THE UNSEEN HAND

1 Peter 1:1–2 NKJV

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Apostle= messenger of Christ

pilgrim- resident alien, temporary resident

Diaspora peoples

The trinity is mentioned in verse two. All though the name trinity does not appear, we can see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all present.

Elect- EKLEKTOS- chosen, desirable

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Septuagint εἰρήνη

—peace; prosperity, success; welfare, state of health; friendliness; deliverance, salvation

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Septuagint χάρις

חֵן—grace, charm; favor, popularity

Peter is writing this letter first to the Jews who have been scattered around modern day Turkey. They have fled, seeking safety. Secondly it is written to the gentile believers who will be scattered and take the gospel around the world. There is also a spiritual element that reminds the reader that they are strangers in this world and are seeking a heavenly home.

I. HIS HAND IS WORKING IN OUR CALAMITY.

Peter is writing this letter to give hope to a people who are suffering.

J. Michael Shannon

In 1902, a huge volcano erupted and killed the 30,000 inhabitants of St. Pierre, Martinique. Only one man survived—a condemned prisoner, convicted of murder, who was protected because of the sturdiness of his prison cell. He witnessed the whole calamity and was blinded by the volcanic ash. Government officials evidently thought he had been punished enough and pardoned him. He was so moved by his second chance that he became a Christian missionary.

The reason for the calamity was not of there own making. Yet, the suffered just the same.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 1

Nine or ten months after Peter wrote his letter, the persecution against Christians that had been simmering for quite some time came to a full boil. On July 19, A.D. 64, Caesar Nero set fire to the Imperial City of Rome. You see, determined to stamp his image upon a new Rome, Caesar hired arsonists to destroy the old one. Maybe you remember stories of Caesar fiddling while Rome burned. While that may not have happened literally, Caesar was fiddling around very definitely! The ensuing devastation gave him justification to rebuild structures like the Circus Maximus. Seating over one hundred thousand people, the existing Circus Maximus wasn’t big enough for Nero. So he had it burned along with most of the city and rebuilt it to give three hundred thousand spectators the opportunity to witness sporting events, gladiatorial bouts, and, eventually, Christians being thrown to lions.

Due to the immediate suspicion that he had a part in the fire, Nero knew he had to quickly find a scapegoat. He conveniently found one in the Christian community. “It’s not I who burned the city,” he said. “It’s these who speak of the unquenchable flames of hell.” Coupled with the absurd misconception that, due to their observance of Communion, Christians were cannibalistic, and combined with the fact that because Christians stressed love and purity, they were a threat to the rampant perversity of the day, the populace was eager to blame Christianity for their crumbling families and charred capital city.

Consequently, only months after Peter’s Epistle was penned, persecution would come that would result in the annihilation of six million Christians as they were lit as candles or fed to lions. So Peter addresses this issue as he writes to people who would be understandably vulnerable to confusion and depression as they questioned the reason for their relentless persecution.

They were dispersed but not deserted.

They were foreigners but not forgotten.

They were rejected by men, but remembered by God.

They were outcast but not overlooked.

Even in their calamity God had a message of hope and purpose in their lives.

Psalm 37:28 NKJV

For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

II. HIS HAND IS WORKING IN OUR CONFUSION.

“Mister, why doesn’t this cow have any horns?” asked the young lady from a nearby city on field trip to the country.

The farmer cocked his head for a moment, then began in a patient tone, “Well, ma’am, cattle can do a powerful lot of damage with horns. Sometimes we keep ’em trimmed down with a hacksaw. Other times we can fix up the young ‘uns by puttin’ a couple drops of acid where their horns would grow in, and that stops ’em cold. Still, there are some breeds of cattle that never grow horns.

“But the reason this cow don’t have no horns, ma’am, is ’cause it’s a horse.”

We find that this letter was written to people who had been chased form their homes. They were God fearing people who loved and served Him. Yet, they were under great persecution.

It is often difficult to understand why good people suffer great tragedy. Why do the wicked prosper?

Jeremiah also struggled with this question.

Jeremiah 12:1 NKJV

Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?

Does it seem as though you struggle to serve God, to do right when no one else cares? Yet, it seems as if there is no reward?

III. HIS HAND IS WORKING IN OUR CALLING.

Here there are five regions mentioned.

Those cities are: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Acts 16:6–10 NKJV

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

I’m sure it may have been confusing to Paul as to why the Spirit had forbid Him from going to Bithynia. Yet, later we can see that God already had a plan in motion. When Paul could not see, God had a plan. God had a believer going where Paul could not.

God is working in the calling of our lives. Even when we don’t understand, His unseen hand is moving in our lives.

Genesis 22:6 NKJV

So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

Genesis 22:13–14 NKJV

Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

THE UNSEEN HAND

Verse 1 There is an unseen had to me, That leads through wave I cannot see While going through this world of woe, This hand still leads me as I go CHORUS: I'm trusting to, the unseen hand, That guides me through this weary land When some sweet day I'll reach that strand, Still guided by the unseen hand Verse 2 This hand has led through shadows drear And while it leads I have no fear I know t'will lead, me to that home Where sin nor sorrow ere can come Verse 3 I long to see, my Saviors face And sing the story saved by grace And there upon that golden strand Ill praise him for his guiding hand