Peace, שלום, سباه

This time of year some greeting cards have on them the angels’ words to the shepherds near Bethlehem, “Peace, and goodwill towards men…” 

Oftentimes people believe this phrase means peace, as in the sense of: no war, trouble or conflicts. That was the Messiah everyone expected. However, only in the End, will that kind of peace be ushered in by Messiah. For the time being we have this other ’peace’; the angels’ good tidings carried a far deeper meaning. Do you know the type of peace to which this phrase speaks? 

Jeremiah, writing by God’s Spirit during a time of impending war and defeat, wrote, “‘Peace, peace’ they say but there is no peace” (Jer. 6: 14; 8:11). “They led My People away, saying ‘Peace, peace’ when there is none…they build flimsy walls and whitewash them (false prophets build false theologies, with interpretations that merely look good)” (Ez.13:10). They existed even into the first century: ”Deceitful ones promoting a false peace” (James 2:16).

“Promote (true) peace and not deceit, or evil”; or “envy” (Prov. 12:20; 14:30). Isaiah, in his day spoke of a time when “the ambassadors of peace will weep bitterly” (Isa. 33:7).  WHY will they weep? Perhaps because, as he writes, “The Way of peace they do not know; no justice in their paths” (Isa 59:8).

Here is the test of a true prophet: “If a prophet who cries ‘peace’, and it comes true—(then) he is sent by the LORD” (Jer. 28:9). Therefore, those who speak of a different peace, one which does not happen, are false prophets who do not know the Way of Peace. Even today, we have among us false shepherds teaching falsehood, whitewashing the truth to make it look good. Their flimsy wall will fall in the End. 

True shepherds teach TRUTH; and Truth brings “the peace which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). The LORD said: “If only you had paid attention to My Commands you would have peace like a river” (Isa 48:18). This is a inward peace, the assurance that comes from faith in serving the true God. Perhaps Ezekiel experienced the growing ever-deeper peace, which he experienced as the ‘River’ in the End. He was speaking of a time when Messiah reigns—peace and the river, the in-depth meaning, will happen (Eze. 47). To experience it, we are to pay attention to what God commands. What is it?

“Listen to what the LORD says; He promises peace to His people, His faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly”; for “righteousness and peace kiss one another” (Ps 85:8; 10). Folly, of course is ignoring God’s Word. “Great peace have they who love (God’s) Law” (Ps. 119:165). Since His Law are there for our protection and peace, following God equates to having true wisdom. “(Wisdom’s) Ways are pleasant and all her paths peace” (Prov. 3:17; Luke 1:79).

Among God’s commands in the Torah, are the obvious: justice and mercy, Sabbath laws, and those of the three festivals—but—following immediately after those, is this: “I am sending my angel AHEAD of you to guard you along the Way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention and listen to HIM, since my Name is in him.” (Ex. 23:20-21). Who is this One carrying the NAME of the Father, Creator; the One He sent ahead to bring us to the place God prepared; the One with peace, if only we pay attention to him?

Gideon the hero of old, built an altar and called it, “The LORD is peace” (Judges 6:24). The LORD (יהוה) is peace and He is the source of peace. He is eternal (1Kings 2:33; Eph. 2:14). In the End, his city will be called, ’The LORD is there’. (Eze 48:35). This could easily be written as the grammatical equivalent (there is): Yesh + YHWH. What did I just write?

His people have His covenant of peace (Isa. 54:10; Eze. 34:25; 37:26). But “the wicked” have not His Covenant of peace (Isa 57:27). Who are the ‘wicked’? The wicked have not Him, so they have not His Covenant, His imparted through Grace righteousness which comes by faith. “It was not through the Law that Abraham and his offspring received the Promise (covenant) that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith” (Rom. 4:16).

I have heard people claim “everyone has the same God.” No; not really. Everyone has the same Creator. But only those who worship the Creator God of the Bible have His Covenant (Promise). Without Him, their ‘creator god’ is as worthless as an idol. If they have not God’s Covenant, they are called the ‘wicked’; and will not experience eternal peace—God’s prepared place for His people. Interestingly, those people who claim that everyone has the same god, also say, “there are many paths (religions) of righteousness; so, they are basically ‘good’ people…” God’s Word (not my word) says there is only one path to righteousness, one Way—that which comes by faith in the Creator God of the Bible. Just look at the context of Abraham’s promise: “He believed God would send the sacrifice”—the Way; and God did! (Gen 22:4-14). 

The people claiming their righteousness comes from doing well, might not realize their actions simply comes from having a conscience and compassion—but that is not what brings peace, the Eternal rest. One can have a conscience and compassion, even justice; but not have the Covenant Promise. Some of those people might even call themselves ‘Christian’. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘LORD, lord’ will enter” into the kingdom. “Only he who does the Will of My Father in Heaven”. (These people) will protest, ‘But did we not prophesy in your name…” and he will say, ‘Away with you, I never knew you’ (Matt. 7:21-22). There are not other ways of salvation. Jesus said, “if they try to climb in some other way, they are a thief and a robber…(they must) enter in by the gate…I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:1, 7) 

“I, myself will search for my sheep and look after them”; ”I am the Good Shepherd, the one who lays down his life for the sheep (Ezekiel 34:11-12; John 10:11). Anyone following another shepherd, follows in vain. It’s not about working for salvation or striving for righteousness (although we should never grow weary in seeking Him); its about faith Messiah, whom the Father sent, the One Who has His NAME in him; The One who went ahead of us to prepare the Way; the One who will return to restore (that other) ’peace’ after ridding evil.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6). “Therefore love truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19). “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1John 2:23). 

The people who believe in the Son, the One sent for a specific purpose, will stand justified at the Judgement. And that is the type of peace to which the angels referred as they sang at his birth, “Justified through faith, we have peace with God” (Rom 5:1). “The LORD establishes peace for us” (Isa. 26:12).

Indeed, as Haggai declared, “The Glory of the latter House will be greater than the former” (Hag. 2:9). The Glory of the LORD is often depicted as an extremely bright light. Moses needed to be shielded from it (Ex. 33:12-23). And the Apostle Paul was blinded by it, “Saul, Saul,” the risen Lord said to him, “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9).

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those living in the shadow of death…(he will) shatter the yoke that burdened them…For unto us a child is born, a son given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…of the increase of his government and peace will be no end” (Isa. 9:2-7). 

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, told his followers, “…the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said. Peace I leave with you, peace I give to you, not as the world gives…” (John 14:25-27).

His peace is unlike what the world gives to those who live according to the sinful desires. The Apostle Paul quoted a prophet, and explained how this was fulfilled, “…the Way of peace they do not know…But NOW is a righteousness…to which the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe…for all (people) sin and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Messiah Jesus…Where then is the boasting? On what Principle?…do we then nullify the Law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold it” (Rom. 3:21-31).

“Those who live in accordance with the Spirit (the ’Counselor’ Jesus promised) have their mind set on what the Spirit desires…the mind controlled by the Spirit has peace” (Rom. 8:5-6). Having been ‘born again of the Spirit’, through faith in Messiah, the Only Son of the One Who sent him, has more self control, naturally, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Gal. 5:22). Finally, peace…

“Look!.. On the mountains, the feet of one proclaiming Good News, proclaiming peace” ((Nahum 1:15). “Rejoice greatly oh Daughter of Zion, see your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation…lowly, riding on a donkey…He will proclaim peace to the nations” (Zech. 9:9-10; John 12:12-15).

“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ” (Heb.: ‘Messiah’; Acts 10:36).  “My covenant is with him; a covenant of life and peace…he stood in true reverence of My Name. True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from sin” (Malachi 2:5-6).

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). And his followers declared truth, “The Gospel (Good News) of (True) Peace” (Eph. 6:15). “Sow it…and harvest righteousness” (James 3:18). “And Abraham…received the Promise…through the righteousness that comes by faith” (Rom. 4:16).

At Jesus’ birth, the angels came saying, “‘Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to whom His favor rests’” (Luke 2:14).

May His peace, through His Word, rest on you. Receive the Promise, the gift of God’s grace. Go in Peace. Merry Christmas @achadpeace שלום، سلاه, peace