Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
8/21 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 13; Romans 11; Jeremiah 50; Psalms 28-29
May the LORD give strength to His people! May the LORD bless His people with peace! Psalm 29:11
SHALOM!
When Hebrew speakers greet one another, they ask, “How’s your peace?” “Peace” is the Hebrew שָׁלוֹם (shalom).
Real strength is peace from God. Of this verse, our dear friend Mr. Spurgeon said,
“Why are we troubled when the Lord’s own peace is ours? Jesus the mighty God is our peace— what a blessing is this today!” The Treasury of David, Vol.2, Pilgrim Publications, Pasadena, TX; 1983, pg. 36
He who suffered the most heinous violence at the hands of both religious and irreligious men is the eternal Prince of Peace. The peace Jesus blesses us with…
surpasses all understanding, [and] will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Christ’s peace silences an unclean spirit and casts it out of a man (Mark 1:15). Christ’s peace calms the storm in the middle of the sea (Mark 4:39). Christ’s peace allows our Lord to sit upon a colt no one has ever sat upon (Mark 11:2). How are we strengthened by the peace, which is Christ Jesus? There are too many ways to mention; however, here are just a few: Christ’s peace unites us in the Spirit (Eph 4:3). Christ’s peace sanctifies us completely (1 Thess 5:23). Christ’s peace equips us with every good gift in order to carry out His will (Heb 13:20-21). Christ’s peace may be multiplied to us through the knowledge of both the Father and the Son (2 Pet 1:2). The corruptions of our mortal flesh, as well as the attacks from unseen spiritual foes against whom we wrestle, may rob us of our strength in peace. His peace may be hidden from us and our strength in Christ will be fleeting when we fail to ascribe “to the LORD glory and strength” (Psa 29:1); or when we fail to ascribe “to the Lord the glory due His name” (Psa 29:2a); or when we fail to “worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness” (Psa 29:2b). May the Lord Jesus give you and me strength today and bless us with His peace!
Unto the Lord glory ascribe
With faith that’s unasham’d;
Worship Christ, lift Him up high,
In holy splendor due His name.
