3:121 Peter 3:12

The Lord keeps the righteous under His constant watchful care and protection, He listens to their prayers and stands ready to answer their cries, and He sets Himself against those who do evil so that they share the fate of their wrongdoing.6T 120.2–3+3 This promise belongs to the call to love life and see good days by holding the tongue from evil and deceit, turning from evil to do good, and seeking and pursuing peace with compassion, humility, and blessing returned for insult.6T 120.2–3+2 Those who follow what is good are assured that no real harm can come to them for doing right, so they need not fear even in suffering but honor God and answer for their hope with meekness.6T 120.2–3+2 Prayer from such a life is real communion with God, with every word attended to in secret as the life of the soul, and no genuine desire, tear of contrition, or even unspoken yearning goes unanswered.CH 442.3+3 Living under His eye means daily guarding speech from impatient, fretful, vain, and deceitful words, pursuing peace at home, and walking in the meek, loving holiness of the new man, which brings contentment of mind, strength of soul, and health to body and mind.Ms 19, 1892, par. 50–53+4

The eyes of the Lord being over the righteous means He attentively watches over them, cares for them, and keeps His servants and children under His protection.6T 120.2–3+4 His ears being open to their prayers means He listens to them, hears them, and is ready to answer their prayers and cries.6T 120.2–3+4 Every word of petition is attended to, and such prayers are welcome to Him.CH 442.3+1 His face being against those who do evil means He stands opposed to evildoers, in contrast to the righteous, and they share the fate of evildoing.6T 120.2–3+4

The verse belongs to an exhortation to love life and see good days by restraining the tongue from evil and the lips from deceit, turning from evil, doing good, and seeking and pursuing peace.6T 120.2–3+3 That seeking includes compassion, kindness, unity, brotherly love, pity, courtesy, and humility, and returning blessing for evil and insult rather than retaliation.6T 120.2–3+3 In the setting of opposition and suffering for doing right, it supports responding with blessing rather than retaliation, doing good, and seeking peace, with assurance of God's care in the face of suffering for doing good.6T 120.2–3+1 The surrounding call connects this favor with turning from sin, doing good, seeking peace, and living with compassion and kindness rather than repaying evil with evil.6T 120.2–3+1

It belongs also to an appeal to seek God earnestly and to live and practice the truth, with love for God and for those for whom Christ died.Ms 185, 1898, par. 7–10 This assurance accompanies the call to be pitiful and courteous, so that workers who show Christlike meekness, kindness, and forbearance while remaining firm in principle may trust in the Lord's care and hearing.Ms 65, 1886, par. 17–22 In home life it applies to those who turn from outward display and worldly approval to do the will of the heavenly Father, who adorn themselves with a meek and quiet spirit, who live in unity with compassion, love, pity and courtesy, who refuse to return evil for evil, who guard the tongue from evil and guile, who turn from evil and do good and seek peace, and who will inherit blessing with no true harm coming to them for following good.Lt 52, 1901, par. 2–6 Its words belong with the call to turn from evil speech, do good, and seek peace, and those who know this teaching through experience find happiness and value Heaven's approval above earthly amusement.1T 566.1–2

Those who follow what is good are under watchful care that listens to their prayers while standing against evildoers, so no real harm truly comes to them for doing right.6T 120.2–3+4 Even when they suffer for doing good they have no cause for fear, but are to honor God in the heart and be ready to explain their hope with meekness and respect, answering insult and opposition with blessing rather than retaliation.6T 120.2–3+4 This belongs to a life that guards the tongue from evil and lips from deceit, turns from evil and does good, and seeks and pursues peace in unity with compassion, love, pity, courtesy, and a meek and quiet spirit that turns from outward display and worldly approval to do the will of the heavenly Father and refuses to return evil for evil.6T 120.2–3+4 Practiced daily in the family, this way of life is of the greatest consequence for gaining a higher and holier experience, a deep religious experience that takes away foolishness, removes what hinders growth in grace, and gives peace and joy and the inheritance of blessing.Lt 52, 1901, par. 2–6 Every sacrifice and sorrow endured in that service is attentively seen, and the neglect and injustice faced will increase the reward in the coming day.ST Jul 13, 1882

