Dave's Diary

This week our Advent theme is Peace. We focus on peace in Advent because of the angels’ prophetic song of celebration at Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:14:

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests.’

Biblically, peace (shalom in Hebrew or eirene in Greek) is not only the absence of conflict. It means to be safe, sound, healthy, whole and complete. It signifies well-being and harmony, both inwardly and outwardly. Inwardly it is a state of calm without anxiety or stress. Outwardly it is a state of completeness, health, welfare, safety, prosperity, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord.

Daily Reading: Psalm 34

⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him…
¹⁴ … seek peace and pursue it.

The title line of Psalm 34 informs us that it was written shortly after the events recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10 – 22:1. David, on the run from Saul, had arrived in the Philistine city of Gath, and soon realised that his life was in danger there too. Feigning madness to buy himself time, he fled to a cave in the wilderness.

During this season of his life, David was in outward physical danger and deep trouble, and he also testifies that he felt inwardly afraid, ashamed, broken-hearted and “crushed in spirit” (v.4-5, 17-18). He experienced a complete absence of peace, inwardly and outwardly. But then he sought the Lord, looked to Him in trust, and called on Him for deliverance … and the Lord rescued him (v.4-7) and brought him to safety.

In Psalm 34, David invites us to find the same refuge in the LORD as he did. He invites us to “taste and see” for ourselves how good the Lord is. We can do this by worshiping Him with awe, and seeking Him in repentance (v.8-14).

So, as this week of Peace begins, let us do exactly that. Let’s bring to the Lord anything that is causing us anxiety, turmoil or brokenness. Let us repent of any part we have played in bringing ourselves to this point, and pray for deliverance from the circumstances that militate against peace. Let’s ask God to grant us wisdom to navigate our current reality. And above all, let us simply seek a time of intimate fellowship with God, in which He can minister to us by His Spirit and infuse us with His very own peace. Amen.