A Chosen People

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Golden Text: Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiarpeople; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called youout of darkness into his marvelous light.—1 Peter 2:9.

How to Say It

Agrippa. Uh-grip-puh.

anticarcinogen. an-tee-kar-sin-uh-jen.

Corinthians. Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin).

Herod. Hair-ud.

Hosea. Ho-zay-uh.

Jerusalem. Juh-roo-suh-lem.

levitical. leh-vit-ih-kul.

Lo-ammi. Lo-am-my.

Lo-ruhamah. Lo-roo-hah-muh(strong accent on hah).

Messiah. Meh-sigh-uh.

Pantheon. Pan-the-ahn.

Zion. Zi-un.

Home Daily Bible Readings

Monday, Nov. 2—Chosen Out of All People (Deuteronomy 10:10–15)

Tuesday, Nov. 3—A Happy People (Psalm 33:4–12)

Wednesday, Nov. 4—Hope in God and God’s Love (Psalm 33:13–22)

Thursday, Nov. 5—Chosen as God’s Witnesses (Acts 10:34–43)

Friday, Nov. 6—A People One in Heart and Soul (Acts 4:31–37)

Saturday, Nov. 7—Free Servants of God (1 Peter 2:11–17)

Sunday, Nov. 8—God’s Own People (1 Peter 2:1–10)

“Measure twice, cut once.” “Fresh paint covers a multitude of mistakes.” “A job worth doing is worth doing right.” These and many other axioms form the folk wisdom of remodelers and their construction projects. One engaged in such work soon learns, however, that slogans must be backed up by the right tools, quality materials, a good plan, and practiced skills.

Unfortunately, many church buildings look as if they have been thrown together over the years by amateurs with little advance planning. To achieve quality results in building projects requires the patience, diligence, and planning abilities of a skilled builder. The true craftsman will not use cull lumber or sloppy workers. The master will not proceed with half-baked plans. The true artisan will not hurry the project to conclusion by cutting corners or compromising the design.

The New Testament sometimes pictures the church as a spiritual “house,” an edifice constructed by God for His glory. Paul uses this construction metaphor to picture the church as a temple built on the foundation of the apostles with Jesus as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20, 21; compare 1 Corinthians 3:9–11).

God is the master craftsman with the perfect plan. We are His building material, and He has refined us and sanctified us through His Spirit to be just as He desires. We are built by God to be His chosen household, His holy habitation, or dwelling (Ephesians 2:22).

In the ancient world, building construction was much more difficult than it is today. There were no big-box construction supply stores in Jerusalem or Rome. There was no precut lumber or pre-hung doors.

Abandoned structures provided the most readily available construction material, particularly in terms of their stone blocks. If one was building a structure out of stone, it was much easier to take a block from an older building, clean and dress it a bit, and use it immediately. The burdensome alternative was to find a nearby source of suitable stone, set up a quarry operation, and transport blocks to the construction site.

There were cheaper alternatives to stone buildings, of course. Tents could be lavish and spacious, but these lacked a sense of permanence and grandeur. Bricks could be made on site if the right type of soil was present, but bricks might be limited in size and function. Wood was adaptable for many purposes, of course. But most of the forested areas surrounding cities had long been harvested. So large amounts of timber usually had to be imported from considerable distances (compare 1 Kings 5). Wood was susceptible to rot, and therefore it lacked the durability of stone.

All things considered, then, there was no substitute for stone when erecting grand public buildings such as temples. An example that Peter was familiar with was the Jerusalem temple as reconstructed by Herod the Great. Herod’s builders reconstructed the foundation of the temple mount using massive “ashlars” or foundation stones. The largest of these that survives has dimensions of 12' x 12' x 48' and weighs an estimated 400 tons. Even the most ambitious of the temple destroyers since Herod has been unable to budge or crack this monolith.

While Peter does not mention the Jerusalem temple specifically in today’s lesson text, he does seem to have it in mind. We know that he was a frequent visitor to the temple courts when in the holy city (see Acts 3:1; 5:42). If he were in Rome at the time he penned 1 Peter, he also would have witnessed the massive stone structures of that imperial city. These included the colossal structures of the Temple of Jupiter and the original Pantheon of Agrippa.

