And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (Romans 16:20).
When Lord Nelson sent home to England his dispatches following the Battle of the Nile, he wrote, "Victory is not a name strong enough for such a scene as this." What will it be when the promise of our text is completely fulfilled? The word "victory" will not be strong enough for such a scene, such glory. This promise follows well on our text for September 1. Believers have the promise not only that the Seed of the woman will bruise the serpent's head but that he will be bruised under their feet. Victory will not come to God's children by their own power. It is God who will bruise Satan.
In His conflicts with Satan our Saviour left us an example. He used "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). In His three great temptations our Lord relied on the sword of the Scripture, and the enemy was not able to match its power. The Saviour had only the Old Testament, but today we have the New Testament also to draw upon. Let us use this heavenly weapon, which is "sharper than any twoedged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). So let us "keep looking up, going forward in faith," for the promise is that "God . . . shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Until then, we may have victory every day. Let us often think of that word "shortly." What a joy to hear it! Soon, quickly, shortly, the victory will be ours and Satan's head be bruised. For this we must trust the God of peace. "And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head" (Psalms 3:3).