Great Peace

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Today, I pray for an even greater peace than the peace we are experiencing on our streets (thank the Lord!). That peace is found in Psalm 119:165

“Those who love Your law have great peace,

And nothing causes them to stumble.”


Photo by Khurt Williams, on Unsplash
In this verse, “peace” is shalom, an often repeated Hebrew word (267x in Heb.) that made its way into a common household greeting in Jewish culture. “Shalom!” Or “Shabbat Shalom! (Good Sabbath).” Shalom is such a beautiful concept. In this text it goes deeper than just a greeting. It refers to tranquility of soul, like a calm body of water in the quiet of the morning -- with no disturbance whatsoever. That is true shalom.


The shalom mentioned by the Psalmist goes even further, right? He says - "great peace." There is an abundance of peace to this person. This soul has abundant tranquility. 


This soul is so abundantly tranquil that the second phrase is also true. Look at the second phrase. What is another way of saying that a heart is abundantly tranquil? “Nothing causes them to stumble.” That is truly astounding, isn’t it? Nothing causes the tranquil soul, that soul at rest, to stumble. 


Many people, circumstances, periods of life, news stories, even stories of history will try to trip you up. But the soul at rest, the soul that is tranquil, the soul that is experiencing abundant shalom will not stumble over any of these matters. 2020 has given you much to stumble over in your faith. Let’s stay in the state of shalom today. How does that happen in the text above? Which phrase did we leave for last?


Great peace have who?


Great peace have those who put their hope in the stock market? Great peace have those who put their hope in their health, or their political aspirations, or their company? No. Great peace have they who love God’s Law. A soul that is in love with God and what HE says in the Bible is a heart that will find tranquility and rest. God’s Words are the sweet haven in the storm of life. And as you enter that haven and fellowship with the God of heaven, in one sense, you enter heaven itself and nothing will offend you . . . nothing will cause you to stumble.


Take rest in this encouraging Word today my friends, and keep one another in prayer to find our delight and our love in the Law of God. That none of us would stumble.

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