We should remember the general context and purpose of Peter’s letters: advice on how to live as Christians in the midst of hostile nonbelievers. Peter draws on his deep knowledge of the Old Testament and his rich Jewish heritage to present his case for the church as a holy, exemplary people who are dedicated to the service of God.

Peter begins his advice on spiritual diet with a list of five attitudes and actions that should be avoided by believers. They are toxic and will poison the soul. He divides the five into three groupings.

First, he exhorts his readers to eliminate all malice. This has the sense of evil actions in general. Such actions can be motivated by greed, spite, jealousy, or other moral failings. But the result is an action that intends to harm another person. The word malice can have the connotation of “ugly,” the opposite of what is beautiful or lovely (see Philippians 4:8).

The second grouping consists of guile, hypocrisies, and envies. These are attitudes or personality traits. Guile is deceit, an orientation of general dishonesty. It describes persons who may be counted on to lie if it benefits them in some way. Hypocrisies describe deep insincerity. The hypocritical person will play whatever role is most beneficial to him or her on a personal level. Today, we would describe this as “phoniness.” The third attitude in this grouping is envies. This bitter, restless spirit always begrudges the success or nice possessions of others. Envy is the opposite of gratitude, of contentment with what God has given to you (see 1 Timothy 6:8).

The last of the three groupings consists of the fifth spiritual poison of evil speakings. This word is translated “backbitings” in 2 Corinthians 12:20. This back-stabbing behavior is the manifestation of the previous three: a deceitful person who feigns innocence and friendship yet harbors deep resentment and envy. Such persons work behind the scenes to damage the reputation of those whom they dislike. [See question #1, page 88.]

2, 3. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Peter has already reminded us of the eternal Word of God as that which results in our new birth as believers. He pictures it as spiritual seed planted in our souls (1 Peter 1:23–25, last week’s lesson). Now he expands this to teach us that the Word is also a source for ongoing growth.

Just as the newborn baby denied nourishment will die, so will the Christian who neglects God’s Word. For Peter, this is primarily the Jewish Scriptures, our Old Testament. But Peter also realizes that the New Testament Scriptures are coming into existence in his day (2 Peter 3:16). Even in his old age, Peter loved Scripture. He testifies that he, the great apostle, continued to grow spiritually by absorbing more truths from God’s Word. He acknowledges this by thanking the source of the Word, our gracious Lord.

People are more cautious these days about what ingredients are included in the foods they eat. Some avoid trans-fats, preservatives, and various additives. But how careful are we about our spiritual diet? Do we shun the unhealthy and feast on the healthy in this realm?

Milk is an essential ingredient of life, particularly for newborns. For virtually all mammals, milk is produced for the newborn by the mother. In fact milk production is tied directly to the birth of the infant; without pregnancy and birth, there is no milk production.

As a city-bred boy, I did not initially understand this. It wasn’t until I was in graduate school that I realized the connection. I thought cows produced milk as automatically as sheep produce wool, not realizing the gestation of a baby is required to initiate milk production.

Those who promote the consumption of milk point out that it provides essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Chief among these is Vitamin D and calcium, but milk (and other dairy products) also provide healthy amounts of protein. Evidence exists that milk also provides some anticarcinogens. A key benefit for nursing infants is that mother’s milk provides antibodies to get the baby off to a healthy start. These have both antibacterial and antiviral properties. In fact, mother’s milk seems to have exactly the right amount of protein, calories, and antibodies to keep a baby healthy.

Peter and others of the first century certainly were not aware of all these scientific facts. Even so, Peter presumed the healthy practice of babies being fed milk. Peter knew what he was talking about. Just as a physical milk is crucial to the health and vitality of the baby, so is spiritual milk essential to the health and vitality of the infant Christian. The Bible tells us that eventually we are to move from milk to the meat of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:11–14). But milk comes first. —J. B. N.

