Christians are transformed in their character and conduct so as to attract abuse and derision from the untransformed among whom they live. Each of the five adjectives of 1 Peter 3:8 is an extension of the other, climaxing in humility. That humility expresses itself not only internally to fellow saints (exiles, sojourners) but also externally to those who malign them. This humble mind connects 1 Peter 3:8–9 and determines the attitude with which the Christian is to respond to the wrongs done to him. This humility does not lead to passiveness (let alone passive aggression) but to very active deeds of blessing the abuser (Luke 6:27–28). David had opportunity to repay King Saul for the evil he did to him (1 Samuel 24:10), but he instead sought to bless Saul by exposing his foolishness (1 Samuel 24:11–12). Jesus Christ did more in praying for his oppressors (Luke 23:34), a prayer the Lord answered when many of this same crowd came to faith after Pentecost (Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4; Acts 6:7).

Drawing his readers’ attention to David’s predicament and confession serves to illustrate the Lord's faithfulness in granting blessing even in seemingly impossible circumstances. Not only was David delivered from Achish and eventually from Saul, but he was also given the inheritance promised to him, i.e., the throne of Israel and ultimately paternity to Jesus Christ. David himself did not succeed in keeping his tongue from evil or turn away from all evil (as Samuel’s two books amply demonstrate), but his great Son Jesus Christ did. Christ’s righteousness was written to David’s account so that David inherited the identical eternal blessing promised to Peter’s readers. So the reference to Psalm 34:1–22 is encouragement to the disenfranchised (sojourners and exiles who are abused and reviled) to keep their eye on the Lord's promises.

It is striking that Peter closes this section of his letter (1 Peter 2:11 – 3:12) with this key demand for humility. This is the posture that characterized our Saviour upon his arrest and one that Jesus commended and commanded (Matthew 5:5).