2nd Tempation: Trust or Test?

In the wilderness Jesus is wrestling with the voice he heard at his baptism. “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. When he grew hungry and another voice told him to turn stones into bread he quoted the Book of Deuteronomy, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” 

Now Jesus is faced with a different issue. When does the written word of the scriptures given in the past to Moses, the prophets and the writers become the living word of God for God’s Son today?

He is meditating on Psalm 91 which speaks verse by verse of the care and protection God gives to his children. It begins:

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely, he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Promise follows promise for the one who is utterly committed to God.

“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you; no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

A thought comes into Jesus’ mind.  “Imagine I was to stand on the highest point of the temple and throw myself off, then according to this scripture God would command his angels to save me. After all it is written.” But Jesus dismisses this way of thinking. It would be treating the verses of the psalm like a written contract with God’s signature on the bottom. Jumping off the temple would be a way to test the contract to see if God will stand by it. But it is also written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test”. You are not allowed to treat verses of scripture like a book of spells to summon up miracles.

Psalm 91 reads like a lot of empty promises. Jesus knew that leaping from the temple would not bring angels to his rescue. The physical Law of Gravity would apply to him just as it does to all physical objects. He also knew the words of this psalm did not mean he would lead a charmed life, escaping all hardship. He would be tired or hungry just like everyone else. This psalm is not about the physical world where the promises would indeed be empty, it’s about the spiritual world, the Kingdom of God. As spiritual conflicts batter the soul so God promises protection for those who seek refuge in him. 

In his first temptation Jesus faced his hunger. His body craved food but his spirit craved the word of his Father just as much. Words spoken in the past would not feed him now. Words spoken to others was food from them but not for him.

In this second temptaion Jesus is challenged by the written words of scripture. How did God speak through them now?  Will God step in and rescue him as Ps 91 implies? Can these words be put to the test? No they cannot and they must not. Jesus saw this was another conflict between the two kingdoms, between his flesh and his spirit. The path he walked would be the path of obedience - the Father's will, not his. God may allow Jesus to be tested but Jesus would not test God.

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Psalm 91

1. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3. Surely, he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;

5. his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

6. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 

7. nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

8. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

9. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

10. If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,

11. no harm will overtake you; no disaster will come near your tent.

12. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

13. they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

14. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

15. “Because he  loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

16. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.

17. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”