This first letter by Peter is written by one of the best-known Messianic Believers.  It was written to Messianic Believers but of course applies to all have been grafted into Israel through their faith in Messiah Yeshua.

Peter uses three terms to describe the recipients of his letter. First, they are the elect, meaning they were chosen by God.  Second, they are “exiles”. The Greek word for exilesis used only three times and is a word meaning, “alien nationality” and “temporary resident.” 

As Jewish believers living outside the Land and living alongside pagan Gentiles, these exiles were considered resident aliens, since they had come to faith in Israel’s Messiah.

The Jewish community then, just as today considered them “off the derek (way).” This is the term the Orthodox use today about those who abandon strict adherence to their communities. 

This word “exiles” describes their relationship to the world, their old covenant communities, which is now no longer their home, since they held that Yeshua is their promised Messiah.

Thirdly, the recipients are of the Dispersion. The word Dispersion is a Jewish term used to this day and refers to Jews living outside the Land. This word is used twice elsewhere in the New Covenant in John 7:35 and James 1:1. 

And in each case it is a reference to Jewish believers living outside the Land. They are twice distinguished from the Gentiles among whom they live (2:12 and 4:3). 

So, Peter is writing specifically to the Remnant of Israel; the Jewish believers of that day. I want to consider one of the key truth’s in the first part of this letter: Why do Believers Suffer?  

2,500 years ago Solomon in his wisdom summed up the course of human existence and concluded that life is all vanity, or emptiness – Eccl. 2:18-23. 

I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, ¹⁹ and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. 

He saw the righteous suffer and felt that it was a form of injustice. Job must have felt much this way during his time of trial. Perhaps you too have gone through an extended trial and had questions and doubts about it.

Now, let me stop and say that everything isn’t doom and gloom! In fact, we believers have it pretty good! Peter gives us several reasons at the start of his letter for rejoicing: in v. 3, We have a Living Hope; v. 4 We have a Lasting Inheritance; v. 5 We have a Long-term Salvation; v. 6 We have a Longed for Final Reward. 

With all this in mind, let me say that not all is bad! In fact, there is much cause for rejoicing in the Lord today! And, we ought to get about the business of doing just that!

However, there will be trials that will come our way. We may not understand them all, nor appreciate them when they come, but we need to be prepared for them just the same. 

That’s Peter’s purpose in these verses. He wants to encourage us, but he also wants to prepare us for what is surely to come. So, let’s consider what Peter’s words can teach us about our trials and why Believers suffer. 

He gives us three words that we need to keep in mind about our trying times. In v 6 he gives us a word that should be our natural state, that we should be rejoicing. 

There are some of us who regularly complain, but rejoicing is one of the commands given to us in the New Covenant. Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 

If you spend enough time around some believers, you may come away feeling that life in the Messiah is one big series of trials and that there is no room for praise. 

In truth, we are to be a rejoicing people. We are to rejoice in spite of our troubles. The reason we don’t have joy is because we have not really immersed ourselves in the source of joy, Yeshua.

C.S. Lewis said We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.

The fact is that coming to faith in Messiah and being written in the Book of Life does not guarantee us immunity from trials.  The child of God who thinks that just because he/she is a Believer that they are going to be shielded from trouble is in for a terribly rude awakening! 

Being a child of God is no hedge from trouble. Believers get sick, their marriages are difficult just as anyone else’s. Parents have trouble with their children. We are all vulnerable to financial troubles. 

More times than not these difficulties occur because we are not abiding in the Lord and obeying His Word.  But the fact is just as the children of Israel experienced trials in the wilderness so too will we. 

Those trials were designed by the Lord to prepare them for the Promised Land and to learn how to abide in Him so that He might lead them and bring them into the Land.

As Believers we too will walk through some deep, dark valleys. Yeshua said it as plain as it could have been said – John 16:33  “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Remember, that just because this trial came and took you by surprise and jerked the rug out from under your feet. It never took God by surprise! He knew about it before it happened, and He has already made a way to bring you out of that trial. 

