Blessed is The Peace Maker

Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Mar 6, 2005

Newsletter 5842-010

Blessed is The Peace Maker

By Joseph Dumond

For a long time now I have never understood this phrase. Blessed is the Peace maker. To me it has always meant that it was better to give up and let the other guy walk all over you than to stand and fight. But being Canadian and loving hockey I used to love to go into a corner and fight it out for the puck. I was never afraid to grab someone by the scruff of the neck on the job site and threaten to punch out his lights if he didn’t smarten up. Yes most of this was self righteousness on my part.

But after the dust up I always had more respect for the other guy, if he stood his ground with me. If he backed down to easy I had little respect for him or his position.

Recently in Jerusalem (Oct. 2006) a man came up to me and another guy from our group and out of the blue started to curse Sukkot. My first instinct was to clinch my fist and be ready to give an answer. I told him to go away and be quite, I was not going to his store. The guy with me got even madder and aggressively told this man to get lost and to do it now. I was impressed with his aggressiveness. To say the least I would be glad to have him stand with me any where. During this there was a lady in back of us saying to say it peacefully.

So the question is were we being peace makers or trouble makers?

When I got home from the Feast I had an e-mail telling me I was causing division in our congregation by telling everyone many of things that are found on this web site. Things that are contrary to the doctrines being taught in that fellowship. The E-mail went on to say that “God is not the author of confusion but of peace.”
The next few days as I listened to the radio I heard Adrian Rogers explaining the Beatitudes, and his explanation caught my intrigue. I do not very often agree with Mr. Rogers but I liked his explanations here.

Meek is another word I had never looked at until I heard Mr. Rogers say that it was an old English word. Modern dictionaries describe Meek as;

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse mjukr gentle; akin to Welsh esmwyth soft

1 : enduring injury with patience and without resentment : MILD
2 : deficient in spirit and courage : SUBMISSIVE
3 : not violent or strong : MODERATE

Do you see what it is saying, ‘enduring injury with patience and without resentment, Mild, deficient in spirit and courage, Submissive, not violent or strong, Moderate.

It is describing the Meek I have always known and could never attain. Meekness is weakness.
This is so far from the truth that my mind spun as I heard Mr. Rogers go back to the original word. It revolves around the word humble. It has always struck me that in order to be humble you had to be meek, and meek, to me, was to be weak.

Yahweh said to Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Meekness and humbleness to me were weakness. But this is not right.

Yahshua said, “Blessed are the meek.” We often balk at that because it seems to imply that Christians are supposed to be doormats for others to walk over. But in the Greek the verb form for “meek” refers to the channeling of energies, as in the taming of horses. Before horses could become useful to their masters, they had to be “Meeked. The fact is, we are Meeked by the thorns in our flesh. The mercy of our failures is that they break our reliance on our own powers and cast us upon the mercy of Yahweh. Until we are “Meeked” we serve the master of our own ego and our own standard of success. But Yahshua truly becomes our master when we give up the reigns, when we confess.

Meekness then is not that of the doormat but one in which that which is meeked has yielded it’s own power to that of the one holding the reigns. Yahshua has the reigns and I am the horse that submits my power and energy to Him. I do not become weak but rather, I become strength under control, yielding to Him who has the reigns. We become as one, rider and horse, so much so that even his thoughts are responded to and there is no need for the reigns to be used, because I, as the horse am so responsive to His every movement.

Strength under control that is what meekness is. Humble enough to let another take control of our strengths to use them as He sees fit.
Matt 5: 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Mat 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle (meek) and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Moses was meekest of all men. I do not think Moses was the weakest of all men. I now know that he was the most yielded to our Father, Yahweh.
Yielded = meek =Strength under control.

Our Strength and ambitions need to be yielded to Yahweh, just as a wild stallion is meeked. The ox or horse is meeked to the yoke. Strength under control a compliant spirit.

Blessed are the Poor in spirit, who know how sinful they really are and morn over the rebellious attitude

Blessed are the Meek who have yielded Control under Yahshua. They still have the same fire, drive and strength only now they have allowed a bridle and a rider to control them.. The horse is not hobbled it is only bridled. Blessed is the one who is yielded.

How do you get it? How are you meeked, how are you yielded? First you become bankrupt in spirit, and then you are broken in spirit over it. We must morn our sin. then submitted to Yahshua.

Matt11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

James 1:21 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

And receive(= welcome with humility) with meekness the grafted word which can save

Let the word of Yahweh be your bridle and bit.

Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness (meekness), self-control. Against such there is no law.

I have yielded myself to Yahshua, and now having done so, being a peacemaker makes sense.

Matt 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God
. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

First we to become Poor in spirit. To see our spiritual need, to see just how bankrupt spiritually we really are before a Holy Elohim. When we do that, then we would become as those who mourn- really repent from their sins and turn from them.

This is how we become Meek – those who are yielded to Yahweh. Once we are broken and become poor in spirit and mourn our bankrupt spirituality, then after we have yielded ourselves to the King of Kings, we then become hungry and thirst after the true word of Yahweh. We hunger and thirst- earnestly seeking out the righteousness of Yahweh in His word.

Yahweh is then gracious and forgives us our past sins. This is called mercy- when man is forgiven his debts- those forgiven their sins. AS we study and learn Yahweh’s word we then develop and become Pure in Heart-1 Peter 1: 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

So, What is a peace maker? This is the next thing mentioned in the beatitudes. I was surprised at the answer. Because it builds on all those things we have just covered. You can not be a peacemaker unless you have the preceding attitudes, as told in the beatitudes (beautiful attitude) , already at work in your life.
Peace is the result of Righteousness. James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Isaiah 32:17 – The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
Isaiah 48:18 – Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

The ten commandments are Righteousness.