That same watchful care sustained and protected God's people from being destroyed amid severe trials, increasing hardship, and anxiety.CET 149.1 As long as Israel remained loyal and obedient no earthly or demonic power could prevail against them, so Balaam's intended curse could not take effect.GC 529.2+1 When they sinned and broke the commandments they separated themselves from Him and were left exposed to the destroyer.GC88 529.2

In the setting of impending divine vengeance the verse distinguishes those who grieve over wrongdoing and receive His care from those who join in sympathy with the world and share the fate of evildoers.5T 212.3 The assurance that Jesus watches over His children and hears their prayers encourages them to avoid wrongdoing and, when they do wrong, to make it right as soon as possible, trusting that He will forgive and pardon.Lt 71, 1892, par. 4–5 That assurance that God watches over His people gives courage to appeal to them repeatedly, even when they may not fully understand.1MR 155.2

The promise means that the prayers of the righteous are welcome, with every word of the petition attended to, which gives prayer its worth as real communion with God that is heard and answered.CH 442.3+1 God inspects the soul laid open before Him in solitude and keeps His ear open to prayer arising from the heart.SC 98.2 Secret prayer heard by Him alone is the life of the soul, and family or public prayer alone is not enough for the soul to flourish.SC 98.2

In secret the soul is free from surrounding influences and excitement and reaches out after God calmly yet fervently in calm, simple faith and holds communion with Him.SC 98.2 From Him comes a sweet and abiding influence and rays of divine light that strengthen and sustain the soul in conflict with Satan, for God is a tower of strength.SC 98.2 Elijah shared the same passions as others yet prayed earnestly and received an answer.ST Nov 18, 1886 Daniel kept praying three times a day with windows open toward Jerusalem even after the decree that petitioning any god or man except Darius for thirty days meant the lions' den, and the God he served continually delivered him from the lions.ST Nov 18, 1886 Jesus, though the beloved sinless Son, felt need of communion with His Father, prayed with great earnestness, and often spent the whole night on the damp, cold ground in agonizing supplication.ST Nov 18, 1886

Since even Jesus prayed like this, those called to be heirs of salvation, who face fiery temptations of the wily foe and depend on divine grace for strength to overcome, should have their whole souls stirred to wrestle with God not to let Him go without blessing.ST Nov 18, 1886 Tempted people can cry to Him in faith and rely on His promise for help in every time of temptation, because He knows the strength of the natural heart's inclinations, rather than treating temptation as an excuse for sin.MYP 67.1–2+2 The Lord hears the prayers and cries of those who seek Him, with no genuine desire for help or tear of contrition going unanswered.ST Jun 18, 1902 His grace meets the yearning of the human heart even when the appeal is unspoken, and past mistakes and a darkened life do not prevent a person from coming to Him or being heard.ST Jun 18, 1902

The verse calls for remaining watchful and constant in prayer during the ongoing spiritual battle.Ms 11, 1868, par. 11 For those living in the last days safety in the constant battle for life against Satan and his host is found only in being instant in prayer and watchful every moment, never laying aside the armor for a moment.18MR 370.3–4 This calls for circumspect words and acts, sobriety rather than levity, reckless talking, jesting and joking, bearing about a weight of solemn influence, being rich in good works, bearing the burden of souls, and by holy example faithfully representing Jesus Christ to win souls to accept Christ as Saviour.18MR 370.3–4

The promise belongs to those living the humble, loving, peace-seeking life of the new man, created after God in righteousness and true holiness.Lt 31a, 1894, par. 33–34 That life is Christlike, produced when the Holy Spirit fashions the person after Christ's likeness, with the Spirit using the person rather than the person using the Spirit, in contrast to a pompous, overbearing, dictatorial spirit.Lt 31a, 1894, par. 33–34 It is a life in the likeness of Christ through the Holy Spirit, marked by compassion, humility, and goodness, under the Lord's watchful care and open ear toward the righteous and His opposition to those who do evil.Ms 142, 1903, par. 67–68

In home life this means turning from outward display and worldly approval to do the will of the heavenly Father, being adorned with a meek and quiet spirit, and living in unity with compassion, love, pity and courtesy.Lt 52, 1901, par. 2–6 It means refusing to return evil for evil, guarding the tongue from evil and guile, turning from evil and doing good and seeking peace, so as to inherit blessing with no true harm coming from following good.Lt 52, 1901, par. 2–6 Workers who show Christlike meekness, kindness, and forbearance while remaining firm in principle may trust in that same care and hearing.Ms 65, 1886, par. 17–22

