Daily Devotional

Richard the Lionheart was king of England from 1189 to his death in 1199. The nickname was given him due to his courageous military acumen, made known from the tender age of 16, when he led an army to victory against French rebels.

Christ’s alternative name Michael is similarly used in Scripture in depictions of wartime struggles. Yesterday’s verse showed Michael locked in combat with the dragon, Satan; and now we see that He emerged victorious. In Jude 9, we see Michael again “contending with the devil.” In Daniel 10:13, the angel Gabriel recounted how Michael delivered him from a cosmic conflict involving the prince of Persia. Note that in this verse, Michael is described as “one of the chief princes.” But this unfortunate translation doesn’t group Jesus in with a bunch of other princes. The Hebrew number for “one” can also mean “first,” as in the top of the hierarchy. In other words, Christ is the commander-in-chief.

Let’s take a closer look at Lucifer’s special “place” in God’s government: Ezekiel 28:14 tells us that he was “the anointed cherub who covers.” We learn even more from the blueprint of the earthly sanctuary: “The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the mercy seat with their wings” (Exodus 37:9). The mercy seat, God’s throne (25:22), was atop the ark of the covenant (v. 21); inside the ark was the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 10:2–5). Thus, a “cherub who covers” was one of those two cherubim who watched over God’s law.

How much more tragic, then, that the devil, one of the closest to God, one who was supposed to protect the law, was the first to break it? This most honorable of positions is what the devil forfeited when he started the rebellion. In tomorrow’s verse, we’ll look at this from its other application, the “place” the devil and his angels lost after Christ’s victory on the cross.

But think about this: While the devil lost his “place,” Jesus promised us, “I go and prepare a place for you, … that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).

Lord of Hosts, thank You for Your assurance that with You, we too can win the victory against the devil’s attacks.

For Further Study: Psalm 24:8; 37:10; Daniel 12:1