Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing God Through His Roles & Titles

Peace  (Sphere of Celebration)

To Study and Ponder

• The Hebrew word Shalom occurs 237x in the Old Testament. (see Appendix, DJH) While often translated ‘peace’, there is no one English word that fully captures the Hebrew meaning.

• Mlv shalom - completeness, soundness, welfare, peace -completeness (in number), safety, soundness (in body), welfare, health, prosperity, peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment … peace, friendship -of human relationships/ with God especially in covenant relationship … also peace (from war).

• The general meaning behind the root š-l-m is of completion and fulfillment—of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship."..."In nearly two-thirds of its occurrences, šālôm describes the state of fulfillment which is the result of God’s presence. (Theological Word Book of the OT)

• The priestly blessing given by God has as part of it a blessing of peace “May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace” Num 6:24-26. Jesus spoke peace over his disciples and Paul uses the greeting grace and peace in all his letters to the churches - it is a significant and rich greeting/blessing in the Hebrew culture that we can learn from!!

• Of all the human speakers in the text of Scripture, David is the one who employs shalom most often (30 times in four books). Sometimes he uses it simply as part of the customary Hebrew greeting/blessing or to describe some human circumstance, other times he uses it to describe some aspect of God’s work in the lives of human beings:

• “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe” Psalm 4:8.

• “The Lord gives his people strength.The Lord blesses them with peace” Psalm 29:11.

• “Great is the LORD, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!” Psalm 35:27b

• God uses shalom in his communication more than anyone else recorded in the Bible. We see that He is the one who promises peace, gives true peace, leads us forth in peace, who desires we be led by peace, who plants seeds of peace in our midst, and makes an enduring covenant of peace.

• “I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I
  will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land” Lev 26:6.

• “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for
  you will remain. My covenant of blessing[peace] will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you” Isa 54:10; (see also Num 25:12; Eze 34:25; 37:26; Mal 2:5).

• You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Is.26:3

• “I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace” (Isa 54:13).

• “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” Isa 55:12 (NIV).

• “I will make peace your leader and righteousness your ruler” (Isa 60:17).

• See also Psalm 37:11; Isaiah 45:7; 57:18-19; 66:12; Jeremiah 33:6-9; Haggai 2:9

• Peace is the fruit of being taught by the Lord (Is.54:13), and of loving His word;(Ps.119:165; Proverbs 3:1-2) something which the wicked who refuse his instruction will not experience (Isaiah 48:22; 55:21; Ezekiel 7:25; 13:10,16) for God will remove his “protection and peace” from them (Jeremiah 16:5).

• Gideon builds an altar called Yahweh-Shalom, meaning “the LORD is Peace or the LORD is my Peace.

• Jesus, the Messiah, is spoken of prophetically as the “Prince of Peace” (Is.9:6). He comes as the One who would guide feet into the ways of peace (Lu1:79), making the way for us to have peace with God and speaks blessings of peace.

• To the woman trembling after she is caught touching his robe: Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.Your suffering is over. Mark 5:34

• I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 (Also John 16:33)

• Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19

• For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20 (Also Romans 5:1)

• Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. 2 Thess.3:16

• God’s people are to be peace makers who speak and pray peace over others:-

• God exhorts those among whom he has planted “seeds of peace” to “Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things ... So love truth and peace” (Zec 8:12,16,19).

• God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

• And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

• “For the kingdom of God is ... a matter of ... living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” Romans 14:17.

• In Hawaii the word “aloha” (NZ Maori ‘aroha’, Samoan ‘alofa') is used as a greeting and farewell, and captures some aspects of the word shalom. The literal meaning is love, affection, pity (ONLINE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY) Some have suggested that the word aloha may derive from a compound of the words "alo," meaning presence, front or face, and "ha," meaning breath; from this the literal meaning is often given as "the presence of breath" or "the breath of life”.

• Christian philosopher and author Dallas Willard says that peace is not the absence of conflict — it’s “shalom” or fullness of life. Peace is the assurance that things will turn out well … where there is no striving inwardly or outwardly to create some outcome, but dependence on grace beyond us. The secret to peace is being abandoned to God (Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. NavPress, 2002)

Meditation/Memory:

Lower Grades:  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Psalm 119:165 (NLT)

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 (NLT)

Middle Grades:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.  John 16:33 (NLT)

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.  Romans 5:1-2  (NLT)

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Upper Grades: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;  the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.  Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians. 4:6-7 (NLT)

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. Isaiah 9:6-7  (NLT)