MESSAGE IN 1PETER – NUMBER 1 – A PROBLEM THAT WAS NOT SOLVED BUT IS SOLVED – 1Peter 1:9-12
[1]. INTRODUCTION
Have you ever pondered over something that was a bit enigmatic but you were not able to solve it? Perhaps it was not for you to solve, only to know a few small threads of it. Maybe the solution lay in the future, possibly for someone else to solve the question.
Science has been a lot like that. Scientists in the past discovered certain things and later other scientists built on their findings so that the whole area was updated. This is especially so in astronomy and medicine. Galileo used a very primitive telescope by modern standards and with it discovered four moons of Jupiter. Later telescopes, more improved and powerful, added a whole lot more knowledge. Space missions to Jupiter were a whole new thing and now there is exact detail of most of the moons and the total of moons is currently 92 in 2023.
Well that situation was like it was for the Old Testament prophets as they wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, revealing and declaring things that were new to them – whole new concepts that in some cases did not make sense to them. A few examples are these.
(a). Who was the Servant coming who would suffer? (Isaiah 52 and 53).
(b). Who was the One who would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt? (Zechariah 9:9).
(c). Who was the Holy One whose soul would not be kept in hell or would see any corruption? (Psalm 16:10 “for You will not abandon my soul to Sheol. Neither will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” NASB
(d). Who was he (The LORD) about whom Zechariah wrote who would be King over the whole earth? {{Zechariah 14:9 “And the LORD will be king over all the earth. In that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.”}} NASB
(e). Whom was the One Ezekiel wrote about being a shepherd, My servant David? – {{Ezekiel 34:23-24 “Then I will set over them one shepherd and My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them himself and be their shepherd, and I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.”}}
[2]. THE PROPHETS’ DILEMMA
We now come to what Peter wrote in his letter.
THE PROPHETS MADE CAREFUL SEARCH
Who has not heard of the alleged mystery of the Bermuda Triangle? Mysteries seem to captivate people’s attention. That is the explanation why there is much continuing interest in intriguing figments of the imagination such as Bigfoot and all his worldwide relatives that go by different names. Perhaps that has dated somewhat and today the focus has shifted to UFOs and possible alien visitors from space.
Many of the mysteries that intrigue people have but a passing occupation. Very few individuals have dedicated their whole lives to solving perplexing mysteries and those are found mainly among the scientific ranks. Much of it is pseudo science and conspiracy.
I am not suggesting there is anything mysterious about the writings of the Old Testament but there was an element of the unknown among some of the prophetic writers. Peter raises the matter this way:-
{{1Peter 1:9 “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
1Peter 1:10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the GRACE that would come to you made careful search and inquiry,
1Peter 1:11 SEEKING TO KNOW WHAT PERSON OR TIME the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.”}}
Verse 10 clarifies that it was the matter of man’s salvation that was the preoccupation of the prophets. Even though these inspired men wrote under the Mosaic Law, they were conscious that what they were writing had a future and wide ranging application. Verse 10 speaks of the grace that would come. Now this is a powerful statement considering that the prophets were under Law and operated by Law. Yet the Spirit of God within them made them aware of a future grace that would be shed on mankind. Even further, they prophesied of that coming grace.
What catches my attention is Peter’s comment about the way the prophets made careful search and inquiry. Every word here speaks volumes. “Careful” reveals the thoroughness of their dedication, sifting through their content and the writings of others, piece by piece. Then “search”. As they studied their own writings plus those other prophetic revelations, they attempted to nail down the exact time and place that God has selected for the revelation of His grace.
In the Old Testament times the Jews were under Law and because of the contrast between Law and grace, we tend to think grace did not operate in those times but it did. There is no better illustration of grace in the Old Testament than the story of David and Mephibosheth where the latter was taken out of a place of nothingness and no pasture and made to sit at the king’s table. He did not deserve that being done for him, but grace was extended to him from David so that he became as one of the king’s sons.
