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II Chronicles 3

Temple built on Mount Moriahverses 1-2

Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in

mount Moriah – where the LORD appeared unto David his father

      in the place that David had prepared in the

                  threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite

And he began to build in the second day of the second month

in the fourth year of this reign [2/2/4]

Measurements of Templeverses 3-4

Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the

building of the house of God

The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits

and the breadth twenty cubits – and the porch that was in the

front of the house – the length of it was according to the

breadth of the house twenty cubits

the height was an hundred and twenty

      and he overlaid it within with pure gold

Décor of the Holy Placeverses 5-7

The greater house he ceiled with fir tree – which he overlaid with fine gold

and set thereon palm trees and chains

      and he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty

                  and the gold was gold of Parvaim

      he overlaid also the house the beams – posts – walls thereof 

doors thereof with gold and graved cherubim on the walls 

Most Holy Place [Holy of Holies]verses 8-9

And he made the most holy house

the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house

twenty cubits – the breadth thereof twenty cubits

                                    and he overlaid it with fine gold

                                                amounting to six hundred talents

And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold

And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold

Two golden cherubim over mercy seatverses 10-13

And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work

            and overlaid them with gold – and the wings of the cherubim

were twenty cubits long – one wing of the one cherub was

five cubits reaching to the wall of the house

            the other wing was likewise five cubits

reaching to the wings of the other cherub

                                    one wing of the other cherub was five cubits

                                                reaching to the wall of the house

                                    the other wing was five cubits also joining

to the wing of the other cherub

            the wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits

                        and they stood on their feet – and their faces were inward

Entrance to Most Holy Placeverse 14

And he made the veil of blue – purple – crimson – fine linen

            and wrought cherubim thereon 

Two pillars in from of Templeverses 15-17

Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high

and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits

            and he made chains – as in the oracle

and put them on the heads of the pillars

and made an hundred pomegranates – and put them on the chains

And he reared up the pillars before the temple – one on the right hand

the other on the left – and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin

and the name of that on the left Boaz

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 1        Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. (7200 “appeared” [ra’ah] means to see, behold, discern, have experience, gaze, look on, present, or view)

DEVOTION:  Have we ever had the LORD speak to us? Some people today think they have visions of Jesus. Some people today say they have seen heaven. Some people today say they have been in hell. The New Testament informs us that God spoke in times past through dreams and visions but today HE speaks through Jesus.

David was in trouble. He chose to number Israel because he thought that he would win battles with people instead of God. The LORD sent Gad to tell him that he had a choice of three. He chose the plague of the people for three days. The angel of the LORD was in Jerusalem when the LORD told him to stop. David saw the angel and brought the treshingfloor to offer sacrifices to the LORD. The plague was stopped. It is thought the angel was a theophany of Jesus.

When we read the two accounts of this incident, there are two prices paid to Ornan. One account gives the price of the threshingfloor and the other gives the price of all of Ornan’s land. The temple was going to be build on this property by Solomon. Solomon followed the pattern the LORD showed his father, David.

Abraham saw the LORD on this same mountain, when he was going to sacrifice his son, Isaac. The LORD manifests HIS presence on special occasions to instruct HIS people in the Old Testament. Abraham showed his love for his son, Isaac, on this mount. God delivered Isaac by providing a sacrifice in his place. Our substitutionary sacrifice is Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins.

David showed his love for the children of Israel on this mount. He purchased the property and offered a sacrifice to stop the angel from killing more people with a plague.

The LORD showed HIS love for us when HE sent HIS son to be our substitute on the cross. All these things happened in the Promised Land.

We have a country promised us in the future called heaven. It will be great to be with the LORD for eternity. We have a mansion promised us. This mansion is thought to be in the New Jerusalem that is suspended between heaven and earth.

God is going to give this place to all those who are followers of HIM. The only way to follow HIM is to follow Christ who died for our sins on the cross. Are we sharing this truth with those around us on a regular basis?

The only way that others will want to be followers of Christ is if they see Jesus in us. We need to be in the presence of the LORD on a regular basis, in order to, show people Jesus. If we see Jesus working in our life, it will affect the way people look at us. We need an appearance of the LORD in our world through our witness.

