Verse 17
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time
The power of Satan great but restricted
St.
Paul had a very profound belief in the reality and activity of the evil one (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 26:18; 1 Timothy 5:15; Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 12:7). The powers of Satan--
I. Forcing an unwilling separation.
1. The separation was painful but temporary--“Being taken from you” literally, “being orphaned of you.” Their grief was like that of a father bereaved of his children, or children of their parents. They hoped speedily to return, and after a lapse of five years, that hope was realized. Satan acted by means of wicked men (Acts 17:5-8; Acts 17:13).
2. The separation did not lessen their spiritual attachment. “In presence, not in heart.” Satan may deprive of the opportunity of social intercourse, but not of reciprocal Christian love. Augustine, referring to different kinds of friendship, shows the preeminence of the spiritual, when the link is grace and the Spirit of God. “Natural affections, want of presence diminisheth; mundane friendship, where profit makes the union, want of profit unlooseth; but spiritual amity nothing dissolves, no, not that which dissolves all others, lack of society.”
II. Hindering an earnestly desired visit.
1. Opposition intensified their desire to see their converts. “Endeavoured the more abundantly,” etc. As lime is inflamed by water, as a stream grows more furious by the obstacles set against it, so genuine affection is increased by that which opposes it.
2. The opposition succeeded in baffling repeated attempts to carry out that desire. “Once and again, but Satan hindered us.” The apostle halted at Berea on his way to Athens, and probably attempted then to return to Thessalonica, but was thwarted in his design. Though no express reference is made in the history to the agency of Satan, Paul had unmistakeable evidence of its operation in many wars. Satan hindered us--perhaps by sickness, imprisonment, tempests at sea, or by keeping him so fully occupied with incessant conflicts and ever new tribulations of his own, as to leave him no leisure for carrying out his plan. The verb signifies to cut a trench in the way of a pursuing enemy, so as to hinder his progress.
III. Unable to rob the Christian worker of the joy and reward of success. Great as is the power of Satan, it is not omnipotent. The Christian warrior can successfully withstand it (Ephesians 6:11-13; Romans 16:20).
1. Success in soul saving is productive of joy. “For what is our hope,” etc. The merchant rejoices over his gains, the warrior ever his victories, the artist over the achievements of genius; but there is no joy so sweet as that of the successful winner of souls.
2. The joy of success in soul saving will be among the highest rewards of the future. “In the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” etc. The return of Christ to heaven, after the judgment, is here compared to the solemnity of a triumph, in which the apostle is to appear crowned in token of victory over the false religions of the world, attended by his converts, and because they are the cause of his being thus crowned, they are, by a beautiful figure of speech, called his crown of rejoicing. Special honour is promised to the successful worker (Daniel 12:3).
(1) Joy enhanced by the recognitions in the future life. If Paul knows his converts in the heavenly world, shall not we know our loved ones who have gone before?
(2) By the presence and approbation of the Lord Jesus for whom we have laboured. “In Thy presence is fulness of joy,” etc.
Lessons:
1. The power of Satan works through many agencies; therefore we have need of watchfulness.
2. The power of Satan is limited; therefore we need not be discouraged (G. Barlow.)
Paul’s absence from the Thessalonians
For this he apologizeth.
I. He was rudely forced away from them, such was the rage of his persecutors, who, by certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, stirred all the city of Thessalonica into an uproar, and would have taken summary vengeance upon him and Silas; but their brethren interposed, and ere long they sent them away by night to Berea. The body of Paul was at Berea, but the heart of Paul was at Thessalonica. He could not forget the Thessalonians. Sooner might the stars forget their courses at night time, or the sun forget to shine at noon day.
II. Even his bodily absence was but for a brief space--the time of an hour, as it were. All time on earth is brief and uncertain, whether we are present with our friends or absent from them. This world is not a place where we are long together. It is in heaven holy souls shall meet and never part more.
III. He earnestly endeavoured to see them again. How strong and beautiful his words, “We endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire!” Who could doubt his affection for his converts after this? He knew they esteemed him very highly in love for his works’ sake, and was therefore attracted to them by the force of the same holy passion. Love alway begets love, and hearts thereby influenced would never be separated. But even apostles are not masters of their own time. Paul did his best, and angels could do no more.
IV. But Satan hindered his return to them. The great enemy of mankind is especially opposed to those who would destroy his kingdom of lies by declaring the truth of another kingdom. The child of God can no sooner enterprise that which is really good, but he meets with some impediment; so, whoever be the means or instruments for impeding us in the way of duty, the devil himself, through God’s permission, is the prime author of that woeful work, and all others do but fight under his banner; for, though other means were doubtless accessory to Paul’s stay at Berea, yet Satan hindered him from returning at once to Thessalonica. (D. Mayo.)
The discipline of absence
A little party of friends had been making a fortnight’s excursion among the Alps, in high enjoyment and good fellowship. Among them were two lovers in the first happiness of their engagement. The company broke up by degrees, and on the shore of the Lake of Geneva the young man took leave for a while of his betrothed. As the little steamer carried her away, and the twilight fell upon the lake, she sat alone, and her face grew pensive with a loneliness which was new to her. Her friends were walking the deck--a husband and wife, who for many years had walked together, and to whom sweet alike were the deck or the shore, Switzerland or England, if they were side by side. Their glances fell on the girl, and they said to each other, “Today she was happy, and now she is sad; but she could not spare the sadness. She will be the fitter for a wife’s joy if she learns to love through missing him as well as through having him.” So, perhaps, may higher intelligences look upon us in our saddest hours, and say, “Now they are learning to love.” (Free Methodist.)
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