1 Peter 5:8-14 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
V8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Peter gives two safeguards concerning the devil and his ways. First, he is an adversary. He is not a friend. All must not seek the devil’s help in anything. It is idolatry (1 John 5:21, Isaiah 19:3, and Hosea 4:12). Second, he seeks to destroy, harm, take peace, lie, etc. (John 10:10) and is that roaring lion seeking to destroy Christians and their witness. God provides His assisting grace in being sober and vigilant (1 Corinthians 10:13). Being in the silence, contemplative prayer, or anything to cloud our judgment and clarity is not on God’s approval list. Instead, it is God’s will to be alert and sober. The Greek word for “sober” is (G3525) νήφω nēphō, which means sober whether not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, etc. or judgment, decision making, or self-induced clouded thinking. Thayer has “1) to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit and 2) to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect.” The Greek word for “vigilant” is (G1127) γρηγορέω grēgoreúō, which means (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “It has the figurative sense ‘to be vigilant’ (especially in relation to the parousia) in Mt. 24:42; Mk. 13:35; 1 Th. 5:6; Rev. 3:3, linked with sobriety in 1 Th. 5:6, prayer in Mk. 14:38; Col. 4:2, concern for salvation in Acts 20:31. agrypnéō (only figurative) is used similarly in Mk. 13:33; Lk. 21:36; Eph. 6:18; Heb. 13:17.”
V9 “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” How do we resist satan? At least five things are needed: 1) Attitude (God’s thoughts and ways first), 2) Avoidance (of situations that may cause unnecessary temptation), 3) Prayer (for help, wisdom, protection), 4) Truth (reality and that the Bible is the only source of 100% truth), and 5) Resolute (unwavering, dedication, etc.). The Greek word for “resist” is (G436) ἀνθίστημι anthístēmi, which means standing against something, to resist. All Christians experience suffering. We are a family. The devil has many agents. Some are “nice” but deadly, some are beautiful, some are so reasonable (it seems), such wonderful personalities, oration, help, etc. They may be individuals in medical, educational, pastoral, family members, etc. But the devil’s agents are all active to kill and destroy Christians spiritually, emotionally, and physically. See 1 Corinthians 11:15.
V10 “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” An Apostolic blessing. God has and gives grace to help us. Believers are those called and are guaranteed heaven and all of it glories and blessings. All suffer yet later God blesses those who are faithful.
God is able and willing to
- Perfect (G2675–(Word Study Dictionary–to put a thing in its appropriate condition, to establish, set up, equip, arrange, prepare, mend). It is for burning out wrong attitudes and actions. See same word in Hebrews 10:23 (creation was good, yea very good) and Matthew 4:21 (mending, that is, restoring to perfect usability).
- Establish, which Greek word means secured to be unmovable. ((G4741) Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)). The strengthening is by God, the Lord, the truth, or others. It presupposes an assault that threatens faith or zeal. Its aim is impregnability of faith in spite of afflictions”), strengthen, and settle us.) See same word in Luke 9:51 (determined, set) and Romans 16:25 (establish).
- Strengthen (G4599), σθενόω sthenóō, which means give strength. For the believer it is to accomplish what God wants us to accomplish.
- Settle (G2311) θεμελιόω themelióō, which means to lay a foundation, which will prevent the sinking of the building, etc. When referring to people, it is a comfort to rest on the church’s foundation (Ephesians 2:20).
Remember His promise in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful; he will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
V11 “To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Give God the praise for His love and assisting grace.
V12 “By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.” The recorder and writer for Peter.
V13 “She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.” Babylon means Babylon, the city. At the time Peter wrote, the city of Babylon was a flourish city. Even today it exists. The ruins are just north of Al Hillah, Iraq, which has a population of about 450,000.
V14 “Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” The Middle East greeting of cheek to cheek or nose to nose. You can search for images; search term “Middle East greeting”
We learn:
- God warns us of spiritual, emotional, and/or physical suffering
- The suffering a Christian experiences is because we worship Jesus
- God does not allow unfettered suffering. There is a limit in amount and length of time.