Dreaming, Proclaiming, and Wondering

Background

Peter has been writing to the believers scattered throughout Asia. He has praised God in verse 3 for the wonderful plan of salvation that had given the believers a living hope and a future inheritance that is laid up for all of us in heaven.

These believers are currently experiencing trouble in their lives, but they can rest in God’s grace

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude 1. Praise for Salvation (1:3–12)

The trials they experience now are not meaningless but serve to refine and purify their faith; hence they will bring glory and praise to God when Jesus Christ reveals himself (vv. 6–7). Therefore their lives are now characterized by joy and by love for Jesus Christ, precisely because they know that eschatological salvation lies ahead of them (vv. 8–9).

Now Peter describes three groups of people who are viewing this wondrous salvation with a different perspective.

Spurgeon illustrated this by stating:

if one person stands still and looks up, or is occupied with gazing into a shop window, others become curious and look also? I would enlist that faculty of curiosity which is within every man and prompt you to search with the angels as they pry into the underlying meaning of the fact and doctrine of atonement.

1 Peter 1:10 KJV 1900

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

1 Peter 1:11 KJV 1900

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1 Peter 1:12 KJV 1900

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

First, Peter describes the Old Testament prophets who all looked forward to the Messiah:

Prophets Dreaming of the Messiah

Peter uses two verbs to describe their searching - the first indicates an intensive search - one that considers something from every point of view. The second is a synonym for searching for something hidden - such as a miner would search for gold or gems. Taken together, it simply means that they examined and re-examined both their own and previous prophecy. (Hiebert)

Matthew 13:16 KJV 1900

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Matthew 13:17 KJV 1900

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

It is clear from Peter’s description that the Old Testament prophets knew that they were proclaiming the reality of the Messiah and some of them also knew that His coming was not yet.

For instance, Daniel examined the book of Jeremiah and determined that the seventy years had passed. As an Old Testament prophet, he was looking forward to returning to the land and possibly experienceing the reign of the Messiah. Yet God revealed to him that it would not be in his lifetime, but many years later:

Daniel 9:23 KJV 1900

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Daniel 9:24 KJV 1900

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Daniel 9:25 KJV 1900

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

In fact, Jesus Christ upon His resurrection used the Old Testament on the Road to Emmaus to demonstrate that the Old Testament had pointed to Him directly:

Luke 24:25 KJV 1900

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luke 24:26 KJV 1900

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Evangelists Proclaiming the Gospel

1 Peter 1:12 KJV 1900

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Privilege of Revelation (1:10–12)

A distinction is drawn between the prophets who anticipated and predicted the coming of the gospel and those who have now actually proclaimed the fulfillment of the gospel to the believers in Asia Minor. Both are inspired by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit had been described in verse 2 as the agent of salvation and here He is the one who is empowering the NT evangelists as they proclaim the gospel:

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Angels Wondering at the Redemption

1 Peter 1:12 KJV 1900

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Privilege of Revelation (1:10–12)

Believers also stand in contrast to the angels, for they also long to glance at and reflect upon these truths. The point is that angels reflect with delight on God’s saving actions. More specifically, angels do not experience the gospel in the same way as human beings since they are not the recipients of redemption. Again, the privilege of enjoying and anticipating salvation comes to the forefront. Old Testament prophets saw it from afar, and angels also marvel when gazing upon what God has done in Christ, while the Petrine readers actually experience it.83

They stand at the cross-foot ravished, astounded. Indeed, all heaven to this day has never ceased its amazement at the dying Son of God, made sin for men, and will none of you spare an hour to look this way and see your best Friend? Spurgeon

Our Response: Gratefulness

The Old Testament prophets desired but did not see the salvation.

Are we thankful for our salvation? many times, we simply take it as a given that we were born at this time in history - that we live within the western world where alll around us, the gospel is proclaimed. We have multiple Bibles on our shelf - yet sometimes we neglect them and do not treasure them for the wonderful riches it contains.

Take a moment today and thank the Lord for the privilege of living within this moment in time and history - and for the wonderful gift of salvation!

Our Response: Evangelism

Peter has talked about OT prophets and angels wondering - yet how often do we imitate the NT evangelists and tell others about this wonderful gift of salvation.

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XLVI Angelic Interest in the Gospel (No. 2,697)

Shame upon us if we have less pity for mankind than angels have, for men are our brothers, and nothing can save them but the gospel of Jesus; and, therefore, our common humanity ought to make us seek their welfare, and we ought to take the deepest imaginable interest in the things which make for the peace of their immortal souls.

Our Response: Wonder

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XLVI Angelic Interest in the Gospel (No. 2,697)

Peter here prescribes a remedy for lowness of spirits and for general depression. That remedy is, to take a deeper interest in the things of God, to give ourselves more intensely to the consideration and contemplation of them. They are well worthy of all the thought that we can give to them; for if the prophets, those men with the grandest of human minds, divinely inspired, yet had to search deeply to understand God’s Word as revealed to them, there must be something in it that we shall do well to search out; and if the holy angels, those mighty intelligences, do not so much see, as “desire to look into,” the things of God, there must be some very deep things hidden within the simplicities of the gospel which you and I ought to search out. If we did search them out, we should be greatly cheered and comforted. Our minds would be taken off those trials which now so often vex us; we should be lifted high above them, we should not travel slowly and painfully over this rough road, and have our feet cut with every sharp flint, and our spirit pierced with every sore trial; but we should rise, as on eagle’s wings, and ride on the high places of the earth, and rejoice in the Saviour who has done such great things for us.