Hear This

Series: Hear

Psalm 86:8 ESV

Peace and hearing someone speak peace is such a “thing” that it can change the world.

Even in ancient time between 520 and 459 B.C. they knew peace was a game changer.

In Psalm 85:8 Sons of Korah wrote “Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.”

But what is peace and why do we turn from peace even when we know it is a great gift from God?

Is peace merely the absence of chaos or a state of security when there is no war?

When I was younger and my house was filled with running screaming children there were days when I longed for quiet, but now that those days are gone I realize the endless noise was a great blessing. It was a wonderful blessing.

Today I know there is quiet that screams and there was screaming that is deafening.

But in both there is no peace.

Jesus taught that peace is not just the absence of conflict. When Jesus spoke of peace it was Shalom…an inner state of calm. It was a calm place in our hearts where we know we can turn to God and rest.

Once I came to realize what peace really is about I knew it had nothing to do with the absence of screaming.

Real peace can be obtained in the midst of any circumstance.

Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace and that peace has a quality of being whole in God and creation.

David experienced peace in the field at night as he tended sheep. That wasn’t because it was quiet…it was because David came to realize the character of the author of peace was with him. In Psalm 23 David wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

Why do we not want? It’s because the Lord is our shepherd. When I was young I thought that was because God provides everything we need. Now I know God doesn’t just provide what we need…God IS everything we need.

God is peace.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”, Philippians 4:7

God is love.

1 John 4:16 tells us, “we know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”

The list could go on and on and that is because God is everything good.

God provides everything good that we need.

God does that because God is love.

God us the author of love and peace.

So…hear this: “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.”

Deborah

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