Angels Longed to Look (1 Peter 1:12)

Introduction

No, this is not this morning’s sermon. It is not a repeat. But I do want to begin with the phrase that we began with this morning. If only you knew. If only you knew the gift of God. We live in a time when information is at our fingertips. I don’t know how many times in the last year someone has said, do you remember? And the incident was talked about, and when did that happen? What was that exactly? And all you have to do is say, hey, Siri. Instant information at your fingertips. That trivia question that you wanted answered. You can have it instantly. Usually. Sometimes she has no idea what you’re talking about. If only you knew. What is some of the most important knowledge that there is to possess?

That question was raised on Korah, and the answer was your real identity. And someone wrote a very long piece about, and I guess this one got the most upvotes, a really long piece about how important it is for you to know your real identity. I guess that’s more than knowing what your name is. It’s good if you know what your name is. And you know some things about your heritage and background that you know you still have knowledge of that. Don’t take that for granted. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. And the long article went on to suggest that you need to know the self within you. Okay, I think there’s a better answer to that. The better answer is you need to know self as God defines you.

And I would take you to one passage of Scripture in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 23. This is what really matters in the realm of knowledge. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely. Okay, that’s that’s a good thing. Sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body, that’s the entirety of you. May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved complete without blame at the coming of the Lord. If only you knew. Well, I’m going in a little different direction tonight. If only you knew the truth about prophecy and how valuable it is. The text is 2 Peter chapter 1, at least the text I was at a minute ago, before it automatically advanced to 1 Peter 1, where I am going.

1. Things Into Which Angels Long to Look

In 2 Peter chapter 1, Peter said, excuse me, we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we declared as eyewitnesses the majesty of the Lord. He was a firsthand eyewitness of the Lord. He’s saying we didn’t make anything in any of this up. It didn’t originate with us. Just like the holy men of old spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. No prophecy is of any private interpretation. It’s not like any of this results as the act of human will. What we have in Scripture is from a divine dictate, not from human will or human ingenuity. These are the words God breathed as we look at 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. And regarding these words now, as we get to our other text in 1 Peter chapter 1, in 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 10, these words are spoken about such prophecy as to this salvation.

Okay? He’s been talking about our salvation in the previous verses, more on that momentarily. The prophets who prophesied of the grace, the favor of God that would come to you, made careful search and inquiry. The prophets had things revealed to them that they did not quite grasp, seeking to know what person. Okay, there was some person on the horizon that these passages indicated that would come and bring blessings to Israel. What person or time? The Spirit of Christ, the one, the anointed one, the Messiah, who would be the answer. The Spirit of Christ within them was indicating, as he predicted, the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. That phrase alone encapsulates the message of the gospel. Due to the sufferings of Christ, glories follow.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, he says to a first century audience. It was shrouded in mystery to them. They had some inkling of better times ahead for the people of God. He said, but all of that was really in service to you, those who are experiencing the glories that followed the sufferings of Christ, the first century audience and beyond. In these things which now have been announced to you through those who preach the gospel to you. What was once shrouded in mystery, the prophets wanted to know more about that and the time of that, but really it was this time that they were referring to, Peter says. And those who have preached the gospel to you, the good news about your salvation, he says, by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.

You have heard the announcement of these things, the fulfillment, the reality. And then he says this, things into which angels long to look. And I’ve thought about that phrase a lot. Even God’s ministers in heaven did not possess the knowledge of what God was doing. And they anxiously wanted to know. Things into which angels longed to look. This salvation. I didn’t want to read these passages without looking at the context of the statement and the salvation that he’s describing. The outcome of our faith is this salvation, he says in verse 9. But going back even further, he says we can express, we have inexpressible joy because of our involvement and understanding of this salvation, though presently there is a trial of our faith. But going back earlier in the context, yes, faith is under trial.

There is opposition and obstacles to overcome, but we have an inheritance, we have a hope in verse 4, which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us. And of this salvation, so many Old Testament passages pointed to this glorious day. And I’ve worn this out, but I’m going to keep doing it till I make sure we have it.

Rejoice and be glad in it. It is so often that we take verse 24 in this context and we make use of it in a way that I guess is acceptable when we say each new day is a gift of the Lord, and it is, and so we ought to rejoice in it. But that’s not exactly the day that the psalmist has in mind. The day that the psalmist has in mind is all the things that pertain to this message of salvation. If you look in the context, going back to verse 22, the chief cornerstone being rejected is the context. And he has become the chief cornerstone. Well, that’s New Testament thought, isn’t it? Jesus being rejected. You’ve got to get that frog out of there.

He has become the chief cornerstone of the habitation of the Lord that is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets in Ephesians chapter 2. And then he says, This is the Lord’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. That’s what the psalmist is excited about. That God is bringing salvation for Israel. Salvation for his people. And that’s where we get Hosanna. We beseech you. Oh Lord, we beseech you, do send prosperity. And salvation and true prosperity go hand in hand. So what exactly was this passage and other Old Testament passages pointing to. What exactly were the things into which angels longed to look. Now, whatever it is the angels were wanting more information about, and the prophets were wanting more information about, the fact that we have the information they wanted should cause some level of interest and excitement in us.

That we’re on this side, as Peter was talking about his first century audience, you’ve heard this announcement from the preachers of the gospel who have preached to you. Things into which angels long to look. We have a better perspective, a richer understanding than they did. So, what was it exactly that the angels were wanting to know more about? This is the point in the lesson where we insert the whole Old Testament. So the rest of the sermon is really the whole Old Testament. Because when Jesus was raised from the dead, what did he say in Luke 24 to the disciples? He said, These things had to take place. He says in Luke chapter 24 and verse 44. He said, These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about me, the Messiah, all things that were written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms, as we just saw, must be fulfilled.

And so, what we talk about in regard to the things into which angels long to look, you could really insert pretty much all the Old Testament. So this could get to be a really long sermon tonight.

2. The Prophet Joel: I Will Pour Out My Spirit

Okay? I’ll just throw that out here right now. Get your pens, write down some verses. We’re going to read some from the Old Testament. I’m going to piece some verses together for you that sort of summarize this Old Testament announcement, the things into which angels long to look. And we’re going to do it from three of the 39 Old Testament books. Just look at a few thoughts here. If we can appreciate this salvation even more, hundreds of years in advance, we have the prophecy of Joel. One of the three books we’re going to look at. I want you to turn to the prophet Joel. We’re going to read just a few verses there. Now remember I did the series on Joel, three sermons. And when I said, and this is your test tonight, test.

It’s Sunday. I know it’s not Monday, but it’s a test. When you think of the prophet Joel, just three chapters, you’re supposed to think one thing. How good of a teacher am I? Terrible, apparently. When the name Joel, the Old Testament prophet Joel is announced, you’re supposed to think of one thing. I emphasize this in great detail. Extra credit.

Now, some of the adults have it. I can see it written on their faces. Okay. Now I’m making a big deal about this because I don’t want this to happen again. If I come back to this in less than a year, because this was this year. If I come back to this in less than a year and I don’t get the right answer from everyone who was here tonight, I’m walking out of here. When you think of the prophet Joel, you think. Somebody?

Locus. Locus. Remember? The locust invasion. That’s what Joel is all about. What’s the meaning of this? This locust. Remember the locusts? Okay, now everyone takes it. Oh, yeah, the locust. You remember that picture, right? That’s right from those slides on Joel. It was the locusts. Okay, all of that to get to Joel too. More extra credit if you can tell me what this, where in the New Testament, this old testament prophecy is quoted. Acts chapter 2. Remember where the gospel is announced and preached? What was the major quotation in the sermon of Peter and the apostles? It was this one. Things into which angels long to look. Oh, that frog. And it will come about after this that I will pour out my spirit on all mankind.

Now, what does Peter, what use does he make of that in Acts chapter 2? That’s what happened today. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles, and they announced and preached this message. And your sons and your daughters will prophesy. And your old men will dream drinks. It’s not just isolated to the apostles. Others would do these things. Young and old. I will pour out my spirit in those days. And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood. It won’t all be pleasant. Everything that’s associated with the announcement of this message before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. Everything moves toward a culmination, a day of judgment upon mankind.

And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Oh, they don’t have any idea when Joel says this that he’s talking about Jesus, but the real Lord who ascends to be at the right hand of the Majesty on high is the one in view here. The one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be delivered. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, there will be those who escape, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

That’s where the temple is. Jerusalem, that’s where salvation is going to be provided. What they don’t see is the spiritual intentions of this passage. But he’s not talking about physical Zion, though that’s where the message will go forth. Isaiah 2 will mention that. We’re going to Isaiah shortly. But the point that is being made is that survivors and salvation and deliverance is associated with Zion. With Jerusalem, it’s just spiritual Jerusalem that is in view. And that takes me to the next prophet that I want to look at briefly. And this is the prophet Isaiah. Now, Isaiah, turn to Isaiah. Now that comes in your Bibles prior to Joel, but I did it in this sequence because probably Joel’s prophecy came first. So we have this prophecy in Joel about future blessings for Zion before the great and awesome day of the Lord.