CHALLENGE: Show Jesus to the people around you. If we act like Jesus would in given situations or circumstances people will acknowledge that we have been with Jesus. They will SEE Jesus today!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 3        Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. (3245 ‘instructed” [yacad] means be laid, foundation, had the foundation laid, establish, to fix firmly, or took counsel)

DEVOTION:  Solomon received information regarding the building of the Temple from his father, David, who received information from the LORD. The details of the size and appearance were important to the LORD. David took the information and started collecting the right material to make it easier for Solomon to build the Temple.

So the measurements were passed down from the LORD to David to Solomon to the builders. The measurements were in cubits not inches or feet. We have that information now but in Solomon’s day they had eighteen to twenty-one inch cubits.

Today we have buildings we call churches that are not a standard size at all. They can be built as large or small as the congregation can afford. I have preached in buildings that could hold 500 to a 1,000 people and some that could only hold 50. Size didn’t make difference to the congregation or to me.

The LORD however, wanted a Temple that would honor HIS name around the world. HE wanted the world to know that HE was the Creator of the World and that HE had chosen a people to worship HIM in a magnificent Temple.

Today our bodies are the Temple of the LORD once we become a follower of HIM. We have to make sure that we keep our bodies available to serve HIM.

When the church gets together it is a group of individuals who make up the church not the building. We say we meet in a church but we are the church.

The foundation of the church was laid by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. Our salvation and Christian life are based on HIS actions. Our actions once we become a follower should be based on HIS instructions to us.

CHALLENGE: We are building HIS church on the basis of our actions and attitude. Are they honoring to the LORD each Sunday as the “church” gathers to worship HIM in spirit and in truth?


: 7        He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. (6605 “graved” [pathach] means to engrave, to carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface, often a design or letters, or decorate)

DEVOTION:  Nothing glistens like gold. Here we have the Temple overlaid with pure gold. The wealth that made up the Temple is unimaginable. Solomon didn’t care about the cost of the Temple he just wanted to honor the LORD. He didn’t think about how much but gathered all that was necessary to build something that would give glory to the LORD.

He decorated the walls with figures of cherubim. These were the angels that protected the holiness of God. They were the ones that the LORD placed in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve disobeyed HIS command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were said to have a sword that would prevent anyone from entering the Garden again.

The cherubim were the type of angels that were over the Mercy Seat of God in the Tabernacle. They symbolized the holiness of God over the place where the high priest would come once a year to spread the blood of atonement for the children of Israel. If the high priest came into the holy of holies without properly preparing himself the LORD could strike him dead. It was a test of the holiness of the high priest in the presence of the LORD.

Ezekiel received a vision of the cherubim as well. This was a group of angels that dealt with the holiness of God. There was another group of angels called Seraphim that continually worshiped the LORD in heaven. There was another group of angels that represented the different nations of the world. There are angels that minister to all the saints of God.

In one book there were twenty-two different types or divisions of angels that the LORD used to bring HIMSELF glory. They were sent by HIM at different times to minister to HIS people as well. Daniel had a vision of these angels during his time in Babylon.

We need to realize that the angels were created to worship the LORD and serve HIM just as we were given life to worship and serve the LORD. Those who are not willing to serve the LORD are given a judgment because of their choice.

CHALLENGE:  Are you serving the LORD? If you are genuine believer the Bible tells us that we have angels ministering to us on a regular basis. Read Hebrews 1:14.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 12      And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. (1695 “joining” [dabeq] means touching, clinging to, stick, adhering to, holding fast, or stick to)

DEVOTION:  The image of these two angels guarding the mercy seat shows us that the LORD is always on guard. HE wants us to know that when the children of Israel worshiped HIM it was to make sure that they realized that HE was holy and they were to be holy as well.

If there was any problem God sent angels to correct the problems in the Old Testament. In the New Testament HE sent HIS SON, Jesus, to show us the way to properly worship HIM in spirit and in truth.

Too often we don’t realize that the LORD is holy and we need to watch what we do or say before HIM. The high priest came into the Holy of Holies only once a year with a rope around his leg. If he was not in right relationship with the LORD he would die and those outside the Holy of Holies would put him out.

How did they know that he was dead? He had bells on his garment that rang as he was doing his duty in that place. If the bells stopped ringing than they know something had happened.

Today we don’t have this system in place. We go to the LORD daily with our prayers and ask HIM for guidance and direction. If we are out of tune with him there are no bells on our garments but the Holy Spirit warns us that there is judgment coming if we don’t worship in the right manner.

