Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world

Peter had a word of encouragement to the elders, identifying himself as an elder too, that they should be serve the flock, be as examples and keep the hope of receiving glory from Christ. To the young Christians, he encourages humility and submission to the elders, quoting that "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble".

There is a clear warning from Peter that the Enemy is roaming the earth like a lion, ready to pounce on any followers of Yshua. The advice is to stand fast in the faith and resist him. The suffering that the followers go through has already been experienced by others. Christ Himself will help us after the initial suffering by strengthening us and giving us peace.




1 Peter 5
Shepherd the Flock

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,[a] not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”[b]
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because[c] 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[d] the God of all grace, who called us[e] 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.

Farewell and Peace

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.

A Woman Who Fears The Lord, She Shall Be Praised

The identity of King Lemuel is not certain but the proverb below is attributed to his mother. Some believe that Lemuel is another name for Solomon, which means the mother is Bathsheba. The first part is like advice from the king mother to his son. It was warning against succumbing to women, which we know Solomon had a weakness in. It also warns against wine as that may impair the king's judgement in making just decision. We know Solomon was quite serious in being a just king, but these could also apply to other kings.

The rest of the proverb describes the virtuous woman who is also the ideal wife. Here are some of her qualities:
- she is virtuous and trustworthy
- she is hard working and organises to provide for her household including her servants
- she cares for the poor and needy
- she takes cares of the household to the degree that her husband can perform his job without worrying about the household
- she is strong, honourable, wise and kind
- her husband and children praises her
- she is a woman who fears God

This can be the qualities to look for in a wife. In this context, it seems like the king mother is advising his son on the qualities of a wife who is fit to be queen. Again, this could apply to various kings, but Solomon may be in need the most out of this advise given his weakness with women.





Proverbs 31
The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

5 Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.[a]

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.

15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Because You, LORD, Have Helped Me and Comforted Me

The psalmist calls on the LORD to hear him, preserve him, be merciful to him, knowing that God is good and forgiving. He praises God that there is none like Him, and all nations would one day come and worship and glorify Him. The psalmist shows his genuine desire for God by requesting God to teach him God's ways so that he can walk in Truth.

The psalmist describes his challenges including people wishing to harm him. But he continues to call on God, depending on God's character of compassion, gracious, longsuffering, mercy and truth. He trusts that God will strengthen him and comfort him.


Psalm 86
A Prayer of David.

 1 Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me;
         For I am poor and needy.
 2 Preserve my life, for I am holy;
         You are my God;
         Save Your servant who trusts in You!
 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,
         For I cry to You all day long.
 4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
         For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
 5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
         And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
        
 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
         And attend to the voice of my supplications.
 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
         For You will answer me.
        
 8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;
         Nor are there any works like Your works.
 9 All nations whom You have made
         Shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
         And shall glorify Your name.
 10 For You are great, and do wondrous things;
         You alone are God.
        
 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD;
         I will walk in Your truth;
         Unite my heart to fear Your name.
 12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
         And I will glorify Your name forevermore.
 13 For great is Your mercy toward me,
         And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
        
 14 O God, the proud have risen against me,
         And a mob of violent men have sought my life,
         And have not set You before them.
 15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
         Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
        
 16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
         Give Your strength to Your servant,
         And save the son of Your maidservant.
 17 Show me a sign for good,
         That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
         Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Blessed is he who considers the poor

David faced many enemies in his time, not only from foreign kings but those close to him who lied to him and those who have eaten from his own table. Despite all this, David has always trusted God to deliver him from trouble and from his enemies.

The LORD has delivered him, kept him alive, strengthened him, raised him up and most of all set him up before the face of God forever.


Psalm 41

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 Blessed is he who considers the poor;
         The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
 2 The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive,
         And he will be blessed on the earth;
         You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
 3 The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
         You will sustain him on his sickbed.
       
 4 I said, “LORD, be merciful to me;
         Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
 5 My enemies speak evil of me:
         “When will he die, and his name perish?”
 6 And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies;
         His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
         When he goes out, he tells it.
       
 7 All who hate me whisper together against me;
         Against me they devise my hurt.
 8 “An evil disease,” they say, “clings to him.
         And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.”
 9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
         Who ate my bread,
         Has lifted up his heel against me.
       
 10 But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
         That I may repay them.
 11 By this I know that You are well pleased with me,
         Because my enemy does not triumph over me.
 12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
         And set me before Your face forever.
       
 13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
         From everlasting to everlasting!
         Amen and Amen.

Turning to God in Trouble; Gratefulness to God

David encourages his readers or hearers to turn to God when they are in trouble. God will not only save us but will rejoice in our salvation. God is dependable when we call on him in need.

David describes the thankfulness and gratefulness of one who has been blessed so much by the LORD. Gratefulness for the strength and salvation given by God. The king whom David describes is most likely himself but the expression of gratefulness can be applied to anyone.


Psalm 21

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
         And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
 2 You have given him his heart’s desire,
         And have not withheld the request of his lips.  Selah
       
 3 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
         You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
 4 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—
         Length of days forever and ever.
 5 His glory is great in Your salvation;
         Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
 6 For You have made him most blessed forever;
         You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
 7 For the king trusts in the LORD,
         And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
       
 8 Your hand will find all Your enemies;
         Your right hand will find those who hate You.
 9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
         The LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath,
         And the fire shall devour them.
 10 Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth,
         And their descendants from among the sons of men.
 11 For they intended evil against You;
         They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.
 12 Therefore You will make them turn their back;
         You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.
       
 13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!
         We will sing and praise Your power.


Psalm 20

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
         May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
         And strengthen you out of Zion;
 3 May He remember all your offerings,
         And accept your burnt sacrifice.  Selah
       
 4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
         And fulfill all your purpose.
 5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
         And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
         May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
       
 6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
         He will answer him from His holy heaven
         With the saving strength of His right hand.
       
 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
         But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
 8 They have bowed down and fallen;
         But we have risen and stand upright.
       
 9 Save, LORD!
         May the King answer us when we call.