In the verses that follow, Peter displays the value of Scripture by weaving together several themes taken from the Old Testament. In so doing, he intends to encourage his beleaguered readers. He begins this section by drawing on Psalm 118:22. This passage is applied by Jesus to His own person in Matthew 21:42. Peter himself used it in his earliest preaching (Acts 4:11).

God’s building project is a spiritual house made up of people. It started with the first chosen and living stone, namely Jesus. But He was disallowed by His human evaluators. They had no insight into the fact that Jesus, the Son of God, was the most precious of all human beings. This lack of recognition led to Jesus’ death (see 1 Corinthians 2:8). This does not negate the truth that Jesus is indeed the cornerstone for the church (see Ephesians 2:20). [See question #2, page 88.]

5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

One stone does not make a building no matter how immense it may be. God’s spiritual house requires other lively (living) stones. These are the believers—us. [See question #3, page 88.]

Peter also now reveals the nature of this spiritual house. It is a temple, a place of worship. It is where priests offer sacrifices to God. Yet it is a spiritual temple, and the sacrifices are spiritual in nature. Too often, we view the church as a place where our needs are met. Peter gives us the picture of an organization devoted to service, to self-denial, to commitment because we are a holy priesthood.

Peter is not saying that the priestly class of God’s people has been eliminated. He is saying, rather, that it has been expanded. It now includes all believers. It is not that I don’t need a priest because I am now a priest. It is, rather, that any believer can minister to me, and I can minister to any fellow believer. I can perform intercession, that most important of priestly functions, by praying for another believer at any time or place. There is no longer a need for designated intermediaries as was the case with the Old Testament levitical priesthood because we can all assume this function.

6. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Peter returns to the Old Testament to reinforce the divine plan for Christ to be the cornerstone of the church. By using a free quotation of Isaiah 28:16, Peter emphasizes that Jesus is the chief or essential stone of the building, that Jesus is the elect or chosen stone, and that Jesus is the precious stone, God’s very Son. This description is followed by a promise: faith in God’s essential, chosen, and precious Messiah will be rewarded.

7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.

I was recently selecting cedar boards to be used in rebuilding my backyard deck. I spent a considerable amount of time looking at each piece of wood, examining them for gouges, flaws, or warp. By the time I had chosen two dozen, I had set aside a half dozen that I rejected. Not every building stone delivered to a construction site can be used by the stonemasons. One might have a small crack that a mason knows will grow and become a disaster in later years. Another might have an unsightly blemish that will detract from the beauty of the finished building.

This kind of evaluation process is natural. Similarly, when Jesus confronts us with His claims, it is natural for us to evaluate the truthfulness of those claims. We dare not reach the wrong conclusion as the Jewish leaders did! They were the builders who disallowed Jesus. Peter wants believers to find Jesus as precious as the Father does. [See question #4, page 88.]

Peter equates unbelief with disobedience. In this regard, he likely has the unbelieving Jewish nation in mind. To equate faith with obedience does not imply salvation through works, but draws on the fact that both believing and obeying require a surrender of the will. Israel has not surrendered; it has rejected. The marvelous cornerstone of God results in tripping and stumbling (next verse).

8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

The Greek word translated offense is the source of our English word scandal. Paul uses the same Greek word to describe the Jewish reaction to his preaching of the cross in 1 Corinthians 1:23. The Jewish nation of Paul and Peter’s day is scandalized to think that its Messiah had to be executed as a common criminal on a Roman cross.

Peter is resigned to this state of Jewish unbelief. He understands that God in His foreknowledge is aware that the enemies of the cross will reject the gospel, thus they were appointed to this. We can be sure, however, that Peter’s heart longs for the salvation of his nation, as does Paul’s (Romans 9:1–3).

There’s an old saying that “every cloud has a silver lining”; but sometimes a silver lining has a cloud. There are advantages and disadvantages to almost every situation, depending on what one is looking for. Whether it’s a cloud with a silver lining or a silver lining with a cloud depends on one’s perspective.

