Peter, the text reads:
2 Peter 1:19
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
NIV
Note morning star in not capitalized and the Greek text reads:
The light bearer…..rises in your hearts.

But in Rev 22:16 Jesus does refer to himself as the Morning Star
Rev 22:16
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star ."
NIV
And note Morning Star is capitalized. The Greek text reads I am the star, bright, morning
The one over the skies, brilliant, radiant, dawn. He is the one who is radiant and will bring about the dawn, the beginning of the new age, the age of eternity.
This has, in no way anything to do with the Hebrew term used to describe Lucifer.
In fact Lucifer is a son in the respect of being created by God, the true dawn, the true bearer of light.

I hope this helps some, again those who oppose the truth of God, will find any reason to attempt to confuse and diminish the truth of scriptures. They oppose because they know it is true and it is light and therefore would expose their sin, if they were to admit its truth.
Man love the darkness and Hide from the light for fear of being exposed. If they can try to prove it to not be the truth, then they believe they do not have to be held accountable to it.

1 comment:

Cheri said...

Thanks Rich, hearing how the Greek interpretation of Morning Star makes it very clear which one God is talking about.

Some argue that God doesn't talk about Satan in the Tanakh, but I also believe these are excuses.

Indeed, most sin is done under cover of darkness. Nightclubs, concerts, etc., seem to be different in the day time or when all the lights are on, not that I have ever been in one, just what I see on TV, lol. Honestly, I never have. However sin seems to tempt us in the dark much more than when the Son (Sun) shines!