Peter says, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear — but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.” Here’s my main advice regarding this… go read the book of Esther and Ruth. And DEFINITELY go back to the book of Genesis and thoroughly traverse the details, and the particulars, and the points of emphasis, and the feelings, and the vibes, and the suspicions, and the sensations, and the forebodings, and the laughter of Sarah. And also read the stories of Jael (the wife of Heber), and Huldah the prophetess (the wife of Shallum), and Joanna (the wife of Chuza).

Then Peter says, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” Weaker vessel. I’ll I’m going to say for now is… If you’re reading this you probably identify as a Christian, which means YOU BELIEVE that women are the weaker vessel. I personally believe that this is complimentary and dignifying and profound and heartfelt and wholehearted! I believe that there is tremendous JOY and CONFIDENCE in this weaker vessel reality. I believe that much can be joyfully learned by studying the word עֵזֶר. And I believe that this weaker vessel reality is thoroughly aligned with the story of Joanna (wife of Chuza), and Jael (wife of Heber), and the story of Mary Poppins, and Mrs. Fox, and the foreign exchange student who has a crush on The Little Pilot, and Haydée (the daughter of Ali Pasha of Janina, and Edmond Dantès’s beloved and chosen life companion).

Then Peter says, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” *This is what Belteshazzar (a.k.a. Daniel), and Shadrach (a.k.a. Hananiah), and Meshach (a.k.a. Mishael), and Abednego (a.k.a. Azariah) did when they interacted with Nebuchadnezzar, and even when they refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. *And this is what David did when he fled from, and confronted, and shamed King Saul — saying, “My lord the king! Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” And the other time – when David stood far off on the top of a hill, with a great space between himself and Saul (and Abner). And David LOVINGLY and RESPECTFULLY shamed Abner saying, “Will you not answer, Abner? Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.” And Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king. Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

Long story short…unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind are connected to the commendable stories of God’s living and active Word, and being zealous for good (like Joseph son of Jacob, a.k.a. Zaphenath-Paneah is zealous for good – which involves MUCH SHREWDNESS of a serpent. Just like The Count of Monte Cristo! A.k.a. Edmond Dantés, a.k.a. Abbé Busoni, a.k.a. Lord Wilmore, a.k.a. Sinbad the Sailor. And just like Mary Poppins, and Mr. Fox, and The Little Pilot, and Willy Wonka, and Zsa-zsa Korda, etc.).

Then Peter says, “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (again – and I cannot emphasize this enough — you do well, and you will be greatly helped, to have the character of The Count of Monte Cristo! A.k.a. Edmond Dantés, a.k.a. Abbé Busoni, a.k.a. Lord Wilmore, a.k.a. Sinbad the Sailor in mind when you imagine what it actually looks like to have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ).

Then Peter says, “Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” Just like Joseph son of Jacob, a.k.a. Zaphenath-Paneah! And just like Belteshazzar (a.k.a. Daniel), and Shadrach (a.k.a. Hananiah), and Meshach (a.k.a. Mishael), and Abednego (a.k.a. Azariah)! And just like David and his shrewd shaming of his asinine father-in-law!

Then Peter says, “Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which Jesus went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.” That part about baptism being extremely dangerous and hazardous is interesting! See another blog post entitled “Holiness is Hazardous.”