To a farmer, a smooth, nicely plowed field is the silver lining that can be obtained only after the cloud of rocks is removed. I read recently of one man’s reminiscences along these lines. As a 14-year-old, he and his dad would drive a tractor with a large scoop bucket across the fields. They would pick up various rocks, putting them in the scoop. When the scoop was full, they would dump the rocks in a corner of the field. The whole process was necessary because a rock the size of a softball could cause serious damage to a very expensive combine. Needless to say, the rocks were a great nuisance.

Visual for Lessons 6 & 10. Point to this visual as you ask your learners to brainstorm ways to tell others what God has done for them.

Yet what may be a cloud sometimes can turn into a silver lining. In the British Isles, farmers would be dismayed at the prospect of having to remove large stones that had worked up to the surface over the centuries. This meant having to engage in the backbreaking work of carrying those stones to the edge of the field. But this cloud of rocks then became a silver lining of useful stone fences that separated the fields. Even today many farms there are bordered by these fences.

To Christians, Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. But to the disobedient, He is a rock of offense. Sometimes a person must stumble over this rock of offense to realize how much of a cornerstone Jesus can and should be in his or her life.

9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Peter continues to draw parallels between the nation of Israel and the church as he moves to the language of statehood. He does this to illustrate the nature of the church as the new people of God.

Peter lists four ways in which the church of Jesus is God’s new nation. First, the church is a chosen generation. Christ’s church has not been granted its status because of its accomplishments, but because God selected it (compare His selection of Israel, Deuteronomy 7:6).

Second, for Peter the church is a royal priesthood. Those of royal lineage were separate from the priests in ancient Israel. In the church, believers are royalty because of their relationship to King Jesus. We are also priests in that we minister to one another.

Third, the church exists as a holy nation. The two concepts of holiness and nationhood draw on promises given to Israel at Mount Sinai immediately before the giving of the Ten Commandments. There God told the people that He intended them to be “a kingdom of priests” and “a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). They were to be unlike any other people on the earth in their dedication and service to God and in God’s favor to them.

Fourth, the church is seen as a peculiar people. In the antique English of the King James Version, the word peculiar has the sense of “unique possession.” God does not share the church with any other god. He is a jealous God (see Exodus 34:14).

Why was this new people of God chosen? for what purpose? Peter portrays this in dramatic terms, describing God’s act of choosing His new people as bringing them from spiritual darkness into the marvelous light of God’s truth. The ultimate purpose, the church’s “reason for being,” is to show forth His praises. The church does not exist for its own pleasure, but to glorify God in all it does. [See question #5, page 88.]

Peter ends this section by alluding to the story of the prophet Hosea and his unfaithful wife, Gomer. Hosea’s second child was named Lo-ruhamah, which means “no mercy” (Hosea 1:6). Hosea’s third child was named Lo-ammi, which means “not my people” (Hosea 1:9). This was in stark contrast with God’s promise to bestow mercy and claim “my people” (Hosea 2:23). For Peter, the extension to non-Jews of the possibility of joining the people of God is a mighty act of mercy.

How would you react if you learned that the Queen of England were coming to visit your home? Would you clean, paint, and prepare carefully? Or would you let the trash accumulate until the house smelled like a landfill? Even if we are not British, most of us would feel honored to have a visit from royalty, and we would want to be seen at our best.

Within the church, there is (or should be) a real sense that all are royals. We don’t use titles like queen, count, prince, or duchess, but we are part of God’s chosen, royal nation. Do we act like royalty in the best sense of the word? Do we treat fellow Christians as if they are princes and princesses? Most of all, do we honor King Jesus in all we do? Are we His obedient servants?

The apostle Peter was a Jew, and he grew up with the rich heritage of his people. One of the things that distinguished the Jews from other nations in the ancient world was their awareness of being a chosen people, a nation set apart by God for His purposes. The Jews were to be a holy nation, dedicated to serving God. This role of being the holy people of God was continued in the church by its early leaders—leaders such as Peter. May we honor this role in the year 2010 and beyond as we work toward the unity of believers as a holy, royal nation for Jesus.

Holy God, king of all, to You we offer our loyalty, our obedience, and our service. May Your name be praised above all others, and may You build us into a holy church for Your glory. We pray this in the name of Your precious cornerstone, Jesus. Amen.