Hebrew translation of Peace (Old Testament)

Peace – salom (shaw-lome)

A. Completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

B. Completeness (in number)

C. Safety, soundness (in body)

D. Welfare, health, prosperity

E. Peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment

F. Peace, friendship

          i. of human relationships

          ii. with God especially in covenant relationships

G. Peace (from war)

H. Peace (as adjective)

WEEK #1 – December 1 – 3

Day 1 – Isaiah 9:6

For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. What would this promise of a “Prince of Peace” mean to someone who’s been told they were going to lose their home/freedom to be captured and oppressed by an evil world power?

2. Why do you think God would tell them this when they were the ones who broke covenant with him through their rebellion and sin?

3. What does the promise of the return of this Prince of Peace mean for you today?

Day 2 – 1 Peter 3:11

let them turn away from evil and do good;
    let them seek peace and pursue it.

STUDY HELPS:

Here’s a quick book summary for 1 Peter – READ IT HERE.

Here is the Greek Translation for the word “peace” used in the New Testament:

Peace: eirēnē (i-ray’-nay)

I. a state of national tranquility

     A. exemption from the rage and havoc of war

II. peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord

III. security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)

IV. of the Messiah’s peace

     A. the way that leads to peace (salvation)

V. of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is

VI. the blessed state of devout and upright men after death

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Why do you think Paul would have instructed them to have unity in spirit

2. Based on the definitions given for peace, which one do you think Paul is applying here?

3. What areas or relationships in your life challenge this peace for you?

4.What practical step can you take in order to go after Jesus’ peace in that/those area(s)?

Day 3 – Philippians 4:6 – 7

⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

STUDY HELPS:

 Read a quick book summary for Philippians here.  

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. When considering the believers in Philippi, how does God’s peace pass their human understanding?

2. Consider the Greek translations of peace given in Lesson 2. Which peace do you think relates to what Paul is conveying here?

3. How does this peace guard a suffering heart?

4. How can this peace guard your heart when you’re suffering?

WEEK #2 – December 4 – 10

Day 4 – Psalm 4:8

I will both lie down and sleep in peace;

for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

STUDY HELPS:

Hebrew translation for peace:

Peace – salom (shaw-lome)

A. Completeness, soundnes, welfare, peace

     B. Completeness (in number)

     C. Safety, soundness (in body)

     D. Welfare, health, prosperity

     E. Peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment

     F. Peace, friendship

          i. of human relationships

          ii. with God especially in covenant relationships

G. Peace (from war)

H. Peace (as adjective)

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Can you think of a scenario that is particularly disturbing for to you, maybe around any of the following:

• Financial?

• With your kids/family?

• With your health?

• With your business/work?

• With your leadership?

2. Sit silently with God in prayer or take some time to pray in color around the above disturbing scenario – What is God saying to your heart regarding his peace in this particular situation and/or what action do you sense he’s leading you to take?

Day 5 – 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my 2 Thessalonians Book Summary here.

Review the Greek translation of “peace” from our Day 2 Lesson.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What peace do you think Paul is referencing in his closing to the church in Thessalonica?

2. What would this peace have meant to the believers there?

3. What is challenging your peace today and how does this passage strengthen you/your faith?

Day 6 – Philippians 4:9

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

STUDY HELPS:

 Read a quick book summary for Philippians here.  

QUESTION TO CONSIDER:

Consider the humility of Jesus spoken about in 2:1 – 8.

What area of humility do you need to make more pure, just, excellent, commendable, and/or worthy of praise?

Day 7 – Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Colossians here.

QUESTION TO CONSIDER:

1. Review the Greek definition of “peace”. What definition of “peace” do you think Paul is using here?

2. What challenges would these original readers of Paul’s letter have with applying Paul’s instructions for equity found in 3:11:

Masters and slaves?

Men and women?

Jews and Gentiles?

