“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalms 119:165)
Humanity seeks peace in a world at war. In the last 3,500 years of recorded history, there have been approximately 8,000 peace treaties, 14,000 wars, and over a billion casualties. In a world at war, the devil promises peace but can never deliver; false prophets cry, “Peace, peace when there is no peace” (Jer. 8:11), and the antichrist will “By peace shall destroy many” (Dan. 8:25). Worse yet, in a world at war, man cannot even find peace in his own soul.
“Peace is that glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.”– Lloyd Cory.
The Person of Peace: “Great Peace”
“Great peace” is made available to warring mankind. Biblical peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ. In this fallen world, there will never be a time when everything externally is 100%“OK.” Life never lacks conflict. The supernatural peace of God is “the peace that passes understanding”: it passes understanding because it exists amid trouble. “Great Peace” gave Paul and Silas the spirit to sing in prison after being beaten, gave Stephen the vision to see Christ while being stoned to death, and allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to enjoy fellowship with Jesus in the midst of a fiery furnace. The “great peace” that God gives will overcome any conflict one might experience.
“…all men forsook me…Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me…” (II Timothy 4:16-17)
The Promise of Peace: “Have they which love thy law.”
Peace with God: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1). The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:). (Acts 10:36)
Sin has separated mankind from God. Man is at “enmity (at war) with God” (Eph. 2:15-16). When we receive the gospel of peace, we put our trust in Christ’s work on the cross — His death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins. The sin that was once between our soul and the Savior is washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. As new believers, we are now at peace with God. Through the “Gospel of peace,” we receive peace with God.
Peace of God: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Col. 3:15)
We enjoy peace with God when we are born again. However, we enjoy the peace of God when we walk in step with His law. God’s law is our “rules for peace.” When we love God’s law and obey it, we find ourselves in a peaceful, harmonious relationship with our Heavenly Father and fellow believers, and we find peace within our own souls as well. So, “let the peace of God rule in your hearts!”
Protection of Peace: “…and nothing shall offend them.”
To offend means “to make stumble.” The Bible tells us that if we stay in the castle of God’s Word, “nothing” will “offend.” So, if we “love the law,” then the “somethings” of anxiety, fear, worry, criticism, scorn, or persecution will not cause us to stumble. The “somethings” will be on the outside, and the “peace that passeth understanding” will be on the inside!
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”(Isaiah 26:3)
The word keep is a military term that means “to garrison.” This verse pictures peace as the walls around a fortress. Peace “keeps us!”
We should run behind the walls of God’s rules for peace and let “peace rule” and “peace keep” as we enjoy the “perfect peace” that God has made available.