“Piranhas ” (Matt.4:1-11; Job 40:6-14; Heb.2:7ff)Jerusalem Bible Series - Job  and Matt. sub-series]

You’ll get chewed up by Piranhas, ’bout as bad as by a shark;
I’d not factored in that aspect as they tour my life apart;
Jesus’ comments to el diablo play upon this theme as well –
“Do not tempt the Lord, your God” if you’re from heaven, or earth, or hell”.

Just the way the Spanish puts it, helped me see this scene aright –
I had seen one other aspect in an ordinary light –
As if we were just like Jesus, He like us, and nothing else –
“Don’t tempt God” for all us people, spoke to Christ as to myself.

But I hear another message in this Spanish text as well –
Some view Christ as “God incarnate” while on earth, as Scriptures tell;
Though they all debate that factor – “So don’t tempt me”, Jesus says;
All don’t buy this other aspect (“With the Scripture those guys play”).

But on viewing this construction in the Spanish text today,
I was startled the by its message, in my mind it whirled away –
“Are you really just like Jesus, with no limits, ’cause You’re God?”
Or is Jesus, more than Angels, which means Satan is a clod?

In celestial pecking order, I’d not given it much thought,
But in this I’m hearing different things through what translation brought –
Jesus is above the Angels, man is not, a difference there –
satan’s like Piranhas munching from beneath – that is compared –

To the human situation, he’s a shark – just look at Job –
“How you doing with old satan? Has he got a stranglehold
On your situation, wrecking up your life and killing kin?
Hey there, smarty-pants, you winning over master-chef of sin?”

That’s the point of Job to readers, for we’re all a lot like Job –
Think were big enough to handle Satan in his ersatz robe?
Well, we’re not – so we imagine that we’re making out just fine,
Till we look more closely at the books and see the bottom line.

Just because old satan is no shark to threaten Jesus Christ,
Doesn’t mean he can’t cause trouble, for he isn’t very nice;
Jesus tells him to go elsewhere, for to Christ, he’s wasting time;
And he does, though for a season – ’till it’s crucifixion time.

Thanks Lord for this.

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