1 Peter: Communal Meditations

* The following was designed for our small group for us to read Scripture together and meditate together.

Reading 1 Peter together.  Here is the breakdown for the daily readings.

1.1-9
1.10-16
1.17-21
1.22-2.3
2.4-8
2.9-12
2.13-17
2.18-25
3.1-7
3.8-12
3.13-17
3.18-22
4.1-6
4.7-11
4.12-19
5.1-5
5.6-14

I chose to do smaller sections so we could focus on meditating on the specific pieces of 1 Peter.  If you want to do more, you could read the entire chapter of a given section and then focus your meditation on the specific passage.  If you do this, you will read chapter 1 four times.

I want to keep the sections short so that everyone can participate and if someone gets behind a day or two it is not too hard to catch up.

Here are some meditation questions to consider as you read.  These kinds of questions help us think about what we're reading and not just read lightly with no meaning or application.

Questions:

1.  What do I see about God?
2.  Do I see anything unique about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit? (Always watch for the Trinity!)
3.  Is there anything to praise God for?
4.  Anything I can say "thank you" for?
5.  Any command or example to obey?
6.  Anything to avoid?
7.  How can I apply this to my life--at work, at home, as a husband/wife, father/mother, friend, co-worker, in our RC group?
8.  What encourages me?
9.  What confuses me?
10.  Anything that reminds me of other Scripture passages?

Systematic Theology in a Raging Storm: Reflections on Nahum's Vision of God

¹The oracle of Nineveh.  

The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.  

²A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; 

the Lord is avenging and wrathful.  

The Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries, 

and he reserves wrath for his enemies.  

³The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, 

and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.  

In whirlwind and storm is his way, 

and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.  

⁴He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; 

he dries up all the rivers.  

Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossoms of Lebanon wither.  ⁵Mountains quake because of him 

and the hills dissolve; 

indeed the earth is upheaved by his presence, 

the world and all the inhabitants in it.  

⁶Who can stand before his indignation?  

Who can endure the burning of his anger?  

His wrath is poured out like fire 

and the rocks are broken up by him.  

⁷The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, 

and he knows those who take refuge in him. 

⁸But with an overflowing flood 

he will make a complete end of its site, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.  

–Nahum 1.1-8

I can make a "list of God's attributes" from Nahum 1.1-8:

* Jealous
* Avenging
* Wrath
* Slow to anger
* Great in power
* Good

Words on a page as I sit comfortably in climate-controlled office.

But place me in a  whirlwind and storm with its flashing lightning and booming thunder.  Let me behold the waters being evaporated and devastation lacing the land.  Let me feel the earth itself as mountains begin to break apart.  Now I am experiencing the majestic presence of God with all his danger and fury.  In the midst of the rattle and rumble, confusion and chaos let me find a place of refuge, a safe haven from upheaval.  Now I experience the goodness of God.  The One from Whom heaven and earth convulsively flee--this One is Himself the place of refuge, stability and safety.  In His presence I know both fear and joy--I rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2.11).  I am no longer looking at a "list of attributes;" I am worshipping!

*See the following for more on Nahum:

Nahum: The Word of God or the Imagination of Man?

Nahum: Good Theology from a Book of God's Judgment