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Seven precious things.
#1.
The seven items found in I & II Peter.
pp. 219, 220
The epistles of Peter are addressed to the "dispersion", a term indicating the "twelve
tribes scattered abroad", and there are many statements in these epistles that are true only
of Israel. For example, there is no scriptural warrant for any Gentile believers to take to
themselves the title: "A royal priesthood and an holy nation." When however we are
clear regarding this elementary canon of interpretation, we shall find many passages in
those scriptures not addressed to the Church of the One Body which nevertheless contain
much that is of help, comfort and blessing to the members of that Church. For example,
the callings and hopes of the two companies respectively addressed in the epistles of
Peter and in the epistle to the Ephesians are very distinct, yet the redemption of both
I Pet 1: 18, 19 and of Eph. 1: 7 are one and the same. It is not our purpose in these
articles to deal with dispensational or controversial themes, but rather to seek to bring out
that wherein the wearied saint may find rest and encouragement.
In the epistles of Peter we find seven precious things--a perfect number of precious
things, seven jewels of great price. The seven references are as follows:--
"That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the
appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 1: 7).
"Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . . . . but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Pet. 1: 18, 19).
"A living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious" (I Pet. 2: 4).
"Behold I lay in Sion a chief stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall
not be confounded" (I Pet. 2: 6).
"Unto you therefore which believe He is precious" (I Pet. 2: 7).
"To them that have obtained like precious faith with us" (II Pet. 1: 1).
"Exceeding great and precious promises" (II Pet. 1: 4).
The word of God is likened to an ornament in such passages in Proverbs as the
following:--
"For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck"
(Prov. 1: 9).
"She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver
to thee" (Prov. 4: 9).
"As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold; so is a wise reprover upon an
obedient ear" (Prov. 25: 12).
These seven precious things of Peter form an ornament of grace set with seven
precious stones.