Highly Privileged (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Peter in these verses mentions four details about his readers, taken from descriptions that were used of Israel in the Old Testament. So here we have a reminder that from a biblical understanding the church is the true Israel. It is not wise to use Old Testament predictions about Israel in a literal manner; in fact, many of them were fulfilled in Old Testament times. Instead, any opinions we have about the current situation of the Jews and their future should be based on the New Testament, particularly in Romans 9–11.  

In addition to the four descriptions, Peter informs them of their duty, which is to proclaim the excellencies of God. He also mentions two contrasts between their former and current spiritual state: previously they had been in darkness, now they were in the light because they had received mercy from God.

 

The four privileges

Each of the four privileges is given in a corporate manner, indicating what they are as the church rather than as individuals. This is another reminder of the Bible’s emphasis on sharing spiritual blessings. God’s desire is to have a flock and not isolated sheep keeping to themselves.

 

The first privilege is that they are elected, and it is important to note that God’s people were all chosen at the same time. Abel was not chosen before Isaiah, and they were not chosen before Paul. Every believer was elected at the same moment in the secret will of God. Sometimes, people get in a stir about election and wonder if they are in the number. Strangely, they don’t ask if they were in the number that Jesus redeemed, and it is the same people in both. The Son redeemed those that the heavenly Father chose. When that kind of idea comes in our mind, we should tell ourselves that God is not asking us to think in that way. It is not sensible or spiritual to delve into things about which no answer will be given. We are asked to repent of our sins and trust in Jesus; we are not asked to engage in pointless speculation.

 

The second privilege is that believers a royal priesthood. This means that they worship as kings. Of course, we need to ask what kind of kings are in mind here. Peter does not mean that believers are like the royalty of earth. On numerous occasions in the New Testament believers are regarded as reigning with Christ. This is a reference to what they will be in the future in the new heavens and new earth. At present, they are like rulers in waiting, but as they wait for the kingdom to come, they engage in praise of God for the great things he has done, is doing, and will do for them.

 

The third privilege is that they are a holy nation. One difference between a nation and a race is that a nation has structures of authority. In contrast to other nations, the church is set apart to God; it is holy, and the only way that they can show holiness is by obedience. There is no other way apart from heart obedience to his instructions. This requirement indicates that they must familiarise themselves with those requirements and embrace them as their lifestyle.

 

The fourth privilege is that the are God’s special possession. God owns everything, but not everything is special for him. After all, one day the current universe which he made will be taken out of existence by him – it is not eternally special in its current form. God paid a great price for them to become his possession – the blood of his own Son that brought about their redemption. The word that was used in older versions ‘peculiar’ sounds unsuitable today, but it was not in the past because it comes from a Latin word meaning ‘flock’.

 

Purpose

The reason why they have been given those privileges is to proclaim the excellencies of God. What are the excellencies of God? I suppose the choice is between his attributes and his actions, or maybe both are included. The excellencies could be the four privileges we have received. In any case, we proclaim them, make them known. 

 

Proclamation implies an audience who can watch us and hear us. The audience could be God and if that is the case then Peter is exhorting his readers to meet for worship. But it would be unusual to describe worship as proclaiming. So I think that the audience is the world who are meant to see the four privileges lived out in our lives. We are to live as the elect should, as the future kings should, as a holy nation should, and as God’s special redeemed people should.

 

Proclamation means something that is coherent, loud, and clear. There should not be any mixed messages, any uncertainty about our convictions, and obscurity about whom we serve. Holiness may be difficult to practice, but it is easy to see. Anyone and everyone can observe what we proclaim by our lives.

 

Contrasts

The first contrast is between where we were and where we now are if we are believers. Before conversion, we were in spiritual darkness, but now we are in God’s marvellous light. We don’t really have any idea how dark our former state was, only that it was getting darker all the time. We have been moved from that environment into the presence of God.  It is not so much that the light is in us but that we are in the light. John also uses this imagery when he says that when we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. There we meet with God, and that is a marvellous privilege. It is a constant miracle, a permanent privilege.

 

The other contrast is that now believers have received mercy. We can see that is how Peter defines God’s people – they are the only ones who have received mercy, who have been pardoned their sins and brought into God’s favour. We have thought about some of the aspects of that mercy earlier. 

 

Two applications

First, Peter quotes several Old Testament verses and applies them to his readers: Exodus 19:6: ‘and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation’ is connected to verse 9; Isaiah 43:21: ‘the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise’ is also seen in verse 9; Hosea 2:23: ‘And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, You are my people’ is behind verse 10. Peter has alluded to other verses earlier in his letter, a reminder that the Old Testament is a Christian book.

 

Second, Christians have been given great blessings and God wants them to reveal them to others. We do so by recognising that as God’s chosen people we are called to live holy, consecrated lives according to God’s requirements.