love covers sin (1 Peter 4:7-19)

Saturday, April 5, 2008

1 Peter 4:7-19


The first verse here has Peter's second reference to attitudes and actions effecting our prayers (cf. 3:7, show honor to your wife... that your prayers be not hindered). And above all we are to love one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. This is a quote from Proverbs 10:12; note the context there - also, in the Septuagint of Proverbs 10:10 is the only other occurrence of the term "peacemaker" (which is found in the beatitude of Matthew 5:9); it reads, “but he who reproves boldly is a peacemaker.” Love doesn't uncover or expose sins in order to destroy but only to heal, it doesn't shout them out or proclaim the bad news of them in order to mock or revile - but covers them over.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(1 Cor. 13:6-7)

[I will probably spend some time one Wednesday night this Easter season discussing verses 9-11. I'm just going to quote most of 12-19, with some references and brief comments. Peter is pounding home what he has said throughout the epistle...]

"Beloved, do not be surprised (cf. 5:1) at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you (cf. 1:6-7), as though something strange were happening to you.

"But rejoice, insofar as you share Christ's suffering (2:21,23; 3:18; 4:1), that you may also rejoice and be glad (cf. Matthew 5:12; 1 Peter 1:7-8) when his glory is revealed (cf. 1:7b; 5:11).

"If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed (cf. 3:9,14; Matthew 5:12), because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (who are born again: 1:3; 23; Matthew 3:16-17).

"But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler (!).

"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed (ie. rather, by your Christlike response, put to shame those who cause your suffering), but let him glorify God in that name (cf. 1:3,8; 2:9,12; 4:11).

"For it is time for judgment (cf. 2:23; 4:5) to begin at the household of God (cf. 2:5); and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

"And 'if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'

"Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will (cf. 3:17) entrust their souls (cf. 3:23,25) to a faithful Creator while doing good (2:12; 3:17)."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"... And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
(Exodus 17:3,7)

Now I now that the LORD saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
(Psalm 20:6-7)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
(John 16:33)