3. The Prophet Isaiah: The Wilderness Becomes a Fertile Field

But Isaiah is going to give us even more insight. And boy, it’s hard to know where to start in Isaiah. This is where I’m going to go quickly because there’s so much I want to talk about here. And again, this may not be a good idea. I got this idea in Amarillo, and it sounded like a good idea at the time, but I’m not sure. We’ll see how this goes. Isaiah 32 15. Read with me quickly. Here’s another reference to the Spirit being poured out. Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Now, what’s going to happen when that happens? That’s what I want you to notice. And the wilderness becomes a fertile field. Now that imagery you should get. Where there is desert and destitution.

Did we sing in the desert of sorrow and sin? This morning we did. Where there is desert and destitution, what replaces that because of the Messiah’s work is fertility, fruitfulness, you see. And the fertile field is considered as a forest. Growth, vegetation alive is the idea. Now, chapter 33, one chapter over. 33, 5, and 6. The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high. He has filled Zion. Okay, there it is, Zion again. With justice and righteousness. What does God want to happen in Zion? It’s a place of justice and righteousness. And so it is in spiritual Zion. And he shall be the stability of your times. A wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is his treasure. And we could actually go on as I preach sermons about the king in the far distant land down in verse 17.

We could actually talk about more verses here, but I want to move on to chapter 35. Because in chapter 35, Zion imagery is enhanced even more when he says, the wilderness and the desert will be glad. In verse 2, it will, I love this, the New American Standard rendering here. It will blossom profusely. I like that.

And in their minds, the land producing fruit. This was blessing from God. This was ultimate blessing. There’s vegetation and growth and fruitfulness everywhere. Blossom profusely. It’s happening in the future, Isaiah said. Things are not like they were when Israel has first made conquest of Canaan. Isaiah’s times are much darker. Spiritually, not as well as they were in, say, the days of David. But future times are coming that are better. Say to those with anxious heart, take courage and fear not. The lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy. Don’t you see the implications of the miracles that are going to take place in New Testament times in that imagery? Waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams where there was desert, there’s going to be waters, living waters.

Okay, did we hear something on that this morning? I think we did. A highway will be there, and it shall be called the highway of holiness, but the unclean will not travel on it. Those who walk that path will not accidentally get there. The fools will not wander on it. And there’s not going to be any predators there. What a highway. We don’t worry about that. The only predators on the road now are other drivers. But in the first century, travel was precarious. It’s not like you could go 55 miles an hour on the highway and get away from the lion or some other ferocious beast. But he says, Man, I’m going to bring a highway. This is going to be the ultimate highway. It’s much better than I 10, even.

But the redeemed walk there, and the redeemed are joyful and glad. And sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 49. And verse 8. In a favorable time I have answered you. In the day of salvation I have helped you. That’s quoted by Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 2. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation. And I will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people. Look at verse 10. They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down. God is going to be their sustenance. He’s going to take care of them.

Now, they’re thinking physically here, right? A refreshing spring. How long has it been since you’ve stood at the bottom of a waterfall in the middle of summer? I did that in May in the smoky mountains. Stood at the bottom of a waterfall. It was very hot outside. It’s just so refreshing. And so this concept of refreshment is in this. Verse 14. But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me. You know, look at the situation of Zion right now. The Lord has forgotten me. But God says, I’ve not forgotten. Can a woman forget her nursing child? Women, insert your experience here. Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? I hope not. If she has natural affection. Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.

And then I love 16. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands. Your walls are continually before me. Zion is a city that God will not forget. God has future plans for Zion. And we come to 54.

Oh, afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted. Behold, I will set your stones in antimony and your foundations I will lay with sapphires. I’m going to build such a glorious city. It’s going to be decorated with the most precious stones in verse 13. Well, your gates are of crystal, verse 12, and then verse 13, and all your sons will be taught of the Lord, and the well-being of your sons will be great. Whatever God has planned for his glorious Zion. He said, It’ll be grateful. The well-being of your sons will be great. And then look at verse 17. Hey, kids, you know this one. No weapon that’s fashioned against us shall stand.

Isaiah 54, 17. And every tongue that accuses you in judgment will you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from me. And now here’s the passage of 59 verses that I don’t have to repeat now because you remember my New Year’s Eve sermon. It was only 10 months ago. Just like you knew about the locusts, right? Remember the planting of the Lord. The planting, you are the planting of the Lord that the Lord may be glorified. Again, in this whole section, God is talking about similar concepts of fruitfulness and blessing. And remember, it was from this context, just before oaks of righteousness in Isaiah 61 and verse 3, that Jesus quotes in Nazareth and says, He sits down, he closes the scroll and says, Today, this passage has been fulfilled in your hearing.

