Peter was there as an eye witness as to what took place, “…we were NOT MAKING UP CLEVER STORIES (WILL) when we told you about THE POWERFUL COMING OF OUR LORD Jesus Christ. WE SAW His majestic splendor WITH OUR OWN EYES when He received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to Him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” WE OURSELVES HEARD THAT VOICE from heaven when we were WITH HIM on the holy mountain. We also have a MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY (because we were there…), to which you do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture came into being of its own private interpretation. No, those prophets were MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, and THEY SPOKE FROM GOD.” (2 Peter 1:16-21)
Peter tells these Christians that they will do well to PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the scripture—the prophetic scripture—scriptures that speak of the Day of the Lord. They will do well to pay close attention to them, because these scriptures are like A LAMP SHINING IN A DARK PLACE. They illuminate—reveal hazards—make it possible for us to walk without stumbling. Both Old and New Testaments speak of scripture as a light or a lamp. The Psalmist says, “Your word is a LAMP TO MY FEET, and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105; see also Proverbs 6:23; 13:9). When Peter speaks of the prophetic writings as “A LAMP SHINING IN A DARK PLACE,” he is using a familiar scriptural metaphor. “and the morning star arises in your hearts” (v. 19). Most scholars see this as an allusion to Numbers 24:17— “A star will come out of Jacob.” Jewish people understood that verse to be a messianic prophecy. Now Peter says that JESUS IS THAT STAR.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham