Shabbat Notes 1-17-2026

How to live before God

 

1 Peter 1:13-25 NKJV  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  (14)  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;  (15)  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  (16)  because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."  (17)  And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;  (18)  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,  (19)  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  (20)  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you  (21)  who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  (22)  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,  (23)  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,  (24)  because "ALL FLESH IS AS GRASS, AND ALL THE GLORY OF MAN AS THE FLOWER OF THE GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND ITS FLOWER FALLS AWAY,  (25)  BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

 

Verse 1…. Gird up meaning

gird, take out slack") – properly, raise up a tunic (= "tighten the belt"), "girding oneself"; (figuratively) getting ready (prepared) to move quickly, i.e. where someone needs to go and arrive at without delay (used only in 1 Pet 1:13).

 to gird up oneself or for oneself: — a metaphor derived from the practice of the Orientals, who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when about to start on a journey or engage in any work, to bind their long and flowing garments closely around their bodies and fasten them with a leathern girdle;

Background and Imagery

in the clothing of the ancient Near East, lengthy tunics reached well below the knees. When vigorous movement was required—travel, work, conflict—a man would gather up the lower folds and tuck them under a sash or belt, freeing the legs for decisive action. This act, commonly referred to as “girding up the loins,” became an established metaphor for readiness, focus, and exertion. Strong’s Greek 328 captures that single, deliberate motion of gathering in slack material so that nothing hinders purposeful forward movement.

Ephesians 6:14 KJV  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

 

Biblical Usage                                                                                                                                   The verbappears once in the Greek New Testament—1 Peter 1:13. Addressing believers scattered throughout Asia Minor, the apostle urges: “ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ” (1 Peter 1:13). The literal idiom is, “gird up the loins of your mind,” and Peter’s choice of this vivid picture bridges Israel’s Scripture-saturated past with the church’s present calling.

Lines of Continuity from Old to New Testament                                                                     Exodus 12:11 narrates Israel’s Passover night: “...with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand,” a posture of readiness for immediate redemption.
2 Kings 4:29 Elisha instructs Gehazi, “Gird up your loins... and go,” linking girding to urgent, delegated ministry.
Jeremiah 1:17 records the Lord saying to the prophet, “But you, gird up your loins; arise, and speak to them,” welding courage to calling.                                                                            Peter’s exhortation stands in this long line of prophetic commission. The same God who once prepared Israel for deliverance now calls the church to live in the light of the completed redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ.

Historical and Cultural Setting                                                                                                      First-century believers lived under social marginalization and sporadic persecution. The command to “gird up” the mind assured them that faithfulness was neither passive nor defensive. Christians were to think differently from the surrounding culture, anchoring identity not in civic status but in a coming revelation of glory.

Practical Ministry Applications                                                                                                             • Discipleship: Teach new believers to identify and “tie back” thought patterns that impede obedience—worry, bitterness, worldly ambitions.
• Preaching and Teaching: Use the image to describe how doctrine shapes action—right thinking precedes right living.
• Pastoral Care: In trials, counsel believers to tighten their mental focus on the hope of Christ’s appearing rather than the instability of circumstances.
• Missions: Challenge workers to travel light intellectually and spiritually, shedding entanglements that distract from gospel advance.

 

Verse 1 Be Sober ….(greek says being sober minded also in the ESV bible)

Biblical Usage and Context

Strong’s 3525 appears six times in the New Testament, consistently urging believers to maintain spiritual sobriety in view of either present ministry demand or impending eschatological reality. Whether Paul addresses Timothy (“be sober in all things,” 2 Timothy 4:5), or calls the Thessalonian church to wakefulness (“let us remain awake and sober,” 1 Thessalonians 5:6), the verb joins alertness to self-restraint. Peter likewise frames every use within a setting of cosmic conflict or approaching consummation: “Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8).

 

 

Connection with Watchfulness and Eschatology                                                                          The verb often stands beside terms for “watch,” “pray,” or references to “the day.” Peter’s warning that “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7) echoes Christ’s Olivet exhortations (Matthew 24:42) “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming”. Sobriety therefore functions as the believer’s posture between the “already” of Christ’s resurrection and the “not yet” of His return.

Relationship to Spiritual Warfare                                                                                                         1 Peter 5:8 “ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” explicitly situates sobriety in battle against the devil. Alert self-command preserves the mind from deception, panic, or indulgence, enabling timely resistance (compare Ephesians 6:10-17 about putting on the full armor of God) Without sobriety, armor is laid aside and prayer neglected.

 

Historical Background and Greco-Roman Setting                                                                            In first-century culture, literal intoxication and the revelry tied to pagan festivals symbolized societal decadence. Early Christians, often slandered as antisocial, embodied an alternative community marked by moderation. Their call to be sober minded distinguished them from surrounding excess and affirmed loyalty to the coming King rather than to Caesar and all those things that were of him.

Pastoral and Discipleship Implications                                                                                               • Discernment: sober minds sift teaching and cultural trends (1 John 4:1)”Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”.
• Emotional Stability: pastoral leaders demonstrate calm under trial, modeling  for congregations facing persecution or loss. 2 Timothy 4:5 “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry”. 
• Balanced Piety: sobriety guards against extremes on one side and freedom on the other, maintaining joyful yet disciplined devotion.

In closing:

Three things to remember

First:  Are the Loins of your mind Girded up? Like the tunics having to be tucked into the loin/belt to be ready to move quickly.  Are you standing ready mentally in your mind waiting on Jesus’ return?

Second:  Are you sober? Not letting the things of this world corrupt your mind and it’s way of thinking, but only allowing those things come into it that are of Godly things and not Worldly?

Lastly:  Are you being Holy as He/God is Holy?  Putting your Hope in the Grace that the Revelation of Jesus Christ has and is continually bringing to you in this world and your home to come with your Father God, the Creator of all.