Title: Living in Peace
Contents
♡♥♡ Living in Peace / Psalm 131:1-3
***Introduction
This psalm is a psalm of David, expressing trust in God as well as humility and godliness. Humility and trust in God are the fundamental faith in the life of a believer. When a right relationship with God is formed in this way in the life of a believer, we will have the peace that the Lord brings. David referred to this peace as the peace of a baby in the arms of its mother. Jesus says in John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. What I give to you is not as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” The peace that the Lord gives is a peace that cannot be controlled by the circumstances and circumstances of the world.
A famous foreign artist's association held a contest for a work under the theme of 'Peace'. Many works were submitted. It was evident that each painting made an effort to express 'peace'.
A boat floating quietly in the open sea without a single wind and cloud/ A rural landscape that is quiet enough to be bored/ A family enjoying a bright picnic in a field on a sunny spring day/ The faces of innocent children/ A red sunset Against the setting of the evening sky, a painting depicting the affection of a pair of lovers/ Scenery of sheep grazing leisurely in green pastures, etc.
However, the work that finally won the grand prize was an unexpected painting. The painting was set in harsh weather with rough and ferocious waves. There was a small hut on the beach, and the hut contained the image of a newborn baby in her mother's arms, suckling her breasts calmly, regardless of the noise outside.
True peace is peace that transcends all circumstances. In other words, true peace is the peace you can enjoy in spite of the harsh, difficult, and desperate circumstances around you.
David expressed his full and stable heart abiding in God by comparing it to the peace of a child in a state of satisfaction in his mother's arms. In other words, it refers to the complete satisfaction of a life walking with God. As such, we Christians should lead a life of complete peace. How, then, can you enjoy this peace?
1. A heart that does not covet high things.
Verse 1 says, “My heart is not proud, my eyes are not high… “He said. It is often said that ‘pride starts with the eyes.’ In other words, pride begins from the moment you look beyond your own position or fountain, and look higher than necessary. This desire for high things is in line with pride.
A prime example of this can be found in the ancestors of mankind. Eve fell into Satan's affair. In Genesis 3:5, Satan will deceive Eve, saying, “God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” This comes from a high heart that passed the fountain that God forbade.
A church was built in the small countryside. And a man from the town who was closely observing the lives of some Christians decided to believe in Jesus and came to the church. However, not long after attending, it was Thanksgiving Day. He gave two sacks of rice as a thank-you offering. However, the sacrament was held at the church on Thanksgiving Day. Since that day, he hasn't come to church.
It was a misunderstanding because he did not know the things of the church well yet. But behind the scenes, there was a proud heart that passed through a fountain. It was the pride of offering two sacks of rice.
The secret of the saints to enjoy peace is to be satisfied with the life given to them and to be grateful. In Philippians 4:6, “… With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Colossians 2:7 says, “… Stand firm in the faith, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 says, “Be steadfast in prayer, being watchful in prayer with thanksgiving.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in everything.” .” he said. Those who give thanks for all their lives will enjoy the peace of God.
2. It is a mind that does not overdo it.
In verse 1, David confesses, “I do not strive for great things or marvelous works that are beyond my reach.” Here, 'big things and strange things that are beyond reach' means striving to achieve more than the limits of human capabilities and abilities. In other words, we will refrain from futile efforts to seek to know more than God has not told us. Trying to know more than God does not allow us to understand or show us is ultimately an act of distrust in which we cannot trust in God. If God had considered more than that, he would have given it more.
David sent his army to the battlefield and was leisurely strolling on the rooftop when he saw a nearby beautiful woman bathing. David learned that the woman was Bathsheba, the wife of his faithful servant Uriah. Now Uriah is on the battlefield. David took the woman and made her his own, and when she conceived, he ordered that Uriah be put to death in battle. After this happened, God sent the prophet Nathan to David.
God speaks in 2 Samuel 12:8-9. “I have given you the house of your master, and you have placed your master’s wives in your bosom, and I have entrusted you with the house of Israel and Judah. If that had been lacking, I would have given you this or that. Then why did you despise the word of the LORD, and did what was evil in my sight? You killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, but you killed him with the sword of the children of Ammon, and you took her and made her your wife.”
That is why 'Thomas Akempis' said, "The most fearful enemy of our souls is curiosity," and the Reformer 'Calvin' said, "We must go as far as the Bible goes, and stop when the Bible stops."
God has given each of us a different talent. He entrusted you with 1 talent, 2 talents, or 5 talents. We must know the limits of our own talents and abilities and work faithfully within them. The Lord will only find what He has entrusted to us.
3. It is a heart that completely trusts God.
In verse 2, David says that he is as calm and peaceful as a child who is full of breast milk is in his mother's arms. It shows that she trusts God completely, just as a baby completely trusts her mother. If we are convinced that God is in control and providence in everything we do, there will be nothing to be anxious or anxious about in our lives.
Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee with his disciples. At that time, a sudden storm blew water into the boat and shook as if it was overturned, and the disciples were contemplating. But Jesus was sleeping in peace. The disciples woke the Lord and cried out. “Teacher, do you not see that we are about to die?” Then Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and commanded the sea. “Shut up. Be still.” The wind stopped and the waves became very calm. Jesus said to his disciples. “Why are you so afraid? How can you have no faith?”
If we don't have faith in God, we can't help but be afraid of the stormy world. However, God is the one who intervenes and guides our lives, the people we meet, and the steps we take. If we believe in this fact, we will not be afraid of anything, and we will be able to enjoy the peace of a baby in the arms of its mother who is full and full of breast milk.
“O Israel, hope in the Lord, from now to everlasting.”
Let's go ahead, trusting in the Lord who is pleased with our steps and being satisfied and thankful for what we have now.