We still have angels watching over us and reporting to the LORD. C.S. Lewis wrote a book called “Screwtape Letters” where the angels were over individuals and if the individuals were not doing what the LORD wanted, they would try to take Christians out of the picture but the LORD was protecting them.

Angels are watching over this world. The LORD is watching over this world. We need to realize that at every moment we are being watched and cared for if we are genuine believers who have ask for a personal relationship with the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Do we realize that believers are being watched over by the angels. We have a guardian angel according to Hebrews 1: 14.


: 17      And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that one the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz. (8034 “name” [shem] means standing, reputation, fame, renown, glory, memorial, monument, or memory)

DEVOTION:  These pillars are said to symbolize the fact that the LORD had established HIS presence with Israel in a permanent basis. HE was going to maintain this place of worship.

The names of the pillars are given. The one on the south was named “Jakin” which means “He establishes” and the one on the north was named “Boaz” which means “in HIM is strength.” So the LORD was the one who established the Temple and it would stay in HIS strength.

If the children of Israel were true to their commitment to worship the LORD faithfully the place of worship would be kept protected by the LORD. HE designed the Temple and would establish HIS presence in it as long as the children of Israel stayed obedient to HIM.

We know in the future that they were not obedient and the first Temple was destroyed because of their unfaithfulness. Our bodies are the present temple of the LORD and we are to be faithful to HIM or HE will send chastening into our lives to bring us back to HIM.

HE expects us to worship HIM in spirit and in truth today just as HE expected the children of Israel to worship HIM in the Temple that HE had built by Solomon. Obedience is still the key to proper worship of the LORD. Are we worshiping the LORD with an understanding of HIS holiness?

CHALLENGE: Names are important. Here we find that each pillar had a name to signify their importance. We have a name before the LORD as HIS child once we become a genuine believer.


DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

House of the LORDverse 1

House of Godverses 3-17

            90 feet long by 30 feet wide

            Entry room 30x 30

            Porch

            Overlaid with pure gold

            Precious stones

            Graved cherubims

            Two cherubims in most holy place

            Nails

            Veil

            Fine linen

            Before the house two pillars

                        Jachin

                        Boaz

Templeverse 3


DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verse 1

House of the LORDverse 1

God – Elohim (Creator)verse 2

House of Godverse 2

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Images of Cherubim on walls of templeverse 7

Images of two Cherubim in holy of holiesverse 10

Wings of Cherubim touched each wall in

The holy of holiesverses 11-13

Images of Cherubim on veil between

Holy place and holy of holiesverse 14

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Gold of Parvaimverse 6

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Instructedverse 3

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Solomonverse 1

Built house of the LORD in Mount Moriah

Began to build 2/2/ 4th year of reign

Davidverse 1

LORD appeared to him on Mount Moriah

Oman the Jeusiteverse 1

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)


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QUOTES regarding passage

3:3 It is evident that Israel used two standards for the cubit, a short cubit (17.4 inches) and a long cubit (20.4 inches), both based on an Egyptian dual standard of six and seven palms respectively (cf. Ezek 40:5; 45:13). It is not clear what the Chronicler meant by “the old standard,” but excavations at the temple of Arad yielded evidence of these two standards. The temple of the tenth century had a north-south measurement of nine meters (twenty short cubits) for its main hall while the ninth-century temple had been lengthened to 10.5 meters (twenty long cubits).17 The latter measurement is exactly the same as that of the Jerusalem temple, that is, twenty cubits. (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 215). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)


Verse 3 describes the ground plan (foundations, niv, reb, neb), rather than the measurements alone (nrsv, based on Tg.; cf. Rudolph, Myers), or the actual digging of foundations. By omitting almost all height measurements in Kings (cf. vv. 3, 4, 10 and 1 Kgs 6:2, 20, 23), the Chronicler shows his interest in the temple’s basic layout rather than its overall shape. It measured 60 × 20 cubits (or 26.67m × 8.89m) by the cubit of the old standard, which by the Chronicler’s time had been replaced by one that was longer by a handbreadth (Ezek. 40:5; 43:13). The temple therefore was not particularly large, and was smaller than many church buildings today. (Selman, M. J. (1994). 2 Chronicles: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 11, p. 321). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)


3:3–4. The main temple structure rested on a foundation of 60 × 20 cubits, or 90 × 30 feet, on the basis of 18-inch cubits. The portico (porch) on the front was 20 cubits (30 feet) long, thus extending across the entire width of the main building. According to 1 Kings 6:3, the portico was 10 cubits (15 feet) wide. The entire edifice, then, was 105 feet long and 30 feet wide.

