1 PETER 2 (NOTES OF A READING)
[p. 260] 1 PETER 2 (NOTES OF A READING)
CAC Peter is in harmony with Paul in showing we are to be subject to the government that exists in this world through the ordering of God.
Rem Peter puts it, “To every human institution”.
CAC It would be most difficult for the Jew to accept that authority had passed into the hands of gentile powers.
Rem It would be a matter for believers to look through these things to God, recognising they are from Him. The things that touch our pride and our will in connection with the government of men — it would help us to get back to God about them. Subjection would be on the line of what touches us; it would be something that touches us very much.
CAC It suggests that this subjection is part of our testimony, even though it may seem to act against us at certain times as it did to the Lord. “Thou hadst no authority whatever against me it if were not given to thee from above”, He said to Pilate (John 19: 11). The power of government in the world so worked against Him as to condemn Him to death; but He subjected Himself to it. He could have had more than twelve legions of angels to act for Him — greater than all the Roman power — but He subjected Himself to it. It would bring to light that God’s government is favourable to His people in its general bearing. There was a period of suffering for His people. The result of it all is the great liberty we have today. God allowed things to go so far that the natural conscience rose up in rebellion against it, so it has worked out for good. The Lord’s example in this chapter is most touching, because He was most unrighteously and unjustly treated by those in authority. But what a Model! “When reviled, reviled not again; when suffering, threatened not; but gave himself over into the hands of him who judges righteously”. It would seem it was entrusted to the [p. 261] saints to carry that on for His sake — to carry it on, not looking for outward deliverance, but to suffer. Is that not christianity? Sometimes we expect to be protected. No one could think that, who sees what happened to the Lord Himself and the apostles at the beginning of the dispensation. We must not expect to be protected ourselves, we must expect to suffer. The saints have liberty to go on with well-doing. Nebuchadnezzar’s government sometimes acted violently against the people of God.
Rem “God’s bondmen” (verse 16) would be nothing but the will of God in the mind of the saints, I suppose — very testing, of course.
CAC The easy times we have had have somewhat tended to relax the fibre of conscience. If we suffered more we should have more tender consciences.
Rem It is a great test to go on in the face of great difficulties. The Lord is a “model” for us (verse 21).
CAC Naturally we resent what we feel is unjust, and if we are not very careful, Satan will take advantage of that and put us out of the testimony.
Rem I knew that happened to a brother after three bereavements; he felt hard done by. He was afterwards restored.
CAC It would not have done him any harm to have read the book of Job. The saints have to go through severe experiences sometimes to bring them into harmony with the Spirit of Christ. If we consider Him we should feel ashamed of those feelings in us that are wrong. He went through every kind of wrong in preparedness to suffer. He gave Himself over to God, though He could judge of the wrong so perfectly and entirely. “Who ... gave himself over into the hands of him who judges righteously”.
Rem It would help us if we could watch Him under all He suffered at the hand of man, and imbibe His Spirit.
Ques Why is it “a cloak of malice” (verse 16)?
CAC The cloak would rather explain that it is hidden,
[p. 262] but it is there. It is wishing something may happen to anyone, unkind or evil; but there is to be no such thing even at the bottom of the heart. If a person has done me evil, that is the person to be pitied, not me! It is all testing to us as to whether we have the Spirit of Christ. Is that our true, vital wealth — the Spirit of Christ? “Shew honour to all”: men are entitled to respect as God’s creatures. Man may be degraded by lust and self-will, but faith would look underneath all that and see the dignity that attaches to a creature of God. We see that Peter and Paul always addressed men respectfully. It should be the attitude of gospel preachers. We used to think that the more we called them wicked sinners the better for them. The dignity of man is that he is set in the creation as God’s representative, and we recognise that. He is made in the image of God. So it is good for us to have that side of things with us. Any persons having the grace of life, surely, have an additional honour. You would shrink from the disparagement of any person, but most of all of a saint. We address men as having Christ as their Head, so the human race is distinguished by having such a Head. Adam is not the head of man. The thing is to get people’s eyes opened to the truth.