5290 defeat

The overcoming of or being overcome by a physical, spiritual or circumstantial enemy. Those humbled before God by such a defeat eventually come to see it as a positive experience, leading to increased spiritual maturity. The way to avoid being defeated is to trust in God and to wear the spiritual armour he provides.

Defeat as the overcoming of enemies

Physical enemies such as armies Ge 14:5-6 See also Ge 14:15; Ge 36:35; Dt 1:4; Dt 4:46; Dt 7:1-2; Dt 29:7; Jos 10:33; Jos 11:1-9; Jdg 7:19-22; 1Sa 7:10; 1Sa 11:11; 1Sa 14:48; 1Sa 17:50; 2Sa 2:17; 2Sa 5:17-25 pp 1Ch 14:8-17; Ps 92:11; Jer 37:10; Zec 9:15; Heb 7:1; Heb 11:34

Spiritual enemies such as Satan Ge 3:15 See also Lk 10:19; Jn 12:31; Jn 14:30; Ro 16:20; Col 2:15; 2Th 2:8; Heb 2:14; 1Jn 2:13-14; 1Jn 3:8; Rev 12:11; Rev 15:2; Rev 17:14; Rev 20:10

The world as the realm of sin Jn 16:33 See also Ro 8:37; Ro 12:21; 1Jn 4:4; 1Jn 5:4-5; Rev 2:7,11,17,26; Rev 3:5,12,21; Rev 5:5; Rev 21:7

Defeat as being overcome by enemies

By physical enemies Lev 26:17 The Israelites were often defeated by their enemies as a punishment for disobeying God. See also Nu 14:41-43; Dt 1:42; Dt 28:25; Jos 7:4; Jdg 2:15; Jdg 3:12-14; 1Sa 4:1-11; 1Ki 8:33 pp 2Ch 6:24; Ps 13:4; Ps 44:9-12; Ps 78:62; Jer 19:7-9; Jer 21:7

By spiritual enemies Jas 1:13-15 See also Ge 3:6-22; 2Sa 11:2-17; 1Co 6:7; 1Th 2:18; 1Th 3:5; 1Ti 5:11; 2Pe 2:20

By circumstances Ps 39:10 This refers to God’s chastisement through affliction; Ps 116:3 See also Ps 32:4; Ps 38:2; 2Sa 22:5-6 pp Ps 18:4-5; 1Ki 19:1-4; Job 36:8-9; Jer 23:9; Da 10:16; Lk 8:37; Ro 12:21

Defeat as a positive experience

Jas 4:10 See also 2Ch 7:14-15; Ps 119:67,71; 2Co 12:7-10; Heb 12:9-11; 1Pe 5:6

Defeat can be avoided

By trusting in God Ps 25:1-3 See also 2Ch 13:18; Ps 22:5; Ps 31:1-4 pp Ps 71:1-3; Ps 112:6-8; Ps 125:1; Isa 26:3; Ro 9:33; Ro 10:11; 1Pe 2:6

By wearing the spiritual armour God provides Eph 6:10-18 See also Ro 13:12; 1Th 5:8

See also