1 Peter 3:12
The sermon emphasizes God's watchful eye and loving care for the righteous, and His anger and justice against the wicked.
John Gill expounds on 1 Peter 3:12, emphasizing that the Lord's eyes are always upon the righteous, not just in the sight of men but through the righteousness of Christ. He reassures believers that God delights in them and is attentive to their prayers, promising justice and protection. Conversely, God's face is against those who do evil, signifying His anger and the dire consequences for the wicked. This understanding encourages the righteous to trust in God's timing for justice rather than seeking vengeance themselves.
Text
Ver. 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,.... Who are so not merely in the sight of men, but of God; nor in their own account, and by their own works, but in the esteem of God, through the imputation of the righteousness of his Son unto them: and because he loves this righteousness, and is well pleased with it, seeing by it his law is magnified and made honourable, therefore his countenance beholds with pleasure and delight those righteous ones who are clothed with it; his eyes of omniscience, love, care, and protection, are always upon them, watching over them, delighting in them, running to and fro in the earth on behalf of them; he sees every injury done them, and in his own time and way will do them justice; which is a reason why they should not take vengeance themselves, but leave it with him, whose it is:
and his ears are open to their prayers; or "prayer"; in the Hebrew text, "to their cry"; he is a God hearing prayer, and his righteous ones have his ear; he hears them while they are speaking, and will sooner or later answer, and avenge his elect, who cry unto him day and night; for as he has an ear to hear their cries, which is not heavy, he has an arm to save them, which is not shortened; and this is another reason why they should behave as before directed, and which is still strengthened by what follows;
but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil; it is added in the psalm, "to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth": by "the face of the Lord" is meant, as the Jewish writers {y} interpret it, the anger of the Lord; it intends, not his kind, pleasant, and loving countenance, but his angry one with the former he beholds the upright, and with it he looks upon his righteous ones; but the latter is upon and against the wicked, and is dreadful and intolerable, and the consequence of it is everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
{y} Jarchi & Menachem apud ib. & Aben Ezra in loc.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Eyes of the Lord
- A. The righteous are under God's watchful eye
- B. God loves righteousness and is pleased with it
- C. His eyes are always upon the righteous
- II. God's Care for the Righteous
- A. He hears their prayers and cries
- B. He has an arm to save them
- C. He will avenge his elect
- III. The Face of the Lord
- A. It is against the wicked
- B. It is a sign of God's anger
- C. The consequence is everlasting destruction
Key Quotes
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, who are so not merely in the sight of men, but of God; nor in their own account, and by their own works, but in the esteem of God, through the imputation of the righteousness of his Son unto them:” — John Gill
“He sees every injury done them, and in his own time and way will do them justice;” — John Gill
“He has an ear to hear their cries, which is not heavy, he has an arm to save them, which is not shortened;” — John Gill
Application Points
- The righteous should trust in God's watchful care and loving guidance.
- They should not take vengeance themselves, but leave it with God, who will do justice in his own time and way.
- The wicked should fear God's anger and the consequence of it, everlasting destruction.