To Quench (σβέννυμι)

To quench (σβέννυμι) generally means to suppress something. It is used in Scripture concerning fire, lamps, and desires.

Isaiah prophesied concerning the coming of the Messiah. He will not be quarrelsome nor cry out. No one will hear his voice in the streets. He will be gentle, not bruising a reed, and will not quench a smoking lamp wick until the time of justice comes, Matthew 12:20. He did not challenge the judgment of those in authority who sought to unrighteously kill Him. Instead, He walked quietly among the people, healing them and instructing them to not make Him known, for He did not seek a reputation for Himself but to show forth the glory of God the Father and do His will.

As Israel waits in the wilderness for the second coming of the Messiah, some will be prepared for His return. Those who are not ready will miss Him as He sweeps through the wilderness taking what is His, Matthew 25:8. The parable of the ten virgins is used to represent what will happen at this time. Those who are prepared will ensure they have sufficient oil for their lamps as they wait, where the others will pay no attention until the last moment, but their lamps will be quenched because of their failure to prepare.

While speaking of the Kingdom of the Heavens to the Jews, Jesus lays out the rules of His Kingdom, which we also know as the Millennial Kingdom. In His Kingdom, righteousness rules, Matthew 13:41-42. The Jew will have the law of God written upon their heart, Jeremiah 31:33. Therefore, during this time God will hold them liable for a trespass, along with their sins. However, mercy will still be given during this time by the cutting off of the body part that was used to offend. This may seem harsh, but it is better to enter eternal life missing members than to go whole into the lake of fire where the worm is not quenched, Mark 9:44. The worm is referring to the sin nature of a human. In the lake of fire, the desires from the flesh will not be satisfied, Isaiah 66:24.

By faith, the saints of old quenched fire, escaped the edge of the sword, in weakness became strong, in battle were valiant. Women received their dead raised to life again, yet others were tortured and would not accept deliverance to obtain a better resurrection, Hebrews 11:33-35.

Through the armor of God, which is our heavy defensive armor that we put on when Satan is attacking us so that we are able to stand fast against him, we are able to quench all his fiery darts, Ephesian 6:16. These are the desires that he seeks to influence us by to follow his will over God’s.

As members of the body of the Christ, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Therefore, He produces desires within us that we are to stop quenching, 1 Thessalonians 5:19. God does not speak to us with an audible voice. We do not hear a still, quiet voice when seeking His guidance. He does not move mountains, crush nations with fire and brimstone, nor is He visible present in the Temple in Jerusalem. Instead, because He indwells us, the Holy Spirit produces desires within us that are righteous. These desires are contrary to the wants from the flesh, Galatians 5:16-17. God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3. Therefore, when we have desires to do what is right, let us not suppress them. Instead, let us seek to live the remaining time we have in the flesh to the desirous will of God, not fulfilling the wants of the flesh, 1 Peter 4:2.