Also there were verses that are just beautiful, even in the context of Law. Take this one for example when God was speaking to Moses – {{Exodus 34:6-7 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and GRACIOUS, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”}}
[C]. THE PROPHETS SPOKE AS THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE TO THEM
Peter explained that the prophets prophesied of the grace that would come and they tried to understand that. They spoke about it but did not understand it. This is the marvel of the bible. Men, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit prophesied of things to come but they did not understand those things. However, they tried so hard to understand them, and searched for confirming scripture and searched their times to see what might be in the process of fulfillment. The person of Christ was before the Old Testament prophets always in the writings, but they did not know Him who was to come. They all had varied comments to share as God gave them utterance but they did not comprehend the Person or His ministry. It was like trying to look into a shadowy mirror.
The expression Peter uses in verse 11 is most important – “the Spirit of Christ within them,” because it is a special mark of divinity. We all know the Trinity well enough, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but here the Holy Spirit is termed as “the Spirit of Christ,” and there is nothing wrong with that, for remember what Jesus said, {{John 14:16-17 “and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever - that is, the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”}}
The Spirit of Truth is the same One as the Spirit of Christ who is the Holy Spirit. These Old Testament prophets were inspired to write as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. They wrote but did not fully understand.
What would have occupied their time also was the close attention to the times in which they were living to see what clues might shed light on their careful search and inquiry. They examined what was happening in their time and each successive wave of prophets did the same. It is critically essential that all believers in their own generation carefully study what is happening around them. The bible would call this “the signs of the times”.
Also in verse 11 we have more details of the content of their search. Central to this is “the sufferings of Christ”. Now remember we are deep in the B.C. years, yet we have prophets speaking of the Person who would come and His consequential sufferings. Now we know that Isaiah wrote more on this than any other and he lived around 700+ B.C. Can you picture the prophets who followed him, poring over his writings trying to decipher chapters 52 and 53. “How? When?” they would ask. “Who is the One so bruised and when is it to be?”
Their very attitude in carefully examining and discerning the scriptures is an example for us. Lazy Christians won’t do this but I think we are obligated to do that search and to examine the signs of the times. Jesus chastised the people of His time for being able to discern the signs – {{Matthew 16:3 and in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times?}} Events now in the world are happening so fast as we are almost at the end of the Church age, and we need to be aware of things as the Rapture is right on the doorstep. We must examine what is happening to discern God’s will about the One coming just like the Old Testament prophets did.
Also we must not forget what Paul impressed on Timothy – {{2Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”}} Handling accurately the word of truth means understanding what God’s word is saying to our current generation about what is to come, and to study biblical prophecy as the Old Testament prophets also did.
[D]. DANIEL LABOURS OVER A PASSAGE IN JEREMIAH
Consider for a moment a window of application from one prophet - Daniel, as he laboured over the writings of a former prophet to discern the correct judgment of truth:-
{{Daniel 9:2-3 “in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. SO I GAVE MY ATTENTION TO THE LORD GOD to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”}}
Now it would be really something if all of God’s children fasted with sackcloth and ashes to determine what the true discernment of God’s holy word is, but do we approach the Scriptures with the same sustained dedication as Daniel did? Do we pore over them so they become one complete integrated revelation of the grace of God, not merely a mismatch of 66 diverse writings? Do we even have enough interest to know what the bible says? Are we prepared to wait before God to understand the things that lie in the future, because all the Old Testament writers did that?
In 1Peter verse 11 we also are given another glorious statement. The prophets understood something of the sufferings but they also wrote of the glories to follow that suffering. It is much easier for us in retrospect to understand the sufferings of Christ on the cross followed by the glorious resurrection and the fruits of redemption with the restoration of all creation. We know of the glorious ascension and the glory that now attends Him, but for them back then, we can only admire them in their endeavours to ascertain the truth and their persistence in the scriptures. What marvellous examples they set for us.
