2 Peter 2:1-16: a reflection

1But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned. 3In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber. 4For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness to be reserved for judgment; 5and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly, 6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an ungodly way, 7and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked 8(for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds), 9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don’t bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord. 12But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed, 13receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you; 14having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin, enticing unsettled souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children! 15Forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; 16but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A speechless donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet.

Peter warns his readers about false teachers who will arise, bringing in destructive errors, exploiting people with greed and deceptive words, and living immorally. It is a sobering warning about those who would lead God's people astray. But in the middle of it, Peter gives a word of reassurance drawn from God's dealings in the past: the Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.

Notice the assurance Peter offers amid the warning: the Lord knows how to rescue the godly. He recalls how God rescued Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom, delivering the righteous while judging the wicked; and he draws the conclusion that God knows how to do this still. God is able both to rescue his own out of the trials and dangers that surround them, and to hold the unrighteous accountable in his own time. The godly are not left to the mercy of false teachers and the wicked; God knows how to deliver them.

That is a comfort when we are surrounded by error and by the influence of the ungodly. We can feel vulnerable, as though the deceptions and pressures around us might overwhelm us, and as though the wicked prosper unchecked. But Peter assures us: the Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of trials, and to keep the unrighteous for judgment. God is able to preserve his own amid every danger and deception, and to deal justly with the wicked in his time. When you feel surrounded by error and the influence of the ungodly, take comfort that the Lord knows how to rescue his own. Trust the God who rescued Noah and Lot, and who knows how to deliver you too, and to hold the wicked accountable; you are not at the mercy of the deceivers, for God knows how to rescue the godly.

Lord, Peter warns of false teachers who lead people astray with greed and deception, yet reassures us that you know how to rescue the godly out of trials, and to keep the unrighteous for the day of judgment, as you rescued Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom. Comfort me with that assurance. When I am surrounded by error and the influence of the ungodly, I can feel vulnerable, as though the deceptions and pressures around me might overwhelm me, and as though the wicked prosper unchecked. But you assure me that you know how to rescue the godly out of trials, and to hold the unrighteous accountable in your time. You are able to preserve your own amid every danger and deception, and to deal justly with the wicked. When I feel surrounded by error and the influence of the ungodly, help me take comfort that you know how to rescue your own. Help me trust you, who rescued Noah and Lot, and who know how to deliver me too. I am not at the mercy of the deceivers, for you know how to rescue the godly.