Second Epistle of Peter
THE LORD IS NOT SLACK
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:8 (KJV)
In verses 3-7, Peter has been lashing and refuting scoffers who were questioning the coming again of Christ. Now he turns to the saints of God to encourage them in the promises of the Lord. Perhaps some of the Lord's own were saying, "These scoffers seem to have an argument, the Lord did promise to come back soon, and He has not come." Peter would assure them that this apparent delay was no delay at all in the reckoning of God, but that rather, as our next verse indicates, it showed His long-suffering. To the scoffers, in our previous verses he promises judgment, but to the Christians he manifests love. He calls them "beloved."
"be not ignorant"
Peter does not want the Christians to be ignorant or to forget, as it reads in the Revised Version. They must not be like the scoffers of whom we read in verse 5, "they willingly are ignorant." Either ignorance or forgetfulness can seriously hinder one in their Christian pathway. If we read and meditate on the Word of God, we will not be ignorant. If we really make it our constant companion, we will not forget His precepts. It was especially the character and purpose of the Lord which he did not want them to forget.
The language of our verses seems to be borrowed from Psalm 90:4; "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." It is interesting to see how Moses, in this Psalm, contrasts the eternal existence of God with the fewness of the days of man. Of God, in verse 2, he says, "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." In verse 9, speaking of man, he says, "We spend our years as a tale that is told." Verse 10 is well-known: "The days of our years are three-score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength, labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
"one day"
In the latter part of our verse, Peter gives the thought of Psalm 90:4, but in the first part he reverses it. He says, "One day with the Lord is as a thousand years." One day to us may be short or long, but to older people who are trying to accomplish something it goes by all too quickly. To one who is not well and cannot sleep, how long the nights seem, and the days roll at a very slow pace. But to an active man who is very busy, the days are all too short. "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle" (Job 7:6). Because our days are short and few let us waste none of them, but let us be busy serving our Christ and living for Him. "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16).
"one day with the Lord"
No doubt there have been great days in our personal history, such as the day of our birth, the day we were married or birth of a child. It was a greater day when we were brought to know Christ as our Savior. Can you remember that moment in your life? In magnitude of importance, a thousand years of our days could not begin to compare with one day of the Lord's. Think of the vast importance of the day when our Lord Jesus was born into this world. Of even greater importance was the day of His death. Then think of the day He arose, the day He ascended and the day when He will come back again. Pentecost was a great day. Perhaps every day in the history of the world has in one way or another been a great day in annals of the Lord.
"a thousand years"
A thousand years seems like a very long time to us. How distant and remote a thousand years ago seems; how little we know of it. But to the eternal God that day is but as yesterday. We, who are children of a day, cannot begin to figure time as He reckons it. One hundred dollars to a very rich man may be like a penny to one who is very poor. God has an eternity behind Him and eternity ahead of Him; He is rich in time and in every other way. What are a few thousand years to God; He has an abundance of time in which to accomplish His purposes. Like a boatman on a river, we see only our immediate surroundings. But like a man on a mountain, God sees the river of time from its source to its mouth. Scientists say this world has been a long time in its formation. They may be right; a God of eternity need be in no hurry. To the infinite God, our time means nothing.
"a thousand years as one day"
The scorners used the delay of Christ's coming as an excuse for their unbelief. No doubt the Christians were troubled by the delay too. By this verse, Peter would refute the arguments of the scorner and encourage the hearts of the believers. They thought the thirty odd years since His ascension a long time. Peter says in God's reckoning it is only a very short time. In fact, a thousand years is only like a day in His sight. By our time, it has now been many generations since Christ left this scene, but in God's estimation it has perhaps been just a few days. God knows no delay. At the appointed time He will come. The wicked scoffers thought that because His promise was delayed, His purposes were abandoned and thus they would not be judged. If the Lord desires to accomplish something in a short time, He is able; if He wishes to spread it over many of our years, He may.
Remember, time does not change the Lord; He knows no weariness or weakness. He never slumbers or sleeps (Ps. 121). He will never grow old, His hand will never shake, His voice will never falter, and His hair will never grey. His purposes do not change with changing years; there is no outside influence which can cause Him to change His plans. If He said, "I will come again," we can depend on it – He will come. If He said, "I will judge the wicked," then He will do it. His work shall be completed, His enemies will be conquered. The wicked servant may say, "My Lord delayeth His coming," and the sincere child may cry out, "How long O Lord?", but His reply is always "Surely, I come quickly."