[E]. LOOKING AT 1Peter 1:12 – SERVICE
Verse 12 throws us into service. The Old Testament prophets were actually serving us and not themselves as they faithfully wrote under inspiration; as they made careful search and inquiry.
{{1Peter 1:12 “It was revealed to them THAT THEY WERE NOT SERVING THEMSELVES, BUT YOU, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.”}}
The inspired prophets have written. They have made careful search and have left behind for us the richest of legacies in their writings. This is the only verse that would indicate that God gave the prophets insight into why their ministry was. The purpose was to serve the body of believers, namely us who are members of the Body of Christ. Their stewardship was to serve the future believers. Even though they did not understand some of the revealed inspiration given to them, they knew it had a purpose because God revealed it to them.
In the course of time the Holy Spirit took of the inspired word He had given way back in the past, and opened it up with great illumination to those in the future when many of those prophecies came to pass. Isn’t that such a wonderful thing? We may never have considered that concept before, but it is a gracious ministry by the Holy Spirit who prepared His word in times past through His faithful prophets.
Just to end the thoughts on verse 12, Peter mentions that the angels long to look into these things. What might that suggest to us? Well, firstly, the angels were created with some inquisitiveness, and they wished to know more of these centuries of unfolding of the will of the LORD. Secondly, it could suggest that the angels do not know the future but operate in the continuous present. Angelic beings are wonderful creations who assist us all the time. I have had some very serious falls in my life that should have broken bones, etc. but it is as if I was miraculously preserved by the hand of God’s ministers in a very similar way that David speaks of – {{Psalm 91:11-12 “He will give His angels charge concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands lest you strike your foot against a stone.”}}
[F]. LET US EXTEND THESE IDEAS FOR A MOMENT
If we may take just one verse from Paul who complements what Peter is writing:
{{Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in earlier times was WRITTEN FOR OUR INSTRUCTION, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE.”}}
We will note just two things:-
1. “FOR OUR INSTRUCTION”: They were serving not themselves but us. This was God’s plan so we must value highly the Old Testament Scriptures. It is absolutely reprehensible when pastors and ministers do not preach from the Old Testament, or take teaching series in the Old Testament. After all, it was written for our instruction. Never forget that the Old Testament scriptures were the scriptures of the early church during most of the first century.
Paul followed up on the matter of instruction from the Old Testament scriptures with this verse to Timothy – {{2Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching [instruction], for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”}} When Paul wrote that, “all scripture” meant the Old Testament.
2. “WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE”: the end result is hope and that is obtained through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures. It might seem unusual at first reading that perseverance (that means being steadfast in trial and persecution) would bring about hope. Most people lose hope in very difficult times but the Christian develops hope. That is allied to what Paul wrote here – {{Romans 5:3-5 “Not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that TRIBULATION BRINGS ABOUT PERSEVERANCE, and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, HOPE, and HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”}}
What a sweet resource has been left by these wonderful men of old who made careful search, and have left us the inspired Scriptures for our encouragement, building hope which Peter calls a “living hope”. Hope is alive and we live in hope. Sadly again, many churches have neglected this hope for the glorious hope (the blessed hope) of the New Testament is the coming of the Lord Jesus we know as the Rapture. His personal appearance, or His coming in glory, is the Second Coming, 7 years after the Rapture. Both comings are in this verse – {{Titus 2:13 “looking for the BLESSED HOPE and THE APPEARING OF THE GLORY of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus.”}}
{{1Peter 1:12 “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.”}}
There is no longer any mystery regarding the Person, time or place that the prophets wrote of, as God’s time of revelation had come at the appointed time. “These things” (1 v 12) have become the fabric of the Gospel record and are cemented there by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. The prophetic ministry of the Major and Minor Prophets lives on. We thank these men for their dedicated service and faithfulness to God.
If any mystery remains it is the contemplation of the end of verse 12. It is said that these basic fundamentals are things the angels long to look into.
{{2Peter 1:20-21 “but know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”}}
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