3. What area or relationship in your life is currently challenged in regards to you behaving according to what is described in 3:12 – 14 and how is it keeping you from peace (as you are defining it based on the Greek translation)?

Think about places where you may carry some sort of belief around:

How you should be seen in comparison to someone else.

How you should be treated in comparison to someone else.

How you’re better… than someone else… because of (fill in the blank).

Day 8 – Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Romans here.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What works in your life are you dependent upon in order to feel righteous?

2. Sit with God for a few moments and ask him how he views your righteousness.

Day 9 – Romans 8:6

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Romans here.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What areas of your life have you taken the controls of?

2. What would it look like to hand the controls back to God? What’s one action step you can take in faith to hand it back to him?

Day 10 – Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Matthew here.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Where in your life right now does it feel hard to be a peacemaker?

2. Take a few moments to pray to God regarding this area and ask him to give you one step to take towards his peace.

WEEK #3 – December 11 – 17

Day 11 – Isaiah 26:3

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—in peace because they trust in you.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What was the cause of the suffering of Judah?

2. What parallels can you identify between the suffering of Judah’s exile as a result of their sin and the suffering of believers today?

3. How can you apply God’s instructions to “keep in peace” in the midst of suffering from the costs of sin in our world?

4. How does the promise of Jesus’ return cultivate peace in the midst of your suffering?

Day 12 – Psalm 29:11

May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What currently feels like a cedar tree or chaos in your life – too mighty or difficult to defeat?

2. Pray to God about that very thing – ask him to reveal his peace, no matter how he decides to guide or deliver you around that thing.

Day 13 – 1 Thessalonians 5:12 – 13

12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; 13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

STUDY HELPS

Read my book summary on 1 Thessalonians here.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Make two lists: 

List 1 – how does the mainstream culture of your country define or characterize peace?

List 2 – how does God define peace (according to our Greek translations of it)?

2. Are there ways cultural peace tries to mimic God’s peace? To help you with this, think of what true peace is (God’s peace), and then consider how your culture goes about trying to achieve it (i.e. how does culture go after security?).

3. Is there something in your life that you’ve turned to for peace, but now realize it’s really a mimic of the true peace of God?

Day 14 – John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Read my book summary on John here.

Greek Translation of “world”

Kosmos (kos’mos)

VII. world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly

     A. the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Contrast and compare the following with the Greek translation of “peace” – how are the approaches to peace different between the world’s ways and God’s ways?

• Earthly goods

• Riches

• Advantages

• Pleasures

2. Go back to the Greek translation of the word “world” above and replace the following words with their antonyms/opposites.

Example: “fleeting” becomes “enduring or constant”

• Hollow

• Frail

• Fleeting

• Seduce

• Obstacles

Day 15 – Hebrews 12:14

Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

STUDY HELPS

Read my book summary on Hebrews here.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Where and/or with whom are you responding like Esau – appeasing your flesh instead of pursuing peace? Where are you trusting your fleshy, emotional response over a godly response?

Day 16 – James 3:18

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

STUDY HELPS

Read my book summary on James here.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Can you identify one value or belief that causes you to be partial towards others who value and believe the same thing as you as well as minimize the beliefs and values of those who don’t?

2. If you’re heart is ready to do so, take that before God and ask him to help you see those you don’t agree with through his eyes, and to show you how to prioritize his kingdom behavior over the accepted cultural responses (i.e. dismissal, indifference, hatred, mocking, etc.) towards them.

Day 17 – Proverbs 12:20

Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Make a list to contrast the world’s ways vs. God’s ways based on Proverbs 12:1 – 28. What’s one thing you’ve noticed about God’s ways (or the world’s ways) that you hadn’t noticed before?

WEEK #4 – December 18 – 24

This week, it’s your turn to mine out the golden nuggets of God’s peace within our scripture passages. I’ll come back on Day 24 to wrap up with our final passage in Matthew, but for the next few days, you will use the book summaries I’ve provided during the past three weeks to help you observe and interpret scripture on your own.

