“And the priest said to them, Go in peace.
The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORDâ€
(Judges 18:6)
The New Testament contains a phrase which expresses a profound sentiment from God to man—“Go in peaceâ€(Luke 7:50; 8:48). This concept is elsewhere expressed in such terms as: “Now the God of peace be with you†(Romans 15:33) and, “the Lord of peace himself give you peace†(2 Thessalonians 3:16).
Where does this rich religious thought originate? We understand that the New Testament term “peace†came from the Hebrew concept shalom.
1. Shalom was a greeting of well-wishing (see Gen. 29:6).
2. Shalom meant security; contentment; and, sometimes absence of war (Ps. 4:8; Isa. 26:3; 1 Sam. 7:14).
3. Shalom carried the theological idea—to journey under the eye of the Lord (Judg. 18:6).
Those “in Christ†may go in peace. “Peace be with you all that are in Christ.†(1 Pet. 5:14). Is it well with you today?
-Robert M. Housby
“…Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river…â€
(Isaiah 66:12)
“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace,
for them that make peaceâ€
(James 3:18)
The Lord calls us to a life of peace (Psalm 34:14; 119:165; Psalm 46:4; Proverbs 12:20; Isaiah 26:3; 48:18,22; 66:12; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Philippians 4:7; 1 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 3:14). And, what is this peace? this shalom of the ancient patriarchs and prophets?
1. What this peace is not – This peace is not false optimism. Isaiah (Isa. 57:19-21), Jeremiah (Jer. 6:14; 8:11) and Ezekiel (Ezek. 13:10) all affirm this very point. Jesus, himself, cautioned against unreal expectations of this world (John 14:27). This peace is not the absence of war, nor of tribulation, but the blessed security of having the Lord as our God (Isaiah 26:3).
2. This peace is a gospel peace – When the gospel is preached, a certain peace is proclaimed (Nahum 1:15; Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15). This peace derives especially from the prophecy that Messiah (Christ) would bring a peace by the chastisement of himself (Isaiah 53:5; Colossians 1:20). This we understand to be accomplished through the cross of Christ (Romans 5:1). The message of the gospel preached serves to publish this peace to the world (Acts 10:36-39).
3. This peace is for those “in Christ Jesus†– The scriptures are clear and exact about who the recipients of this peace are: “Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus†(1 Peter 5:14, NKJV). To be “in Christ Jesus,†is to be in relationship with God through baptism (Matthew 28:19; Galatians 3:27). There is this line from Shakespeare, “Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep†(2 Henry VI, 3.1.53). Is there such a depth in your life today?
–Robert M. Housby