The Day of the Lord – 2 Peter 3

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #230.  Today we’ll read 2 Peter chapter 3 together:  Peter graphically describes the Day of the Lord and tells us what we should be doing while we wait.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

Would you mind doing me a favor?  Read Second Peter in the New International Version, better known as the NIV.  Look, you know that I like the Christian Standard Bible translation.  Heck, I wouldn’t have chosen it for this podcast, and I wouldn’t use it with kids if I didn’t.  It’s a great balance between dependable translation from the ancient languages and readability.  

That said, I have been troubled from time to time that the meaning of the text isn’t more clear in the CSB.  And it has never been more apparent than in Second Peter.  (Well…Romans was tough too.)  Second Peter is very powerful.  I remember when I was memorizing it that it gave me clarity the likes of which I had never known.  But I memorized the Peter letters in the NIV, not the CSB.  I almost always memorize in the NIV because it’s very conversational and helps me remember concepts that I can share and discuss with others.

I bring this up because it’s important that we understand what we’re reading.  Understanding these passages is empowering and gives clear-cut direction for our next steps.  It also helps us to teach, and even correct if the situations calls for it.  We can’t let mis-interpretation of the Scriptures to stand.  And finally, knowing Scripture even generates a little righteous anger at those who scoff at the words of God Almighty.  

I May Be Biased

Now, it’s not lost on me that the process of memorization may have left me…biased.  As I’ve said before, I memorize by repetition.  Some of these verses I have said over and over and over out loud.  Maybe it’s not the translation…maybe it is what I’m familiar with.  

So, would you compare the two translations of Second Peter in the CSB and then the NIV?  I would love to hear your impressions at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  And hey!  Look at you!  You’re finishing another book today.  Excellent work!

2 Peter Chapter 3

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder, so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.

Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

A Thousand Years

Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Conclusion

Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

Closing Thoughts

Now, I think we all would prefer to gently guide someone into truth rather than shake the bony finger of coming destruction at them.  But, like I inferred in the beginning, a little righteous anger is called for sometimes.  And if anyone had ever earned the right, it was Peter.  He walked with Christ for three years, came to believe that He was indeed God’s Son, and then watched Him die a cruel death on that cross.  He knew truth, because he lived it.  And it would appear that Peter had had it up to here with false teachers, slanders, and those who act like donkeys.  It’s one thing if one is setting the course for one’s own destruction, but to take the newly saved along by lies, as 2 Peter 2:18 describes?  Well, truly the gloom of darkness is reserved for them.  

Peter gives a very graphic description of what will happen to this current planet.  He assures us that God has something better in store, but he also says that God does not want any to perish.  And we should not only be on our guard to rebuke scoffers, but more importantly, we must be watching to see where God is at work and joining Him.  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Father God, help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Help us to see others through Your eyes – as those in need of a Savior.  Help us not to tire of doing good.  And please, Holy Spirit, continually draw us back to Your Scriptures for knowledge and truth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.