by Tammy Phillips
April 21, 2020
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. [Eph 6:12 KJV]
Remember, wrestle means to throw your enemy down. David threw the giant enemy of Israel by trusting the Lord and casting a stone. As we follow David’s example, we need to pick up our rocks. David said, “The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer and God is the rock of our salvation” in 2 Samuel 22:2,4. Jesus called Peter a rock in Matthew 16:18. To wrestle well, let’s pick up our Rock, our Savior and pick up the 1 ROCK 5:7 (1 Peter 5:7), this wrestler’s stone of choice:
Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
We have heard this verse so many times. “Cast your care. Cast your care!” However, do we pick up this nugget? Do we practice the verse when the care comes to visit or do we sit and wallow in the care? Be empowered by the original Greek meanings of the words in this verse.
CASTING (epiripto) to throw upon. Break down of the Greek compound word epiripto: Epi means on, upon, before. Ripto means to throw down; throw off; throw forward; to set down; to fling with a quick toss; to hurl; to violently throw. It is similar to rhapizoa which means to smite with a rod or staff; to smite in the face with the palm of the hand, to box the ear. (In my world this means hit the “care” right out of the park with a bat.) See; Wrestling and casting both mean to throw down.
ALL (pas) means all. It means each and every. Every part. All things, everything, the “whole thang.” Whatsoever and whosoever.
YOUR CARE (merimna) anxiety, trouble, difficulty. It comes from the word merizo meaning, what distracts you; divides you; separates you into parts; tears you apart; cuts you to pieces, splits you into. According to Webster’s Dictionary 1828, anxiety is concern respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. It springs from fear. Think about anxiety is fear about something that usually never happens. Care=Anxiety=Fear.
UPON HIM FOR HE CARES (melei) to be of interest; to be of concern; take care] FOR YOU!
How powerful are those words? Altogether, this is how I see 1 Peter 5:7, Throw down, throw off, throw forward, set down, fling, hurl, violently throw, hit with a bat, slap silly upside the head, all, each and every, all things, everything, the whole thang, whosoever and whatsoever care, anxiety, fear, trouble or difficulty upon him, our Rock, our Salvation, our Jesus, for He cares for you. He is interested in you. He will take care of you and take your cares for you.
God does not care how BIG or small our care. (God doesn’t have any big problems!) We were not meant to carry cares. Throw it to him! Here is a perfect example. No kidding! My Mom sent me this text as I was writing this:
“I’ve looked EVERYWHERE in the house, outside office, and my car multiple times for last 24 hours for my water bottle! Exasperated, I sat in my chair to read and said, “Okay Lord, don’t know why I haven’t asked You, but please show me where it is.” No sooner had I sat down, less than a minute, than I had to go to bathroom!!! When I walked in, I had the “urge” to open the closet. I did and there sat my bottle! God is sooo Good, quick to respond, and always listening to our every prayer! He did that to show me, He cares about everything that concerns me and that I must trust Him with EVERYthing!!! Thank You, Lord!”
I encourage you to SLANG that THANG that is wearing you out! David slang the thang and knocked out the giant. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you: he will never permit the righteous to be moved. [Psalm 55:22] Wrestle well. Cast your cares every day, all the time. Kill your giants. Be CARE-FULL for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [idea from Philippians 4:6 KJV]
Complete in Him 