To God, the future is entirely clear but we must wait for it to be unrolled before us. God knows the appointed time, but we must wait, we know not how long. His apparent delays are not due to changeableness or lack of ability. His eternity demands no haste, and man's impatience will not hurry Him in the least. His almighty power could bring things to pass quickly, but if He wills, He can spread it over many years. Our short span of life is short, so for us to accomplish anything we must not delay, but the Lord has all eternity to work. "Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places" (Ps. 135:6). If He has not come, it is because He has not yet willed to do so.
An average day seems to make little change in a man. However, over 50 years there is an immense difference. This is a very large portion of a man's life, but in the history of a nation it is considered a small period of time. As a nation, America is considered very young though over 200 years old. Fifty or 200 years with the eternal, immortal God is next to nothing. He lives in an eternal day.
This wonderful unchanging God is our God and although so mighty and majestic, still, He sent His beloved Son to die for us so that we might be forgiven and saved. How important that our lives be wholly for His glory. Bolstered with this knowledge of Him, we should be undisturbed by mockers and fight on in the good fight of faith until our Lord Jesus comes, whether the time be long or short.
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
The scoffers had said, "The Lord will not come because He has not come as He promised," and now perhaps even the Christians thought Him slow to keep His promises. Peter here gives the reason for this apparent slowness; He is longsuffering and does not desire to punish sinners, but wishes to give them time to repent of their sins – to trust and obey Christ for salvation.
"The Lord is not slack"
The word "slack" here has the sense of slow, late or delayed. "The Lord does not delay His promises" is a good translation. The Lord is never ahead nor behind time. Everything He does is right on time. He delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt at exactly the appointed time (Ex. 12:41). Christ was born into this world at exactly the time the Lord had set. "When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law" (Gal. 4:4). At the time appointed, He will come again, as also will come the fierce judgment recorded in our chapter.
"not slack concerning His promise"
Men judge the Lord by themselves. For various reasons men make promises but never keep them. Some never intend to keep them. They make them to gain temporary advantage, which having gained, they make no effort to keep the promises. The Lord has nothing to gain by promising things to man, so He cannot be charged with failure on this count. Some make promises, but soon forget them. To charge God with forgetfulness is practically to take His godhead from Him – "For God is not unrighteous to forget" (Heb. 6:10). Some are utterly indifferent to the promises they make, but certainly the Lord is not like this. "Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good?" (Num. 23:19). Men are fickle; they may have good intentions, but something comes along and they change their minds and do not keep their promises.
Like our Savior, God is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8). "He changes not." Accidents happen to man, even death comes and he cannot fulfill his promises. But nothing like this ever happens to our eternal God. No power can make our omnipotent God unable to do that which He has promised. Has He promised to come again? He will surely come. "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Heb. 10:37). "Shall not God avenge his own elect...I tell you that he will avenge them speedily" (Luke 18:7, 8).
Is our God slow? In some respects, yes. The Holy Word of God says, "He is slow to anger" (Neh. 9:17; Ps. 103:8 and four other places). It is a good thing that He is or who would be able to stand before Him? Sometimes He may seem slow in answering our prayers, but He will send the right answer at the right time. Sometimes it seems that the Lord is in no hurry to answer our prayers, but remember He is eternal and He need not hurry. May we with patience always wait on Him.
"longsuffering"
Peter says the reason the Lord has not yet come is because He is longsuffering and desires to see souls brought to repentance. He is extending the day of grace so that many may obey the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Longsuffering is part of His very character. No doubt, there is nothing hindering His coming at once except that He does not yet wish to do so.
Every day vile deeds are done in this world. Men steal, abuse, rape, murder and do all manner of sin. Not only that, but they curse the name of God and Christ and do all but spit in His face, which many would no doubt do if they could. Would you stand idle by while some monster abuses and injures a dear friend if it was in your power to resist? Supposing it was directed against yourself, how long could you take it before you did what you could to punish the culprit? The Lord could immediately mete out stern judgment, but He does not, hoping that there will be repentance. The Lord's longsuffering demonstrates His greatness and power. It takes a strong man to keep from striking out when greatly provoked.
Every day, in every way possible, sinners are grieving, provoking and tempting the Lord, but He holds back His wrath. It is said that one atheistic lecturer would often pull out his watch and say, "If there is a God, I will give Him five minutes to strike me dead," but nothing ever happened. God might have quickly taken up the challenge, but He did not.
