“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV).
The Gospel of Luke records a conversation between Jesus and the Apostle Peter that helps shape our understanding of this passage…
“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).
This sifting process describes the use of a sieve-like device that is designed to separate larger objects (or particles) from smaller ones. However, one source offers an ominous definition that aligns more closely with Satan’s actual request: “to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow by inward agitation.” (1)
This may account for Peter’s inspired observation here in verse eight, at least in part. As one commentator puts it. “The Saviour himself warned Peter of Satan’s ‘sifting him’; and from this it is clear that Peter got the message.” (2) Thus we can say that Peter never made the mistake of underestimating the enemy again.
The Biblical book of Job also sheds light on this passage. After a brief introduction, Job’s narrative begins with an account of Satan’s activities: “One day when the sons of God came to stand in front of the Lord, Satan the Accuser came along with them” (Job 1:6 GW). That led to the following exchange: “‘Where have you come from?’ the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, ‘I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on'” (Job 1:7 NLT).
Lest we get the impression that Satan’s activities were merely observational, Peter alerts us to his real agenda: “Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack” (CEV). This warning takes on additional urgency when we consider the origin of the word “devil.” This term is rooted in a word that signifies a false accuser. It also serves to identify one who is prone to slander. (3) The name “Satan” means “adversary,” a word that denotes an opponent or enemy. (4)
These data points lead us to an important summary regarding our spiritual adversary…
“Peter ends his exhortations by placing his readers’ situation in a broader, cosmic perspective. Christians must understand who the real enemy is: the Devil who assaults God indirectly by assaulting his people wherever they are found in the world.” (5)
(1) G4617 siniazo Thayer’s Greek Definitions https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4617/kjv/tr/0-1/
(2) Coffman, James Burton. “Commentary on 1 Peter 4”. “Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bcc/1-peter-4.html. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas,
(3) G1228 diabolos Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1228/kjv/tr/0-1/
(4) H7854 satan Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7854/kjv/wlc/0-1/
(5) Kendall, David W. “3. In resisting evil (5:8-11)” In Asbury Bible Commentary. 1196. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1992.