For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Pet. 3
How are we to respond to those who mistreat us? Why? Peter continues to talk of suffering for doing good. Again I see the idea that our behavior should not be dictated by the behavior of others. We should instead behave consistently out of love for God, knowing that our reward will come later. Delayed gratification, if you will. “Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Pet. 3:9). So God calls us to suffer for Christ as He suffered for us and to bless even those who wrong us so that we can inherit in Christ’s blessing.
Peter takes this thought one step further. “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (1 Pet. 3:13). That is a strange comment in the middle of all this talk of suffering for doing good! What he is trying to say, though, is that if we keep Christ first, guiding our behavior based on what He has done for us rather than on what others might do to us, then no matter what others do to us, we still win. I like the way The Message puts it. “If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought.” (1 Pet. 3:13-14, MSG).
Is. 21-22
After pronouncing judgment on the nations, the Lord turns to Jerusalem. What have they done (22:11-13)? Consider me confused yet again. The prophecies against the nations in Isaiah 21 I don’t get at all. As for the prophecy against Jerusalem in Isaiah 22, I can’t tell if it is a word against the people directly, or against Shebna, who it seems was at one point Hezekiah’s palace administrator – a very important position. In trying to make sense of it all, I think maybe Shebna put up his own defenses to protect Jerusalem from her pending doom, rather than turning to God. He then added to that sin by smugly resting in his own work. He should have been humbling himself before God. Instead, he was living it up.
God’s response to all of this was not good. He said, “Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for” (Is. 22:14a). God then declared He would not just oust Shebna, from his high position, but would also hurl him out of the country to die, denying his resting place. God would replace Shebna with Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, a reliable and righteous man. The description of Eliakim clearly has some Messianic tones. So I’m wondering if this is yet another dual prophecy.
Besides God’s obvious declaration for these two specific men, perhaps there is an underlying story. In writing about Shebna and God’s response to him, I couldn’t help but think of Lucifer. Lucifer was like the chief steward of God’s kingdom, but chose to trust in himself rather than God. Instead of humbly serving his creator, he thought to elevate himself above God. Thus, God cast him out of his high position and out of God’s kingdom altogether. God cast him out of His rest into eternal turmoil. And then came Jesus. Given the key of David, “He will become a seat of honor for the house of His Father. All the glory of His family will hang on Him” (Is. 22:23b-24a).
Ps. 107
“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” Tell your story to someone today how the Lord found and redeemed you. All who call themselves by the name of the Lord have a salvation story. God redeemed each of us from wherever we were, meeting each of our needs. Some were lost, looking for a place to call home. Some were enslaved in darkness because they refused to acknowledge God. Other suffered affliction from foolishly going their own way. Still others faced insurmountable storms.
Thank God that where we started isn’t what matters. There is nowhere God can’t reach; no obstacle He can’t overcome. When we cry out to the Lord from wherever we are, He hears and comes to our rescue. There is no end to God’s blessing for those who humbly rejoice in Him. So “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” And let us always be ready and willing to tell what He has done for us.