PERSONS ENJOYING THE PEACE OF GOD 2. 

Jeremiah enjoyed the peace of God in tough circumstances. The Lord said, ‘Take a scroll of a book and write out all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel.’  Baruch wrote on a scroll of a book at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord which he had spoken to him.’ ( 36:4)  Jeremiah was forbidden entrance to the house of the Lord. However, Baruch read from the scroll all which you have written at my instruction, the words of the Lord, in the hearing of the people in the Lord’s house on the day of fasting. An urgent message with fasting accompanied the teaching. The Lord has pronounced great anger and fury against this people.   The reading stimulated an urgent enquiry for truth.

When Michaiah  heard all the words of the book, he went down to the king’s house into the scribe’s chamber, where all the princes were sitting.(v12)  The news shocked them, demanding that he ‘Take in his  hand the scroll from which you have read in the hearing of the people and come.  Baruch read God’s powerful Word in their hearing. When they heard all the words, they looked in fear at one another (as well they might).  ‘We shall surely tell the king all these words.’ ‘Baruch, tell us now how you wrote all these words- at his instruction?’ ‘He proclaimed with his mouth all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink in the book.’  Terrified, the ‘princes said to Baruch, ‘Go, hide, you and Jeremiah; and let no one know where you are.’ ‘Holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.’

They told the king all the words though the scroll was stored in the scribe’s chamber. Jehudi seized the scroll from the scribe’s chamber and read it in the hearing of the king and of all the princes (false advisers) who stood beside the king.  The king had a fire burning on the hearth before him. Ruthlessly the king cut it with the scribe’s knife, casting it into the fire, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire,  With  nerve, they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments. Courageously, Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll, but pigheadedly, he refused.  God’s servants calmly safeguarded the eternal writing.  We too must preserve the precious scriptures from subtle attacks.

Jeremiah with resolute calm heard the Lord’s instruction. ‘He took another scroll and wrote on it the former words that were in the first scroll, even ‘All the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire.  Besides, there were added many similar words.’ (v32) It foretold the Babylonian invasion and the deprival of an heir to succeed the wicked Jehoiakim.  Have you the equanimity of Jeremiah when facing keenest opposition and peril?  ‘My peace I give to you.’

The teenager, Mary, faced an extraordinary situation. ‘In the sixth month (of Elisabeth’s pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David (his ancestral line).  The virgin’s name was Mary.’ She could have lost her cool. The angel said, ‘Rejoice highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.’ But when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, (knowing her name), for you have found favour with God.’  Then the astonishing news, ‘Behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His Name Jesus (meaning Jehovah is salvation.)’  The wonder continued, ‘He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.’ Enough to upset any young woman. More followed, for ‘He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.’ Mary was excited, anguished initially, but the Lord composed her as she talked with the heavenly messenger.  

God had chosen her as the virgin mother of the Messiah. ‘She contended, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man.’ Mary is thoroughly reasonable- yet calm. Then the angel responded with one of the mighty verses in God’s holy word. ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest will overshadow you, therefore that Holy One who is to be born, will be called the Son of God.’ (v35)       Mary heard of the three members of the Trinity, Father, Son (Whom she would bear as a child) and the Holy Spirit. Keyed up surely? Yet Mary was peaceful by the power of God.                                                                                                                                                   
Three young men stood for their God facing peer pressure and royal threat. The king Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits (30 metres) and its width 6 cubits (3 metres.)  All his officials were summoned to the dedication of this idol. (3:4 )  The herald loudly commanded all peoples, nations and languages ‘when you hear the sound of the instruments , you shall fall down and worship the golden image’ The fearsome warning sounded, ‘Whosoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of the burning, fiery furnace.’ Millions did exactly that; except 3 young men.  Trembling, yet calm and composed, they determined to be loyal to their living God. God’s peace held them.  

Jealous spies exposed their resolute faith. The king was enraged and furious at their holy stand. ‘If you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.’  He flaunted the living God, ‘Who is the God who will, deliver you from my hands.’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied, ‘We have no need to answer you in this matter.’ Peace perfect peace in this dark world of sin. The blood of Jesus whispers peace within, calmed these courageous young men.  
‘Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace, and your challenging gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up. ‘

Shalom is a beautiful Old Testament word for peace or wholeness. We are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It refers also to the soundness which the Lord Jesus brings and to spiritual prosperity. While sin shattered the human family, the blood of the Lord Jesus brings peace to us.  Do you know this peace?
It passes all understanding. SHALOM.

For centuries, many have peacefully become martyrs for the Lord whom they loved.