The height of the temple was 30 cubits (1 Kings 6:2) but the portico was 20 cubits (30 feet) high. (See the sketch “Plan of Solomon’s Temple” near 1 Kings 6:1–10.) The entire interior of the portico was gilded with gold. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 621). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)


The cherubim (vv. 10–13) receive special attention, although the information is much abbreviated from 1 Kings 6:23–28. They represent angelic beings who live in God’s own presence (cf. Ezek. 10:2ff.), and their wings reaching from one wall to another symbolized how completely they protected the ark (cf. 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 5:7–8). (Selman, M. J. (1994). 2 Chronicles: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 11, p. 323). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)


Their names (v. 17) Jakin (= ‘he establishes’?) and Boaz (= ‘strength is in him’?) suggest the theme of confirming. This might be linked with the idea that Yahweh’s covenant was confirmed through the temple, or with Solomon’s efforts in setting up the temple. (Selman, M. J. (1994). 2 Chronicles: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 11, pp. 324–325). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)


3:17. The pillars stood before the temple, which faced east. So one pillar was on the south side and one on the north. The pillar on the south was named Jakin (“He establishes”; cf. niv marg.) and the other was Boaz (“in Him is strength”; cf. niv marg.). So the pillars symbolized the fact that the Lord had established His house and would maintain it forever (cf. 7:16). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 622). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)


FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)


On Being A PASTOR by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg

If we handle God’s Word aright, we will regularly direct ourselves and others into God’s ways, without apology. Preaching is deliberately directive, and it ceases to be biblical if it is nondirective. (p. 118)


In teaching we aim to give people an understanding of God’s truth. Beginning often with the first principles of a doctrine, we will make sure that people grasp it as best they can in all its aspects. Then in preaching we make an appeal to people’s wills, as well as to their emotions, to respond to the Word that they have now understood through teaching. (p. 119)


A skillful preacher discerns how much teaching is required before it is right to expect an intelligent and spiritual response to the Word. (p. 120)


A regular children’s talk provides a relationship with the children of the church fellowship that we would not otherwise have. This is especially the cse when we involve children in the talks as a family talking point over Sunday lunch, so that the instruction of the service overflows naturally into the family conversation, with the parents seizing the opportunity of discussing the Christian life. (p. 135)


If we ever fall into the snare of only wanting to preach and not to be on the receiving end, professionalism has taken over, and we have ceased living a normal Christian life. (p. 141)

Since I wasn’t even alive in 1968, I’ll defer to Boomers and historians to tell us whether the country was more divided back then or today. In my lifetime, however, I can confidently say that the racial, political, economic, and ideological polarization has never been worse, nor has the violence and outrage been as extreme.

No matter the issue, from public policy to personal morality to global health, people seem to immediately run to their ideological and political corners — no discussion, little charity, less concern about the requirements of a common life together, but a lot of yelling. It’s difficult to imagine a people less able to accomplish a life together than us, with no shared vision and no shared memory.

Tomorrow, however, offers us an opportunity to come out of our ideological and political corners and agree to commemorate a significant day in American history. Every American, regardless of politics or background, should reflect on a day marked in many African American communities for over 150 years.

Tomorrow, June 19th, is Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day in 1865 in which the particularly vicious evil of chattel slavery effectively came to an end in this country.

Here’s the history:

In 1862, President Lincoln issued the most famous executive order in history, known as the Emancipation Proclamation. “…on the first day of January,” read the order, “in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State … in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward and forever free.”

With this order, Lincoln only declared the emancipation of slaves within the Confederacy. Pro-Union border states and even areas in the South controlled by Union troops were not “in rebellion against the United States.” Practically speaking, the Emancipation Proclamation was more symbolic than effective.

The surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox in April of 1865 signaled the end of the Confederacy and foresaw the final end of slavery. Even then, however, pockets of resistance persisted. Emancipation would have to be enforced.

