March 24th, [What do you have to do with peace?]
2Kings 9:11~22
The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an Australian international relations think tank, releases the Global Peace Index every year, and the number one most peaceful country in 2023 is Iceland. Out of 163 countries, South Korea is ranked 43rd and North Korea is ranked 149th, and I hope that the light of the gospel will shine in North Korea so that we can be at peace together. In the Bible, peace, peace, and peace are all shalom, and we want peace so much. But when we realize that there is no true peace in the world, we keep chasing the wrong things. Today were going to consider why there is no peace on earth and what we can do to make it relevant to us.
First, we try to create our own situation, which has nothing to do with peace.
During a dark time when both the nations of southern Judah and northern Israel were deeply corrupted spiritually, God, through a prophets disciple, anoints Jehu, the military minister of northern Israel, to be king. When the vassals see the prophets disciple, they ask, 'What did that crazy man say?' Jehu thinks theyre making it up, but when he realizes theyre not, he tells them that 'they anointed him in an alcove and made him king.' The vassals join in the rebellion, seeing General Jehu as their lord rather than King Joram. When Jehu hears the prophecy that he will be king, he causes a birthmark out of self-righteousness, but this whole situation was planned and prepared by God, not by Jehu. The prophet Isaiah said, 'The wicked make crooked paths for themselves, and none of them that walk in them know peace.' In other words, there is no peace for anyone who makes circumstances favorable to themselves. God uses Jehu as an instrument of judgment. It is foolish to seek revenge with my own hands, for God judges the wicked for the wicked. The one who is at peace waits patiently for Gods time. I am at peace because I know that this position given to me is a position of mission, and I am grateful for my circumstances. True peace is being grateful for each situation God opens up to me and following it in obedience one day at a time.
Second, we seek peace in vain. Peace has nothing to do with it.
After Jehu seals off Ramoth the Gilalite, he hops in his chariot and rides off in a mad dash to kill the cradle in Israel. He seems to have a good cause, but because of his own greed, he is anxious that his rebellion will be discovered and he will fail. All your efforts and labors to get rid of your anxiety end up creating deeper anxiety. Youre covering up a problem with a problem. You said the peace the Lord gives is not the same as the world gives,
The world tries to give you peace through strength and pretend everything is okay, but it only makes you more anxious. If you seek the false peace of the world, where you labor and fight to gain strength, you will not find true peace. You can drive your chariot like crazy, but there is no peace unless you ask for it in Jesus name. By this time, Joram has recovered in Israel, but he sends a soldier to ask the king, 'Is there peace?' Jehu replies, 'What does peace matter to you?' which means, 'He will remove the king of Joram himself. Victory is on his side, so if you dont want to die, stand on his side.' In fact, Joram doesnt deserve to ask for peace. He deserves to ask for peace because he has repented and has the fruit of the Spirit. Twice, the cradle sends soldiers to ask Jehu if he is at peace. He is lying in the palace of Israel, but the war against Aram had to be won to save the honor of his father Ahab. He is asking for fruit without any labor. There is no glory without the cross, but we hate the cross so much and love the glory. To be at peace no matter what is said or what events come, there must be a decision to be willing to pay the price for salvation.
When I decide to take up my cross, I believe the Lord is with me in that obedience as the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
Third, it cannot cease from evil, so it has nothing to do with peace.
When the watchman reports to King Joram that it is Jehu who is coming, Joram, who trusts in him like a rock, rides out in his chariot. His companion, King Ahaziah of South Judah, also rides out, not knowing that he is on his way to die. The place where they meet in the chariot is the land of Naboth the Israelite. God judges Ahab and the house of Jezebel for killing Naboth and taking his land. Joram trusts Jehu and asks him directly, 'Is there peace?' but he is adamant, 'How can there be peace when your mother Jezebels fornication and deceit are so many?' Jezebels fornication is idolatry, and her sorcery is the evil that killed the prophets and killed Gods people like Naboth. Joram is supposed to put an end to this evil, but he continues to do evil, and even Judah is infected with evil, so God has Jehu put him to death. Jehu was a necessary instrument of judgment in a time of great wickedness. It is always right that the wicked should be punished by the wicked. In no case should I take revenge. We pray, 'Give me this, and I will do anything for You,' but this is Jezebels fornication, her wiles, and her greed that must be cut off. If we cannot cut off this evil, we cannot be at peace. The best way to cut off an evil that cannot be cut off is to join in the work of salvation, which is the opposite of that evil.
Community confession is about a book report written by a member of small group who became a doctor again after graduating from law school. I have three children, but the cost of a private academy increased, I couldnt afford it with my husbands salary, so I honestly wrote my resume and interviewed on the job search site my husband told me. I only work once a week at the examination center, I said at the interview, 'I have little outpatient experience and long leave of absence, I forgot everything I learned because I was going to go all-in to living and childcare, I have little experience in pediatric treatment, I am afraid of trying to start work again, I had no choice but to come out because I need extra cash for my kids educational expenses, and I had to go to church, so I can only do it on Thursdays.' I think she passed the interview because she seemed to be a sincere person. Since she said she attached to the Lord with words and prayers from the time she wrote her resume to the last medical treatment, she is a person related to peace.
If you create your own circumstances, if you seek peace in vain and do not cease from evil, you Wont have peace. Do not seek fake glory, but take up your cross with the Lord. There is no peace but the peace that comes from God, and in this day and age when peace has nothing to do with it, may you not try to cover up your sins with your own righteousness and block Gods righteousness. May we be the kind of people who live out the words we heard today, day in and day out, that has everything to do with true peace.
