“[Yahweh] blesses his people with peace”
Psalms 29:11 (NIV)
The Hebrew word for “peace” in this passage is the well-known Hebrew word “shalom”, which means all-around harmony and prosperity in one’s life. In the Old Testament this included one’s physical circumstances. God promised faithful believers that he would bless their finances, their families, and their living conditions. Yet we do not see the same promises in the New Testament. Why?
The New Testament often promises peace, using a Greek translation of the Hebrew word shalom. Yet in the New Testament believers are promised persecution, the pain of carrying their Cross and general rejection by the world. So how can this be peace?
The New Testament promises a deeper interior peace. The peace in the New Testament is actually superior to the peace of the Old Testament. We have the peace that is beyond understanding (Phil. 4:7). We are instructed to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (Gal. 5:6). Jesus said: “In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33, NIV). In John 14:27 he said that he gives us a peace that is different from the world’s peace. We have the Holy Spirit who is a spirit of peace. Believers in the Old Testament did not have the interior peace that we have.
Thus, following Jesus means that we have his peace available for our hearts. No matter what comes we do not need to be troubled. Our circumstances do not disturb us like they did for Old Testament believers. Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27, NIV). His peace shines through us in spite of our circumstances and this is a light to the world of the reality of Jesus. On the New Earth we will have full shalom; our physical circumstances will be joyous for eternity. God’s promise of shalom is on its way. In this age we taste it in our hearts and let it shine to others.
