Everlasting Peace Based on the Promises of the Everlasting God
God declares in Isaiah 61:8 that He, the Lord, loves justice and hates robbery and wrongdoing. He assures His chosen people, His bride, that He will reward them for their suffering and for the wrongs done to them. He promises to make a covenant that will last forever.
When we know the promises of God, we can rest assured of their guarantee because of the unchanging character of God. Being confident in His faithfulness brings us peace.
Peace According to Elwell’s Evangelical Dictionary of Theology
The primary and foundational meaning of the biblical word peace is completeness, soundness, and wholeness. It is a favorite biblical greeting (Genesis 29:6; Luke 24:36) and appears at the beginning or end of all but two New Testament books. To this day, it remains one of the most common words among Semitic languages. The term can also signify dismissal (1 Samuel 1:17) and the end of war (Joshua 9:15). It represents friendship between companions (Genesis 26:29; Psalm 28:3) as well as friendship with God through covenant (Numbers 25:12; Isaiah 54:10).
Peace encompasses contentment and everything contributing to safety, welfare, and happiness (Isaiah 32:17-18). It relates to health, prosperity, well-being, and security, as well as relief from war (Ecclesiastes 3:8; Isaiah 45:7). However, Isaiah warns repeatedly that there is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21), even though many seek to comfort themselves with false peace (Jeremiah 6:14).
Peace involves freedom from strife, whether internal or external. It includes security from outward enemies (Isaiah 26:2) and calmness of heart for those who trust God (Job 22:21; Isaiah 26:3). Peace is so valued by the Lord that the godly are exhorted to pursue it diligently (Psalm 34:14; Zechariah 8:16, 19). It is also a defining trait of New Testament believers (Mark 9:50; 2 Corinthians 13:11).
Peace is a cherished gift from God and a promised blessing of the Messianic age (Isaiah 2:4; 9:6-7; 11:6; Micah 4:1-4; 5:5). In the New Testament, the Greek word for peace refers to the peace that is the gift of Christ (John 14:27; 16:33; Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7). The word frequently conveys the mission, character, and gospel of Christ.
Christ came into the world to bring spiritual peace with God (Mark 5:34; 9:50; Luke 1:79; 2:14; 24:36). There is a sense in which he came not to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34), referring to the struggle against sin. Nevertheless, Christ’s life, as depicted in the Gospels, reflects majestic calm and serenity (Matthew 11:28; John 14:27).
The gospel is the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15), and Christ Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14-15). God the Father is the God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Every Christian enjoys the inalienable privilege of peace with God (Philippians 4:9), a legacy left by Christ’s death (John 14:27; 16:33). These blessings are not merely future hopes but present realities (Romans 8:6; Colossians 3:15). Peace represents the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, free from fear, and content in any earthly circumstance.
That is a rich word study on peace as it is found in the Bible. Let’s close with a vivid picture of the opposite of peace—war.
Preacher’s Homiletic Commentary states:
War is the hurricane that sinks the ship; wisdom is the favoring breeze that wafts it to the desired haven. War is the torrent that furrows the earth and sweeps its soil into the sea; wisdom drops softly, like the rain or the gentle dew from heaven, refreshing the thirsty ground and blessing its growth. In a word, war and all its weapons belong to the bloody brood of him who was a murderer from the beginning. Wisdom, by contrast, is the attribute and gift of Him who came to bring peace on earth, goodwill to men, and glory to God in the highest.
As we celebrate the first coming of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, this Christmas season, may we seek the wisdom of God so that we may know the peace of God.
Chad Strausbaugh