The righteous refuse the attributes that proceed from the enemy of God and man and cherish instead the fruits of the Spirit.11MR 84.1–2 They refuse to be beguiled and conquered by the false tongue, and remain strengthened, established, settled and rooted.11MR 84.1–2 They hold Christ's atonement as the anchor of hope and God's Word as lamp to the feet and light to the path, dwell on Scripture truth until Christ abides in the heart, and speak words not of self but of Christ and of the essential work for this time and of the matchless love of Jesus.11MR 84.1–2

Loving life and seeing good days depends on restraining the tongue from evil and the lips from deceit, turning away from evil, doing good, and seeking and pursuing peace.Ms 11a, 1895, par. 1–2+1 Careless, foolish speech dishonors Christ and shows a heart in need of cleansing.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18 It is not safe to open mind and heart to envy and evil speaking.11MR 84.1–2

The verse cautions and warns against sinning with the tongue through vain, idle, reckless words and jesting, joking, and cheap conversation.Ms 11a, 1895, par. 1–2 Such speech places a person on ground where Satan can gain advantage and access to the soul in his play for eternal life.Ms 11a, 1895, par. 1–2

This teaching is of the greatest consequence to the children of God and is to be practiced daily in the family.Lt 52, 1901, par. 2–6 So practiced, it leads to a higher and holier experience, a deep religious experience that takes away foolishness, removes what hinders growth in grace, and gives peace and joy in the Lord.Lt 52, 1901, par. 2–6

Peace is to be sought and pursued daily in the home, even when the body suffers and the nerves are weak.Ms 19, 1892, par. 50–53+2 There is no liberty to speak fretfully, to complain of neglect, to give way to impatience, or to make excuses for selfishness and for evil thinking and evil speaking.Ms 19, 1892, par. 50–53+1 Suffering or weakness does not excuse impatience, fretful speech, or evil thoughts.Ms 19, 1892, par. 50–53+2 Giving way to impatience drives the Spirit of God from the heart and gives place to Satan.21MR 117.2–4+1 It educates the soul in evil until yielding becomes habit, and leaves the person overcome, weak and without courage on Satan's ground.21MR 117.2–4+1

Those who know this teaching through living experience find happiness and deep satisfaction and confidence in Him as a trustworthy friend.1T 566.1–2+3 They value Heaven's approval above earthly amusement.1T 566.1–2+1 Knowing that God sees and hears gives real satisfaction, quietness and contentment of mind in Him.1T 501.2–502.2+2 That settled conscience of right-doing is itself the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds, putting the person on the pathway to health, with the inexpressible privilege of confiding all secrets of the soul to a never-failing Friend.CTBH 162.1 Godliness and righteousness promote health and strength rather than harming them, with Christ in them the hope of glory becoming health to the body and strength to the soul.CH 677.3–678.1+3

The assurance of His approval strengthens the soul against doubt, perplexity, and excessive grief, which can weaken the body and contribute to debilitating nervous illness.LSEGW 270.3–4 The verse belongs to the recipe to guide and instruct speech and life, that happiness in the future life and seeing good days depend on serving God in this life.Ms 110, 1894, par. 11–13 Parents are to use it as a morning lesson, guarding children from vain, foolish talk about outward adorning of hair, gold, and apparel, and turning unprofitable conversation to precious, profitable words.Ms 110, 1894, par. 11–13 For those living in the last days it calls for circumspect words and acts, sobriety rather than levity, reckless talking, jesting and joking.18MR 370.3–4 It calls for bearing about a weight of solemn influence, being rich in good works, bearing the burden of souls, and by holy example faithfully representing Jesus Christ to win souls to accept Christ as Saviour.18MR 370.3–4

The chapter gives a message of great importance to ministers of the gospel and to ministers' wives and families.Lt 164, 1910, par. 4 Dangers will follow ministers, often coming through unsanctified, unconverted wives and companions, and every minister is called to labor with zeal for the conversion of his companion.Lt 164, 1910, par. 4 All who claim to be ministers must for their own souls search deep and make clean work for eternity, and the same zeal is needed in the churches, for unless the convicting, converting power of the gospel searches the hearts of ministers and their families, an irreligious element will remain in their homes.Lt 164, 1910, par. 4 The verse applies to a family's need to follow the Lord's instructions in doing good and seeking peace under His care.1T 702.1–3