These passages are all wrapped up in the Messiah’s work. And then at the end of this, he says, and he will make Jerusalem a praise in all the earth. He’s not talking about the physical city. And they will call them in verse 12 the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. And you will be called out. You will be called sought out, a city not forsaken. Now read all these passages because you know I talk about this.

It has to happen. It’s one of my goals here. Some of the songs that we sing at talk about Zion only look at Zion from a future perspective. From where we are now. That’s not what these passages are saying. These passages in Isaiah are saying the new Jerusalem, that’s spiritual Israel. That’s us, the people of God. The new Jerusalem is this Zion. We are the temple of God, we read in the New Testament. God dwells among us. These blessings are not down the road from us. These are blessings into which angels long to look that we now possess. Zion is not just a future consideration when we talk about the ultimate that will be experienced in the presence of God. This speaks to the salvation that we enjoy right here, right now.

4. The Prophet Zechariah: The Apple of His Eye

This is Zion. This is New Jerusalem. One more prophet quickly, Zachariah. Now you flip to the very end of the Old Testament, and we’re at the end of the Old Testament message in terms of time. And notice some quick thoughts with me, and I’ll conclude tonight. Yes, I’m about to wrap this up. For thus says the Lord of hosts, mark these passages, Zachariah 2 and verse 8. After glory, he has sent me against the nations which plunder you. God defends his people. And then he says, For he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. This is how God feels about Zion.

He says, You are the apple of his eye. He says in chapter 3 and verse 10, in that day declares the Lord. Every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his victory. See the language of blessing that’s coming in the future. And finally we come to chapter 12 and verses 8 and following. In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David. You know, who are you going to compare him to? Oh, David on the battlefield against Goliath. The one who is feeble will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them.

And it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And may I just say Zechariah 12, verse 9 is really telling you what’s going on in the book of Revelation. That’s really what it’s all about. Anybody that comes to destroy Jerusalem, they have God to deal with. Anyone who persecutes his holy people, they have taken up the fight against him. And as Gamaliel understood, beware, lest you be found fighting against God. And I will pour out on the house of David. Here it is again, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on me whom they have pierced. That’s quoted in Revelation chapter 1.

Verse 13, and that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This isn’t physical Jerusalem. Again, this is the spiritual city. This is spiritual Jerusalem. And then in verse 8, and I had to get to this, 14 8. And it will come about in that day. This is your tie-in to this morning, that living waters will flow out of Jerusalem. That’s what Jesus affords. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. In that day, the Lord will be the only one, and his name the only one. And thus we sing, Jesus has the name above all names. To this day, his name is the only one. The work that Jesus would do in providing redemption is what the prophets were telling about all the glories that would follow the Messiah’s work, all the blessings.

It will be well for you and for your sons, he says. If you imbibe of the blessings of the Lord and partake of the living waters that flow from the throne of the Lord, you can bask in the great privileges and blessings of being God’s child. Indeed, God has all authority in heaven and in earth. Thus his disciples were sent out to baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always to the end of the world. Jesus said.

Conclusion

This side of these promises, but we live in incredible times because of the affluence of our culture. And I see that in our people because we need a break, don’t we? From the hustle and bustle of everyday life and from the routine. And we deserve it because we fight traffic all the time. That really stresses you out over time. You got to get away from Houston. Harry was talking about looking for a house for Casey, Marcy’s brother. And he said, We just fought traffic all weekend. That’s what you do around here. It’s just drive and stop, drive and stop, watch out for the other guy. So look, I think some of our stress relief is justified. We need to get away from it all. And so if we’re going to get away from it all, where are we going?

Anywhere but Houston. We’re out of here. And you know, it’s sort of flat here. And so we go to exotic places when we can’t. Some people fly to the Caribbean, some people take cruises, some people go to the mountains, and we see all of these beautiful vistas. I know you’ve been to all these places that I’m showing. But boy, wouldn’t that be great to be there instead of Houston? Look at all these places that we can. Oh, yeah. The beach scene with tropical paradise. Oh, when do we get a go again? Oh, I was going to end on this one. What a beautiful landscape this is. Spiritually, we are in the ultimate landscape as God’s people. We are imbibing of these idyllic promises of the fertile field, the holy mountain.

We are the apple of God’s eye. It’s better than all of that. And sometimes I think we struggle to see that.

Extremely happy, peaceful, picturesque, perfect, wonderful, blissful. Not some place on the map, but being known by the Lord and enjoying his favor. I like what this author said, and I’ll wrap this up tonight with this.

Some blessings come soon. Some come late. And some don’t come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. Those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they have and they come. And don’t ever surrender what is infinitely valuable, your inclusion in these things. You’re subject to his invitation. Come now as we stand and we sing.