Psalm 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 119: 172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.

Listen to what James says in light of those things already spoken of. Once we have been broken of our contrite spirit and seen our moral bankruptcy and repented and then yielded to our Master. Once we have stopped rebelling against the Ten Commandments, then we will begin to attain righteousness, if, we do what the law says to do. Then and only then will we have peace. Jame 4:1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

The wars and fighting come from not obeying the ten commandments. James tell us how to overcome this by humbling ourselves, Yielding or Meeking ourselves. Then also by seeing how immoral we are and to morn over this.

In the world today, a truce is a time to reload the ammunition. It is not peace. We have no peace. We war with in our selves. We are at war with Yahweh! Mankind is. People are at war with themselves. They are in turmoil inside.

Blessed are the peace maker. Peace is not appeasement. You are not honor bound to get along with every one.
Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
enmity
Main Entry: en·mi·ty
Pronunciation: ‘en-m&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Etymology: Middle English enmite, from Anglo-French enemité, enemisté, from enemi enemy
: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
synonyms Enmity, Hostility, Antipathy, Antagonism, Animosity, Rancor, Animus, mean deep-seated dislike or ill will.
ENMITY suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed .
HOSTILITY suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression . ANTIPATHY and ANTAGONISM imply a natural or logical basis for one’s hatred or dislike, ANTIPATHY suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and ANTAGONISM suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility . ANIMOSITY suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility .
RANCOR is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong .
ANIMUS adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice .

PEACE
Main Entry: 1peace
Pronunciation: ‘pEs
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English pees, from Anglo-French pes, pees, from Latin pac-, pax; akin to Latin pacisci to agree — more at Pact

1 : a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
2 : freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3 : harmony in personal relations
4 a : a state or period of mutual concord between governments b : a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
5 — used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell
– at peace : in a state of concord or tranquillity

We read in Romans 12:18. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Yet this seems to be in complete contradiction to Matt 10:32.Yahshua came not to give peace but to give a sword. The prince of Peace come to bring a sword and NOT PEACE! What does this mean?
Matthew 10: 32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

To learn what Yahshua is saying we go to Ephesians 6: 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saint’”

19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak
Add to this what Timothy was told in 2 Timothy 2: 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hebrew 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

When we stand for the righteousness of Yahweh we use a sword. That is the word of the scriptures to rightfully divide the truth from falsehood. This is not peaceful. It is an act of war. Dividing families and brethren. Cutting right to the bone. When ever we seek to obey our Father, when we Yield to His authority and seek to follow His Laws, then in this world we will be at war with those who will not and do not obey Him.

My former congregation wanted me to be peaceful by appeasement. Appeasement is not peace. Neville Chamberlain was declaring peace in his time with Hitler. It was not peace, it was appeasement, and war soon followed.

If we stand for Yahweh then we will have enemies. Yahshua was crucified because he had made enemies with men. Peace is not the absence of war. The cold war was not peaceful.

Peace is righteousness. It is always together with Peace. Righteousness and peace go together. You can not have one with out the other
Peace = Shalom =Irene Greek -Positive word
Peace is Not truce making
Peace is Not the absence of war
Peace is the Right relationship between you and the Father and with self and with other people.
It is the Fruit of living righteous, of keeping all the ten commandments.
Peace is being righteous
Peace and righteousness are always linked together.

Without righteousness (purity) there is no peace. James 3: 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

First Purity then Peace

Psalm 85: 8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

There is a love affair between righteousness and peace

Heb 7 :1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
First Righteousness then Peace. What is Peace- a right relationship with Yahweh .

Adversary of Peace- War is = sin = lack of peace

The problem is sin. Sin is lawlessness. Breaking of the ten commandments.

Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace says Yahweh for the wicked and again in Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace says Yahweh for the wicked

Jer 8: 4 “Moreover you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Will they fall and not rise? Will one turn away and not return? 5 Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return. 6 I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle. 7 “Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord. 8 “How can you say, ‘We are wise, And the law of the Lord is with us’? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood. 9 The wise men are ashamed, They are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord; So what wisdom do they have? 10 Therefore I will give their wives to others, And their fields to those who will inherit them; Because from the least even to the greatest Everyone is given to covetousness; From the prophet even to the priest Everyone deals falsely. 11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace. 12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; In the time of their punishment They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.

There can be no peace without the prince of peace. Peace goes with righteousness. With out righteousness is sin. These who say peace, peace when there is no peace are still living in sin.

Matt 10: 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

The Prince of Peace said this ‘ He is bringing a sword!’ Not bringing good and evil but to separate truth and error. Sin and Righteousness. Light and darkness. When Yahweh’s standard is set then we will have peace. Peace can never come when sin remains or appeasement. No truce with sin.
Attainment of Peace- planned by the Father. Jer 29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Judges 6:24 So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it YHWH Shalom (The-Lord-Is-Peace). To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites
Wickedness was not appeased at the crucifixion. But was paid for through the blood. Righteousness was gained for peace. Gal 5 :22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

John 14 27 25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Agents of Peace- The Makers of Peace- Are those who by the written word of Scriptures divide truth from errors, myths and out right lies We will never have peace until we do something about the problem of Sin. Stand in the Gap and do something. Stand up for the truth!

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