Defeat and Ruin

Judges 9:45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. It seemed to be a custom of some to sow salt upon a city after it's destruction. A large quantity of salt would leave the ground infertile, and add to the humiliation of defeat. A city sown with salt would be a long time in returning to it's former state, if ever. If only we would also take the extra step in the battles that we fight against the devil. Instead, we often leave the ground fertile for future temptations and attacks from our adversary. We should be more like David, who after he knocked Goliath to the ground with his sling, he promptly cut off his head.  The ultimate example of complete defeat and ruin was Christ, our great Warrior, when He defeated Satan by giving His own life as a payment for our sins. The blood that He shed for us set us free with a lasting forgiveness. He then rose from the grave with resurrection power, bringing to ruin the power of death, hell and the grave. We have been empowered by Christ to not only defeat the devil, but to also bring him to ruin!