Chains And Bonds:
The synonyms for chains are, bonds, bands, to bind, and also refer to certain ligaments of the human body. In the literal sense, a chain is a series of links, or rings connected, or fitted into one another. There are chains of iron and steel, used to lift, tow, or bind. There are chains of silver, and gold used as ornaments, worn around the neck, wrist, or ankles.
Chains can be used literally to bind, secure, restrained, or cuff men, or things.
Jeremiah 52:11, The king of Babylon captured Zdedkiah, put out his eyes, “And bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon.”
Judges 15:14, “The Philistines had bound Samson, but the Holy Spirit came and, “His (Samson’s) bands loosed from off his hands.”
Mark 5:3-4, Speaks of a man that, “No man could bind, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters (shackles) and chains, and the chins had been plucked (pulled apart) asunder by him.”
Luke 8:29, speaks of a demon that had possessed a man, and the man even when bound, “Brake the bands, and was driven of (by) the devil into the wilderness.”
Acts 12:6, Peter when in prison, was “Bound with two chains.”
Chains used in Scriptures as a metaphor,
Psalms 2:2-3, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
2 Peter 2:4, “If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” There will be no future trial for these angels, their place in the lake of fire is sealed.
Ephesians 6:20, Paul writes, “For which I am an ambassador in bonds (chains.)”
Acts 28:20, Paul writes, “For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” 2 Timothy 1:16, “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, — and was not ashamed of my chains.”
Men chained their idols to their shrines,
Isaiah 40:19, “The workman melteth (molded) a graven image, and goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.” Pride is a chain which keeps men under its power: and in their conduct, they use it as if ornamental to them.
Psalms 73:6, ” Pride compasseth (serves as a necklace) them about as a chain.”
Genesis 41:42, “Pharaoh, — put a gold chain about his (Joseph’s) neck.” This gold chain given to Joseph by pharaoh was a badge, and degree of rank. That rank was only second to Pharaoh.
God’s law is a chain; if restrains from sinful liberty; making it difficult to corrupt men; and is worn as an ornament for those who obey it.
Worn, in a bad sense, Jeremiah 27:2, The LORD said to Jeremiah, “Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon your neck.”
In a good sense, Proverbs 1:9, “For they (instruction, and knowledge) shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”
Chains compared to a restraining wall;
Lamentations 3:7, Jeremiah writes, “He (man) hath hedged me about (walled him in,) that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
The chains of God against the spiritual enemies of God.
Revelation 20:1, speaks of Satan being bound a thousand years by an angel having a great chain in his hand. Throughout the Scriptures, Satan is said to exert great power against all men, but especially against the Jews, and Christians. These chains by which Satan is bound are connected with the coming of Christ.
Jude 6, “The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he (God) hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness.”
Spoken of a ligament, or limb of a body by which some member of the body is impeded; as the tongue, back, etc.
Mark 7:35, “The string of his tongue was loosed.”
The limbs, Luke 13:16, speaks of a woman who had a spirit of infirmity, being bowed over. Jesus said, “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond?”
Speaking of bonds, imprisonment, in spiritual things.
Paul writes, Philippians 1:13, “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest (made known) in all the palace, and in all other places.”
Philippians 1:7, “Because I have you in my heart; in as much as both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”
2 Timothy 2:9, “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds.”
In bonds for the gospel’s sake.
Philemon 13, “That in thy (Philemon) stead he (Onesimus) might have ministered unto me (Paul) in the bonds of the gospel.”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com