During a particularly difficult time in the life of David, he composed a Psalm (34) under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to express his trust in the Lord's care for him and His promises. The apostle Peter, also under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, quotes this Psalm in the midst of his exhortations to us as we, like David, pass our days in hostile territory with trust and hope that the eyes and ears of the Lord are over us and attuned to us. But first, the apostle speaks of our tongues and lips.
First, we need to realize that Peter still has not changed subjects. The immediate context began in chapter 2, verse 11. The subject is still pilgrimage. The subject is still the relationship to authority. The subject is still your testimony in this fallen world. If you want to have life and good days in that context, Peter has some instruction for you. His first instruction, surprisingly, has to do with what you say. He says to refrain from evil speaking and lying in particular. This is where the quote from Psalm 34 begins. The tongue has an enormous capacity for evil and Peter rightly warns us to refrain from the evil it can perpetuate. Rather, we are to do good. At fist, this doesn't seem so bad. But remember the broader context. The broader context is the example of the persecution of David by King Saul. David could have started a violent revolution and seized what was his by the wrong means, but he waited and pursued peace. David shunned the evil even though it was very tempting. David shunned the evil even when his own soldiers encouraged him to take matters in his own hand. But David would not dare to do evil so that good may come even though there was great personal cost, for he knew that the eyes and the ears of the Lord were upon him.
The text says that, "...the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers...." We know that David was convinced that the Lord would deliver him because he said as much to Saul. (I Sam. 24:12-15) If you are as confident in God's immediate and careful overseeing and directing of your affairs as David was, you can confidently shun evil and pursue good and peace. The text also tells us who the Lord sees and hears: the righteous. The Lord's care and concern for His own people is distinct from that of the creation generally and the wicked particularly. It is not that the Lord does not see the wicked. Quite the contrary. But the Lord knows you have needs, pains and wants. He knows that the pilgrim way can be a hard one. But you are told that He sees and hears your cries.
The wicked, on the other hand, are before the face of the Lord, but not for peace and fellowship. The face of the Lord is against them. (v. 12b) Peter stops quoting the Psalm at this point. In fact, he breaks off in the middle of the sentence. The rest of the sentence reveals what is means for the face of the Lord to b e against the wicked: It reads, "…to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." This is a repeat of what God has long said both to the nations and to His own people as a warning.
The kingdom was established under David and David's son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And those who have placed their trust in Him, will inherit all that has been promised though for a little while we may suffer. And even if we do, we have the great promise that the eyes and ears of the Lord are open to our prayers.
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