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and solids or more often are not equipped with knowledge of the Word to give out
anything deeper.
"Coming to the Lord, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God, and precious, yet also as lively (living) stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (2: 4, 5).
Here is envisaged a unity of ministry, with Christ as the foundation, a corner stone to
which every part of the house depends for its position and support. Even as this corner
stone is precious in the eyes of God the Father so they were precious to the Father
(verse.7). It is strange how the ministries of Peter and Paul find close resemblance in
their different callings. "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an
holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2: 21).
"Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner
stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded" (2: 6).
Where someone proves to us to our dismay that our actions or judgments are wrong
we are confounded and ashamed. If all our trust and obedience is in the Son of God and
His Word, we are assured we shall never be confounded or ashamed. In contrast to
God's support for His believer He has taken a different line with those who rely on their
own intelligence and wisdom. God has said through Paul "He will have no flesh to glory
in His presence" (I Cor. 1: 29). Thus we find:
"God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath
chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty . . . . ."
(I.Cor.1: 27,28),
and in regard to the Jewish leaders who were not of the elect remnant, God blinded their
eyes so that being disobedient to the Word, Christ was not seen as the corner stone and to
them acted as a stumbling stone (the first stone marking the position and orientation of a
building may often for days be left in isolation in the grass over which the unwary may
trip) or rock of offence.
"Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be
disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the
corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at
the Word, being disobedient: where unto also they were appointed" (I Pet. 2: 7, 8).
There are one or two points which need to be remembered when thinking about these
verses. Some may wonder at the blinding by God of so many of Israel and especially
their leaders. Here one must remember the gross wickedness of their forefathers, the
obsession of those at that time with the letter rather than the spirit of the law, their own
righteousness rather than the righteousness of God. Furthermore Paul disclosed that God
desired the Gentiles to have a period of time to respond to the gospel and His grace in
their own right independent of Israel (see Rom. 11: 32). Again Peter's readers needed
some explanation for the way events were shaping. What is clear to us today may have
been found puzzling at that time. Obedience to the Word of God crops up here and in
many contexts and we today need continually knowledge and then practical
acknowledgment.