Care for the Flock of God

1Pet 5:1. When Christians live in a time of persecution and suffer because of that, a lot depends on how the relationships are among them. Therefore Peter continues his teachings with admonitions for elders (1Pet 5:1-4) and younger people (1Pet 5:5). When there are frictions between both groups, they will be an easy prey for the enemy who threatens them from the outside.

There has always been the danger of frictions between older and younger people, but in our time it is greater than in former times. In the past the authoritative relationships were clear and they were generally also respected. Nowadays authority is an almost ‘dirty’ word. Autonomy, the free will of man, seems to be the most valuable asset, also to Christians.

Changes in authoritative relationships are taking place rapidly. Younger people increasingly see older people with their opinions as old-fashioned and liberty limiting. Older people have the opinion that younger people only want to be revolutionary, without any respect for the good achievements of the former generation or generations. Each proposal for a change is rejected in advance, because it is experienced as a threat for the old achievements to which they want to hold on. If we are willing to listen to the teaching of Peter, then the frictions mentioned or even collisions and divisions will have no chance to have a detrimental effect on us.

Peter starts with the elders, that is, with those who have the greatest responsibility. If it comes to the relationship between elder people and younger people, the heart of the fathers must first be brought to the children and then the heart of the children can be dealt with to bring them to the fathers (Mal 4:6). Although Peter speaks as an elder and therefore speaks with authority, he at the same time speaks as an elder to his fellow elders.

The term “elders” is not a title for a special class of people with an official position in the church who are appointed by others. An elder is someone who by age, experience and wisdom of life is able to lead believers. The word ‘elder’ therefore does not indicate an official position, but it indicates an older person. That also appears from the contrast with the ‘younger people’ in 1Pet 5:5.

That doesn’t mean that each believer has the same responsibility. There are older believers whose walk of life enforces authority – that is quite different from demanding authority! – and who have the care of the church at heart. These are those to whom Peter is addressing. He not only does that as a “fellow elder”, but also as someone with two special characteristics, namely as a “witness of the sufferings of Christ” and as “a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed”. Peter can testify of the sufferings of Christ that came over Him when He was on earth (Jn 15:27). He is also a partaker of the glory of Christ that He will have in His kingdom, for he has foreseen that on the mountain of transfiguration (Lk 9:28-31).

1Pet 5:2. As an elder and due to his education for his ministry, Peter fulfills the order of the Lord to take care of His flock (Jn 21:15-17). In the first place he does that by the means of this letter to the whole flock. In the second place he does that also by transferring his care now to the fellow elders or anyway by involving them in the care. He points out to the elders that it is about the flock of God. It is in no way their flock, as a church leader sometimes speaks about ‘my’ church.

It is also the flock that is among or with them and therefore not a flock that is beneath or below them. The elders themselves are also a part of the flock. A flock forms a whole. This is how it is with God’s people. The task of the elders consists of their supervision over the whole flock (cf. Acts 20:28) and not giving some sheep a preferential treatment. ”Shepherd the flock” consists of keeping it from dangers. Hereby you can think of the shielding from false doctrines. “Exercising oversight” implies that the flock is provided with nourishment, with what is encouraging and empowering to move on.

It is important that elders exert their spiritual authority in the right way and in the right mind. That will be the case if they fulfill the three conditions Peter mentions. They are to do it “voluntarily” and “with eagerness” and as “examples to the flock”.

Each of these conditions is in contrast to something of the flesh. ‘Voluntarily’ is in contrast to “under compulsion”. An elder must not be forced to do his task. To act compulsively or against your will is not fitting to a task of care, for then there is no love for the flock. It is about a service out of willingness. That is after God’s heart, for He also did not act out of compulsion, but out of love when He gave the Lord Jesus as the good Shepherd. God loves the joyful shepherd (cf. 2Cor 9:7).

The shepherd is also not supposed to work for sordid gain. The sheep are not there for him, but he is there for the sheep. Unfortunately, you see that the church has become a house of trade. Some church leaders cry out for money and promise a lot regarding health and prosperity. The gain that shepherds are striving for may also be in increasing prestige. The chief priests and Pharisees in the days of the Lord Jesus were seeking that, while they also were out for financial profit. They wanted to enrich themselves as much as they could to the detriment of the sheep. They were shepherds who were shepherding themselves (Eze 34:2).

The opposite of that is the shepherd after God’s purpose. That shepherd is willing. Willingness is the attitude to help whenever it is needed, even when it is not asked with words. If a sheep deviates, he will go after it and bring it back. He is willing to abandon his own rest for that.

1Pet 5:3. Elders are also not people of power. One can possess his own possession and exert power. But the church is not in possession of a man. Instead of ruling with a hard hand to make the flock behave in a desirable way, the shepherd will show how a sheep should behave. After all, the shepherd himself is part of the flock. Spiritual authority is in the example, not in the words that are spoken. Following the Lord does not mean commanding, but showing in practice what that means. The shepherd after God’s heart does not call from the rear the command: ‘Forward!, but he calls out: ‘ Follow me!’ and goes in front himself.