He never changes and is still able to help you through. Paul speaks to this in 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. ^God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 

The fact is that all of us will experience trials of one kind or another. No one is immune from troubles and trials! Consider the most righteous of all men, Job, who experienced the greatest of human trials.

His life was going well, he was blessed, had a large family and was right with God, but his life fell apart! Don’t fall into the trap of the health and wealth teaching that tells you that if you’re a Believer you will never have trouble again. Those false prophets are lying to you. 

God wants you to know that there will be times when you will have battles! In v 6 Peter calls these trying times “various trials.” This means that they hit us from every side and with often devastating consequences.

James (Jacob) tells us the same thing Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

When troubles do come, they seem to concentrate their power against our faith in the Lord. Satan wants to do all that he can to make us doubt the power of God to meet their need. We see this in v 7.

If anyone knew this, it was Peter. Yeshua had already told him that he was going to die for Messiah.

John 21:18-19 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.

Yeshua told Peter to expect rejection from the world, and Peter had already suffered for his faith when he was thrown in jail by the Sanhedrin for sharing his faith.  James was killed by Herod for his faith. 

Paul too, knew his share of suffering, Stephen suffered for Yeshua, and millions of believers have died during the last 2,000 years for the name of Yeshua. 

Never forget that when believers who find themselves suffering, especially for their faith, are in good company.

Peter speaks of the refining process that gold goes through in v 7. It is what brings the alignment necessary for us to be in union and communion with God and His people. 

Just like gold when it is subjected to the flame, the impurities and dross in the gold come to the top. The result is far purer gold than that which was present before.

The same is true in the life of the believer, when Yeshua allows us to go through the furnace of affliction, it serves to remove from our lives things that were not needed, and it brings us into a closer and purer relationship with the Lord Yeshua.

Peter calls us to remember that we aren’t home yet! Our trials are working for our good – Rom. 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Many may not see the benefit today, but when we stand before the Lord in Heaven, and are rewarded for our walk with Him and for the sufferings we endured, it will be worth it all. 

2 Cor 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,   

Many of us know about the life of eagles which give us an illustration of this.  When it is time for the young eagle to leave the nest, the mother will literally throw the infant from the nest. 

As it plummets to earth vainly attempting to fly, it fears sure and certain death. At the last moment, his mother swoops down from above and catches him and carries him back to the safety of the nest.

This is repeated several times over the next few days. Finally, the little eaglet will spread his wings and soar upward. Eventually, he will be able to fly above all the storms below, but only because he endured the fear of falling. 

Just like that mother eagle, God knows best. He will not let you crash and burn. He just allows what He does to strengthen our faith and to grow us up in Him. 

Let’s face it, if the Lord never challenged us, we would never grow!

In v 8 we learn that the Lord is reliable.  God may not be able to count on us, but that we can count on Him! Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 

As we weather the storms of life and see God come through time and again, we can learn to develop a spirit of praise as we journey toward the Promised Land. 

We will find as we go through trials that our unseen Redeemer and King will see us through every one of them! Just like the shepherd in Psa. 23, He ever abides with his own. 

When we face trials, He goes through them with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you (Isa. 43:2).

God’s grace is always sufficient for every need – He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This ought to cause us to be filled with that unspeakable joy of verse 8! 

All of us are going through trials and as we study this book written by a brother who went through some of the most difficult of trials we need to be encouraged that our God is faithful. 

If you have not come to the source of life and comfort in a most difficult world then I urge you to do so today.  God sent His Messiah Yeshua to give us life who will walk with us through our trials.

Come to Him today?  If you’re a Believer and experiencing difficulties that are overwhelming, I urge you to be involved in Bible study. You are welcome to join me every Wednesday evening by zoom.  

Faith comes by hearing and knowing God’s Word. We all need our faith strengthened.