Rebuking the Devil

There is a place for rebuke in the body of Christ, as this is a way love can be shown by correction.  When I hear people who feel inclined to rebuke the devil, however, I wonder why not seek the LORD in prayer?  Why not make our supplications to God who will rebuke and destroy the enemy of our souls in due time?  Imagine, praying to the devil when you ought to be praying to God!  Even if Satan happens to be in earshot, our rebukes are nothing compared to God's.

It is a good practice to see if the practices of professing believers have biblical merit.  A quick survey of the scriptures does not demonstrate believers are ever taught or led by Jesus to rebuke the devil.  The passage which some have run with is Jude 1:8-9 that reads, "Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. ⁹ Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"  The context of this passage is not put forth as a command or pattern for believers to follow but was an example of how Michael the archangel did not assert himself in contending with the devil and instead appealed to God's authority and power--something dreamers and evil speakers refused to do.

In the scripture it seems the vast majority of rebuking is done by God Himself.  When we do rebuke people can get this wrong, like when Peter rebuked Jesus for saying He was going to the cross in Matthew 16:22.  The multitudes rebuked two blind men and told them to be quiet when they cried out for mercy from Jesus Christ the Son of David in Matthew 20:31.  We are wise to heed the rebuke of God as it is written in Hebrews 12:5-6:  "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶ for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."  Rather than being told to rebuke the devil, we ought to heed God's rebukes without discouragement knowing we are loved by Him.

I am convinced if we follow the tradition of some in rebuking the devil we risk treading on God's sovereign territory because He has promised to do this when His people walk in obedience to Him.  God rebuked the children of Israel through the prophet Malachi who said it was vain to keep His command under Law to bring tithes.  God promised if they would keep His commands He would bless them beyond measure and then said in Malachi 3:11-12:  "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the LORD of hosts; ¹² "and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the LORD of hosts."  Better God rebuke the devourer than us, for He is able to do everything.  God's arm is not shortened that He cannot save, and His word is what matters.