On June 19, 1865, “more than two thousand Federal soldiers of the 13th Army Corps arrived in Galveston [Texas] and with them Major General Gordon Granger . . . Granger’s men marched through Galveston reading General Order, No. 3,” which informed “the people of Texas… that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”  (Breakpoint)


2 Kings 4
INSIGHT

Elisha’s ministry is not startling; it is redemptive and constructive. Elijah was a prophet of fire and judgment; Elisha was a prophet of mercy and compassion. Elijah was a man on the move; Elisha enjoyed a tranquil life at home. Elijah’s miracles were destructive; Elisha’s were constructive. It must have been tempting for Elisha to want to be like Elijah. But he resists it; that is not what the Lord has for Elisha. He is his own man before the Lord. It is often tempting for us to want to be like someone else, to be dissatisfied with who we are and what we can do. Yet God made us to be what He wanted us to be. We must be content with who we are. It is so liberating. Accept yourself. God does.  (Quiet Walk)


CONSECRATION

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.     Exodus 33:7

There is another element in revival that I must emphasize. It is clear that in putting the Tabernacle outside the camp, Moses had another motive and a very important one. It is this whole idea of consecration. Moses felt that this could not be done in the midst of the camp. The camp had become unclean, and he deliberately took the Tabernacle out, “afar off from the camp.” It was a very deliberate action. But by doing it, he said in effect, “We must do this thing in God’s way; we must get out of the impurity and this sinful atmosphere. We must get together here instead.” Yes, that is consecration. That is, if you like, the call to holiness.
I am suggesting to you that the history of every revival brings out this same factor in exactly the same way. What is it that has happened to these men whom God has used? Take any one of them, and you will find almost invariably that their first concern has not been the state of the church—it has been the state of their own souls. It has been the holiness of God. The Methodists said, “We must meet to study the Scriptures together, we must pray together, and we must live methodically in everything.” Methodists, yes; but what they were searching for was holiness. And that has always been God’s way. One man or a number of men suddenly become awakened to their distance from God, to the fact that they are in a far country. And their first concern is to be holy as God is holy, and to come into His presence, and to know His glory.
A Thought to Ponder
Their first concern has not been the state of the church—it has been the state of their own souls.  (From Revival, pp. 168-169, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)


The Obedient Christ

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)
The only begotten Son of God substituted Himself for all humanity to save them from the righteous judgment of a thrice-holy Creator.
Jesus found Himself “in fashion as a man,” which therefore made it possible for Him to humble Himself and to become obedient to the death that had been ordained for Him prior to the very foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20).
Perhaps it is too much to suggest that Jesus “woke up” when He “found” Himself in Mary’s womb, but it is certain that He “increased in wisdom” (Luke 2:52) as He grew in “stature.” Basically, because He “became” human, He experienced the normal increase in awareness and experience that all of us do.
The difference was, obviously, that He “humbled” Himself, even though He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Christ’s sinless behavior could have easily “exalted” Him as His wisdom and miracles became known throughout Israel. Indeed, many tried to make Him king.
Isaiah prophetically records the mindset of the Lord many years before He actually entered Jerusalem: “I set my face like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7). Later, Jesus told His disciples, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:50).
Finally, the obedience of our Lord Jesus, understood fully and deeply at Gethsemane, was fully accomplished, “even the death of the cross.” May our hearts never forget or tire of these great truths. (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)


The Life of Peace

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

In Perth, Australia, there’s a place called Shalom House where men struggling with addictions go to find help. At Shalom House, they’ll meet caring staff members who introduce them to God’s shalom (Hebrew for peace). Lives crushed under the weight of addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other destructive behaviors are being transformed by the love of God.

Central to this transformation is the message of the cross. The broken people of Shalom House discover that through the resurrection of Jesus, they can find their own lives resurrected. In Christ, we gain true peace and healing.

Peace isn’t merely the absence of conflict; it’s the presence of God’s wholeness. All of us need this shalom, and it’s only found in Christ and His Spirit. This is why Paul pointed the Galatians to the Spirit’s transformational work. As the Holy Spirit operates in our lives, He generates His fruit that includes love, joy, patience, and more (Galatians 5:22–23). He gives us that vital element of true, enduring peace.

As the Spirit enables us to live in God’s shalom, we learn to bring our needs and concerns to our heavenly Father. This in turn brings us “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding”—the peace that “will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

In Christ’s Spirit, our hearts experience true shalom. By Bill Crowder, Our Daily Bread)


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