This we have given us with peculiar force by the pen of the inspired evangelist Luke. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have thee, that he may sift thee as wheat." If Satan had been suffered to have his way, poor Simon would have been hopelessly ruined. But no; he was merely employed as an instrument, as he had been in Job's case, to do a needed work, and, when that work was done, he had to retire. He dare not go one hair's breadth beyond his appointed sphere. It is well to remember this. Satan is but a creature--crafty, wily, powerful, no doubt, but a creature who can only go as far as he is permitted by God. Had Peter walked softly, had he humbly and earnestly looked for divine help, had he been judging himself in secret, there would have been no need of Satan's sifting. Thanks be to God, Satan has no power whatever with a soul that walks humbly with God. There is perfect shelter, perfect safety, in the divine presence; and there is not an arrow in the enemy's quiver that can reach one who leans in simple confidence upon the arm of the living God. Here our apostle failed, and hence he had to pass through a very severe process indeed, in order that he might learn himself.
But, oh, the power and preciousness of those words, "_I have prayed for thee_!" Here assuredly lay the secret--here was the procuring cause of Simon's restoration. The prayer of Jesus sustained the soul of His erring servant in that terrible hour when the enemy would fain have crushed him to powder. What could Satan do in opposition to the all-powerful intercession of Christ? Nothing. That wonderful prayer was the ground of Peter's safety, when, to human view, all seemed hopelessly gone.
And for what did our Lord pray? Was it that Peter might not commit the awful sin of denying Him? Was it that he might not curse and swear? Clearly not. What then? "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not."
Can aught exceed the grace that shines here? That gracious, loving, faithful Lord, in view of Peter's terrible sin--knowing all he was about to do, all the sad forgetfulness--could actually plead for him that, spite of all, his confidence might not give way--that he might not lose the sense of the eternal stability of that grace which had taken him up from the depth of his ruin and guilt.
Matchless grace! Nothing can surpass it in brightness and blessedness. Had it not been for this prayer, Peter's confidence must have given way. He never could have survived the awful struggle through which his soul passed when thinking of his dreadful sin. When he came to himself, when he reflected upon the whole scene, his expressions of devotedness, "Though all should deny Thee, yet will I never deny Thee"--"Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee"--"I am ready to go with Thee to prison and to death"--to think of all these words, and yet that he should deny his beloved Lord with cursing and swearing, was overpowering.
It is a dreadful moment in the soul's history when one wakes up to the consciousness of having committed sin--sin against light, knowledge, and privilege--sin against divine grace and goodness. Satan is sure to be specially busy at such a crisis. He casts in the most terrible suggestions--raises all manner of questions--fills the heart with legal reasonings, doubts, and fears--causes the soul to totter on the foundation.
But, thanks and praise to our God, the enemy cannot prevail. "Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further." The all-prevailing intercession of our divine Advocate sustains the faith so sorely tried, carries the soul through the deep and dark waters, restores the broken link of communion, heals the spiritual wounds, lifts up the fallen one, brings back the wanderer, and fills the heart with praise and thanksgiving. "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art restored, strengthen thy brethren." Here we have set before us in the most touching way _the procuring cause_ of Simon Peter's restoration. We shall now look for a moment at