1Pet 5:4. The prospect of a great reward is presented to the elders for their work. Their eyes are focused on the coming of “the Chief Shepherd”, that is the Lord Jesus. Peter is drawing the attention of his fellow elders to that, so that they may be encouraged to faithfully continue to do their often difficult and heavy task. It is a heavy order that can only be carried out with the view to the coming of the Lord and the reward that He has for those who have served in that way. All who have taken the lowest place on earth, will soon take the highest place with Him, distinguished from all others. Then they will be handed out “the unfading crown of glory” by the Chief Shepherd.

This particular encouragement for this often thankless task is certainly justified. Serving the believers is often harder than preaching the gospel to the unbelievers. Still this task is of great importance. Therefore the Holy Spirit led Peter to write these words. Let every older believer who has a task as a shepherd be encouraged by it and persevere in his task until the coming of the Lord in glory.

1Pet 5:5. After this exhaustive word to the elders Peter addresses the younger men. He tells them to be subject to the elders. A lot will depend on the attitude of the elders. To develop spiritually sound, the younger men need elders to be subject to them because they give the good example to them. Though also elders are not perfect people. Younger men are inclined to use the mistakes of elders as an excuse not to be subject. But that is not the right attitude.

Each authoritative source that is established by God must be acknowledged. That doesn’t mean that they should be obeyed without consideration, but it means that there must be an attitude of subjection with those who are under this authority. The Lord Jesus subjected to His fallible earthly parents (Lk 2:51). It is an exercise for younger people to follow Him in this and to deal with the elders in subjection.

The enemy will do his utmost to cause a division between younger people and elders. He will try to cause them not to understand one another. But younger people and elders need each other. Elders have to serve younger men. When they do that, the younger men will want to be subject to them.

For both groups, this requires humility, to which all are now called. If you clothe yourself “with humility”, that is, if humility is your power of living, you will experience the blessing of it. He who is humble doesn’t pretend anything and due to that he will not encounter conflicts with someone else and definitely not with God. With Elihu you see a beautiful example of a younger man who takes the right place toward the older Job and his friends (Job 32:1-11).

However, if you oppose and try to fight for your own rights, God will oppose you. A spirit of pride is a direct attack on God’s right over man.

Now read 1 Peter 5:1-5 again.

Reflection: How do you as a young believer, look at older believers?

The God of All Grace

1Pet 5:6. In the test of your faith you can notice the powerful hand of God. Instead of resisting it, ”humble yourself”. That’s what He is all about. Humiliation is the harbinger of exaltation, in the same way as pride goes before destruction (Pro 16:18).

Though, you ought not to humble yourself under the hand of men, but “under the mighty hand of God”. If you’re facing difficulties, even if those difficulties are caused by men, then it is still His hand that you feel. Behind the hand of men you may see the hand of God. Behind the humiliation you may see the exaltation that will be your portion at God’s time. That will happen when the Lord Jesus comes. Then your position, with all believers, changes from that of a subject to that of a ruler.

1Pet 5:7. It doesn’t mean that everything will be easy. Therefore God gives you a great encouragement: you are allowed to cast all your anxiety on Him (Psa 55:22). He will take over your whole burden. The only thing you’ve got to do is to cast that burden of anxiety on Him. If you have done that, you’ve got rid of it. He has taken it over and will take care of you further. If you keep on carrying this burden of anxiety yourself, you will be absorbed by it and you will not see God Who loves to care for you.

The fact that God cares for you means that He has great interest in each detail of your life. He not only wants to be involved, but He wants to take over your need. He brings you into tests and trials, so that you may learn to take it out of His hand and to put it into His hand (Psa 10:14a).

1Pet 5:8. With this view you have the privilege to accept all tests out of the mighty hand of God and to submit everything to Him that goes together with it. Nevertheless you should not neglect that the devil also plays his part. Trust in God doesn’t mean that you have got rid of your responsibility and can therefore be passive. You always need to “be of sober [spirit]”, therefore not naïvely think that you can do everything without being bothered by the devil. He certainly is a conquered enemy, but only for those who go their way in the confidence of faith in God. Keep your eyes widely opened for the dangers that surround you. Sleepiness and laziness are an invitation for the devil to attack you.

The devil is called “your adversary”. With everything that is in him he is against you because you belong to the Lord Jesus. There is nothing in the devil that in any way can be beneficial to you. He “prowls around like a roaring lion”, seeking for a prey. He is cruel, powerful and merciless. With his roaring he tries to frighten you. Make sure you do not get into his power. His only goal is to “devour” you, which means that he wants to completely destroy you.

1Pet 5:9. If he comes at you, don’t be intimidated. Do not turn your back on him, but resist him. You must flee when he comes your way in the form of temptations to sin in case you encounter something that addresses your flesh to cause it to work. That regards to fornication, idolatry, money and the lusts of the youth (1Cor 6:18; 1Cor 10:14; 1Tim 6:11; 2Tim 2:22). When the trial comes from the outside, when the devil wants to frighten you and wants to cause you to deny your faith, you must resist him. You should not avoid the suffering, but endure it, firm in the faith for the sake of the Lord, looking on Him in the confidence that He supports you.