Day 18 – Proverbs 16:7

When the ways of people please the Lord,
    he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.

STUDY HELPS:

This proverbs has a focus on responding to unjust leadership.

Enemies – those who oppose God and oppose God’s people

Wilderness – Where God’s people depended on God for their care and provision. Where God’s people were delivered to after enslavement to Egypt. Where God’s people were protected from surrounding enemies.

Covenant – How God’s people stayed protected as long as they obeyed the terms of their covenant with God.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Search Proverbs 16 for clues on how God’s people could live pleasing unto God. 

Day 19 – Romans 12:18

If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Romans here.

I recommend reading Romans 12:9 – 21 in order to understand vs. 18 context a bit better.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Which peace do you believe Paul is referencing here in regards to our Greek translation?

2. Where or with what relationship (or what kind of relationship) do you feel challenged with “living peaceably with all?” Really consider this. Don’t assume you’re OK here. If you can’t think of a relationship, ask God to show you where he wants you to focus (I promise you there is a relationship or circumstance somewhere).

3. Sit in prayer with God and ask him to show you where/how you can initiate his peace within a relationship where you may be struggling to do so.

Day 20 – Romans 14:18

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Romans here.

I recommend reading Romans 14:13 – 23 in order to understand vs. 19 context a bit better.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Which peace do you believe Paul is referencing here in regards to our Greek translation?

2. Do you ever find yourself having to keep a conviction to yourself in order to respect the convictions of others around you? Can you describe the situation (i.e. drinking or not drinking alcohol, what foods you eat/don’t eat, political beliefs, the type of music you listen to or movies you watch… etc.)?

3. Have you ever found yourself “pushing” a faith practice or conviction on someone because you were convinced you were right (and they were wrong)?

4. Is God saying anything specific to you heart regarding keeping peace in those areas? Pray and ask God to reveal his desires to you regarding how to honor him as well as others in those situations.

Day 21 – Psalm 34:14

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

STUDY HELPS

I recommend reading Psalm 34 in its entirety in order to observe where this mention of peace is placed in the Psalm, as well as what was on King David’s mind when he wrote this psalm.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What is evil? See its Hebrew translation here. (click on Outline of Biblical Usage)

2. What is good? See its Hebrew translation here. (click on Outline of Biblical Usage)

3. What connections can be made between doing good and seeking peace (based on our Hebrew translation of peace, salom)?

Day 22 – John 16:33

I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

STUDY HELPS

Read my John book summary here.

I encourage you to read chapter 16 in its entirety – this passage is much better understood if read within the context of Jesus’ instructions/teachings to his disciples right before his capture and crucifixion.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What translation of peace (eirene) do you believe Jesus is speaking of in this passage?

2. When Jesus says, “I have said this to you…”, what words do you think he’s speaking of that he has said to them so they may have peace? Observe his words in chapter 16 to see if you can identify these.

3. How do his words in this chapter bring you peace today?

Day 23 – Romans 16:20

The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Romans here.

I suggest reading chapter 16:1 – 20 (so much context here).

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Can you identify what type of peace Paul may be referencing here? (Hint, Paul is consistent in his message, so however you’ve identified peace for him in his other letters is most likely what he’s talking about here)?

2. What is Paul talking to the believers in Rome about right before he mentions the God of peace crushing Satan (I love that wording!)?

3. What do his words imply about the works of Satan that will be crushed?

4. Paul says that they are currently being obedient to Jesus’ teachings (vs. 16:19)  – what is he warning them to look out for in order to protect their obedience?

Day 24 – Matthew 10:34 – 39

34 ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I have come to set a man against his father,

and a daughter against her mother,

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

I accidently recorded this without my microphone turned on, so forgive my sound quality.

STUDY HELPS:

Read my book summary on Matthew here.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Listen to the song Behold (Glory to God) by Lindsey Arcaro and notice how your understanding of God’s peace impacts how you hear the words being sung.