“’For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed” (3:12-14). Peter’s words recall those of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He would remember that sermon. He was there. He heard it. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12). Peter was writing to a people who were severely oppressed and persecuted. They needed to be reminded that, no matter what the world did to them, those who persecuted them would be judged by God and they themselves would be blessed. What a blessed hope for Peter’s readers and for us who live in an age when biblical Christians face such opposition. Certainly, we in this country have not yet suffered the worst of it, though, many around the world have. But wherever we live and whatever we face, what a blessed hope is ours! Even if we suffer in this world for righteousness sake, we will be blessed!
O magnify the Lord with me,
exalt his holy name;
when in distress to him I called,
he to my rescue came.
The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliv’rance he affords to all
who in his promise trust. –Paraphrase of Psalm 34, George Thomas Smart (1754)
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