(The following is the November 9 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 1 Peter 2 and pay close attention to verses 1-10.)
Peter generously quotes Old Testament references throughout the letter known as 1 Peter. Why cite so many? Because they relate to his point that God now has a new chosen people – those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah foretold by the ancient prophets. In verse 9 alone, Peter borrows from Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Isaiah: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
In his commentary on 1 Peter in The Grace and Truth Study Bible, Mark Dubis writes concerning verse 9:
“What is most striking is the application of these honorific titles regarding Old Testament Israel to an audience that is largely Gentile. Even more striking is that wording from Exodus 19:6 appears in the context where Israel is consecrated as God’s covenant people at Mount Sinai. In other words, Peter implicitly declares that believers in Jesus, whether Gentile or Jew, are those who now bear the mantle of ancient Israel. It is this identification of Christians as the true people of God that allows Peter to apply these Old Testament texts as he does. Though ancient Israel had the status of being God’s chosen people with the purpose of declaring God’s praise (Isa 43:20-21), they failed to honor God appropriately (Isa 43:22-24). Now, however, God has a chosen people who give God the praise he is due.” *
God will always have a people. If those offered the opportunity reject Jesus, others will take their place. If you belong to Jesus, rejoice that he has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Next Step:
Read Exodus 19:6, Isaiah 43:20-24, and Hosea 1:6-9 and 2:23. Reread 1 Peter 2:1-10. How do these passages relate to each other?
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* NIV, The Grace and Truth Study Bible, ed. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2021), 1736.