"longsuffering to us-ward"
The Revised Version has to "you-ward" rather than to "us-ward." It matters little which is right. No doubt Peter has humanity in mind. In spite of man's sin the Lord is longsuffering toward him. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15). God's Holy Word is full of expressions such as "any man," "whosoever," etc. The message of the Gospel is to any man, anywhere, anytime. Any who are ready to obey the Gospel. Color or race does not matter, nor does degree of education, social standing or age. Amazingly, He is even ready to receive one in old age, after a whole life has been wasted on self and this world. His longsuffering is so great that He will receive any who come to Him no matter what the time or circumstances. "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (Ps. 86:15). Truly, "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
"not willing"
"Not wishing," as it is in the Revised Version, is better than "not willing." "As I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ez. 33:11). "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:3, 4). The Lord delights in salvation, but not in judgment. To send sinners to hell brings Him no pleasure. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:10).
Of course, this does not mean that an unrepentant, Christ rejecting sinner will escape. Although the Lord has no delight in it, the Scriptures are full of evidence that He will certainly mete out judgment to those who reject His mercy. Parents have no pleasure in punishing their children, but sometimes it must be done but always in love. A judge may hate to punish the lawless, but if he is wise, he will use the jails, and perhaps ever take the life of some serious offender. That God will punish sin is evident from the fact that He already permits suffering and death to enter this scene. The fact that Christ died on the cross to be made an atonement for our sins is evidence that the Lord has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but would rather grant his salvation. By the same token, if sin is so serious that Christ had to die before sin could be forgiven, the sinner need not hope to go unpunished, if his sins are not put away by the blood of Christ through obeying the Gospel. Sin is odious to God and He will punish for it, but He longs to forgive.
"not willing that any should perish"
"Perish" – what an awful word. It evidently means far more than physical death. It means "eternal death," perhaps rather "eternal punishment." There would be no point to the verse if it meant only physical death, since the saved die as well as the unrepentant. Our verse means the Lord does not wish that any of His creatures suffer the pangs of hell or the lake of fire. He longs for sinners to repent and to be saved and escape these judgments. Christ says to all, "Come unto me" (Matt. 11:28) and Isaiah 45:22, "Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." God is not obligated to spare, but He delights in mercy. Judgment is called His strange work; He would far rather save. However, only on a righteous basis can He save, which means we must have faith in and obey His Son, Jesus Christ.
Peter has already indicated that the old world perished in the flood (3:6). Sodom and Gomorrah perished (2:6). Sinning angels perished (2:4). Who are those in danger of perishing now? "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish" (Acts 13:41). "The wicked shall be turned into hell" (Ps. 9:17). "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). "He that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). There is only safety in trusting and obeying Christ.
"that all should come to repentance"
Nothing delights the Lord more than to hear a contrite sinner say, "I have sinned," and to come to His feet in true repentance. What a joy it brought to the father's heart in Luke 15:21, when the prodigal son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Peter says in our verse that the Lord would have all come to this place. How quickly the Lord spoke peace to the thief on the cross who said, "We receive the due reward of our deeds" (Luke 23:41). How ready the Lord was to spare Nineveh when its king and all his subjects put on sack cloth, and cried mightily unto God (Jonah 3:4-10).
Let no sinner expect that he can get by without repentance. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). "But shewed first unto them in Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:20).
Some think of repentance as sorrow for sin. It may include that, but it certainly is more. It means to have a change of mind. To stop going in one direction; to stop, turn and go in another direction. When one repents, he first of all has a different thought of sin. He sees and understands that sin is a very serious thing in God's sight. He also has different thoughts about himself. Most unsaved believe that they are not so bad, and that God should not be too hard on them. They are self-righteous, like one man who said, "I treat my help and my family well, and I do not injure or owe anyone: if God is not satisfied with that, He better just send me to hell." When true repentance comes over a man, he sees himself a guilty, vile, and good for nothing sinner in God's sight. He then also sees that God should righteously confine him to eternal punishment, but he quickly flees to Christ, trusting and obeying Him, for salvation.
Revealed here is the reason for our Lord's apparent delay in coming again; He desires to manifest longsuffering, giving the sinner ample time to repent. No one will be able to say, "I had no time to repent, judgment came so quickly." He will refuse none who come to Him in true repentance. "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). Any who are lost will have no one to blame but themselves; God gave them time and opportunity to repent, but they would not. His patient longsuffering will at last be ended and the stroke of judgment will fall suddenly.
The Lord is longsuffering to Christians as well, but let us be careful not to provoke or grieve Him by sin. May each Christian be diligent in warning about the seriousness of sin and the certainty of judgment; but also tell of the love and tender mercy of the Lord to the repentant sinner who comes to Christ.