You are not the only one who has to face this suffering. It is the experience of all ”your brethren”. They are all believers and not the limited circle of believers with whom you have contact regularly. The company of brethren is not a part of the world, but it finds itself in the midst of it. That company and the world have nothing in common. The world may be very friendly at times, but as soon as it is confronted with the dominion of the Lord Jesus, their tolerance directly turns into threat and hatred. Then the world shows its true face and that is that it hates all of those who belong to that company of brethren and everything that is theirs.

1Pet 5:10. But there is a mighty fortress that repels all the attacks of the roaring lion. That fortress is “the God of all grace”. All believers know the God of all grace, meaning that God’s grace is experienced in all kinds and at all times. That also applies from the beginning to the end of your life and in all circumstances. All grace comes from God, in whatever way.

He has called you “to His eternal glory in Christ”. Your future is totally fixed in God’s plan. The future is His and you are His. Nothing and no one is able to make a change in God’s call. Who could that be? It must be something or someone who is stronger than God. Would you know who that could be? There is not even one to be compared with Him, not to mention that there would be something that could be above Him.

If He has called you for an amazing future connected to Christ, then you will also partake of it (Rom 8:30). Opposite to this is “a little while” of suffering. In that little while He is preparing you for that future with Christ.

1. The suffering serves to “perfect” you, meaning to bring you to perfection and fullness, so that nothing lacks you. There will be no lack or shortage of anything anymore.
2. He will also “confirm” you through the suffering, meaning he will make you stand steadfast.
3. Thereby He will inwardly “strengthen” you, so that there will be no weakness anymore.
4. Finally He gives you a firm foundation, on which He will “establish” you.

You see that God makes an end to all that is out of balance and that is weak. Instead, He gives a situation in which nothing can be changed anymore.

1Pet 5:11. This all will end up in His glorification. From the mouth of all the redeemed the praise will sound that ascribes to Him all dominion. There is no dominion beside Him. The proofs that He alone possesses it, are abundantly delivered and seen in all the redeemed together. With an ‘Amen’ Peter concludes this praise. Each believer will wholeheartedly agree with that. That’s how it is and there is nothing else.

1Pet 5:12. Peter still has some personal greetings. In order to deliver the letter to the readers, Peter gave it to Silvanus, after having possibly dictated it to him. Silvanus is the same as Silas, the journey companion of Paul. This Silas was familiar with suffering. He and Paul were scourged in Philippi and were thrown into prison (Acts 16:19-23). Maybe Peter knew that and he therefore asked him to take his letter with him. Peter must have known him, for Silas was a leader among the brethren in Jerusalem (Acts 15:22), where Peter also had served the believers.

To introduce Silas to the readers of his letter, he says that as for him, Silas is a faithful brother. He tells his readers what his impression of Silas is, without arrogating himself a definite judgement about the faithfulness of Silas. Peter is aware of his own unfaithfulness. That’s what makes him careful. After all, the judgment about faithfulness is up to the Lord (1Cor 4:1-5; Mt 25:21; 23).

He has written a brief letter, but its effect is great and long lasting. It is to make them understand what “the true grace of God” is. By that Peter says that grace is the true nature of Christendom, that it is based on grace and not on the law. In that grace they must stand firm and hold fast to and not be drawn away from it.

That also goes for you. By grace you are saved (Eph 2:8) and in grace you stand before God (Rom 5:2). That grace should characterize your life. If you have understood anything of what grace is, you will not be willing to place yourself under a law again or would want to participate in outwardly formal services. Grace means putting your whole life in God’s hand and to be guided by Him.

1Pet 5:13. Peter also conveys the greetings of the “chosen together with” them. “She” possibly refers to his wife, whom he took with him on his journey (1Cor 9:5). He is writing from Babylon, where a large Jewish community existed and where he worked. After all he is the apostle of the circumcision (Gal 2:7). He also conveys the greetings of his son Mark, the evangelist. Mark is probably his spiritual son.

1Pet 5:14. Finally Peter gives them the order to assure one another of their love to one another by greeting each other with an intimate greeting.

While Paul often concludes his letters with a wish that they may experience the grace of the Lord Jesus, Peter wishes his readers “peace”. Peace is the great character of the kingdom over which the Lord Jesus will reign and which is therefore also called ‘the kingdom of peace’. Peace is also the great blessing for the believers in their dealings with one another. The enjoyment of that peace is only possible when each believer himself is aware of his position in Christ, is living up to it and also sees the other one in that position.

I wholeheartedly wish the same for you in your relationship with Christ and in your dealings with fellow believers. Amen.

Now read 1 Peter 5:7-14 again.

Reflection: Just explore how often God has already revealed Himself to you as the God of all grace.