The Lord says for this time:
"No matter how turbulent the world around you may be, or what bad news you hear around you, let not your heart be troubled or afraid. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. This peace inside you cannot be shaken. This peace inside you is My perfect peace. This peace inside you will overcome the chaos or storms outside you. This peace inside you is the peace that surpasses all understanding."
You may ask: "What is 'the peace that surpasses all understanding'? What does this mean?"
Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) says, 'And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'
There are many things in life that we don't know or understand. But one thing for sure is we know we can put our trust in the Lord, no matter what happens around us. Just by knowing that He is with us and in us, gives us such peace and assurance. Just like a child to a good father. The child feels secure just by knowing that the father is around. The same it is with us and our Heavenly Father. When the world look at us, it just boggles their mind how we can have this kind of peace and assurance inside of us. And that's why this peace surpasses all human understanding and minds.
Let's look at the Amplified Version now. 'And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].'
This peace reassures your heart. This peace transcends all human understanding. This peace stands guard over your hearts and your minds.
You see, at one time or another, we hear of bad news, disturbing news, or disheartening news; whether from friends, in the social media, or from the news channels. Or sometimes we face turbulence, storms, or chaotic situations in life. This can happen in the course of your work, in your career, in your business, in the ministry, or in other areas of life.
No matter what happens or what you hear, remember this, that the Lord loves you, and His peace He leaves with you and His peace He gives to you.
Jesus says in John 14:27, "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."
I like the Amplified Version here. "Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]"
See the words 'perfect peace' here? What is this 'perfect peace'?
Let's cross-reference to the book of Isaiah now. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) says, 'You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.'
So, trust in Him. Trust in Him for who He is. He is everlasting. He is our Rock and Salvation. He is the Lord who gives us perfect peace and assurance. And in Him, we have security, no matter what happens in the world around us.
The word 'perfect' here is 'shalem' in Hebrew. It can mean 'full, whole, complete'. This word 'shalem' comes from the word 'shalam', which means 'to be safe, to be complete'.
How about the word 'peace' here? It is 'shalom' in Hebrew. Notice this word has a broad meaning. It can mean 'safety, wellness, wholeness, welfare, health, prosperity, favor'. By the way, this word 'shalom' also comes from the same word 'shalam', meaning 'to be safe, to be complete'.
Therefore, 'perfect peace' in Hebrew is 'shalem shalom'. Both words come from the same word 'shalam'. Double shalam! So, as you put your trust in the Lord and let your mind stayed on the Lord, He will keep you in 'shalem shalom'. And you know what this means? Perfect peace inside of you and outside of you! Spiritually and physically!
Where's the proof?
Look here at Mark 4:35-39. You know that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He is peace of God manifested or demonstrated on this earth. And this peace inside of Him could even calm the storms outside of Him!
'On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on the pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.'
You see here? Peace in the inside of Him emanated out to the outside, and it even calmed the physical storm and the physical waves!
Beloved of God, this same peace of God in Jesus is now inside of you. So, be afraid not and be anxious not, no matter what you see or what you hear outside of you. The Lord is still in control, and the Lord is sovereign. Let Him take over. Let this peace of the Lord rule and reign in your heart and in your mind.
Maybe you have been facing some 'storms' recently. Maybe it's at your workplace. Maybe it's in the ministry. Whatever 'storm' you may be facing at the moment, let the Lord take over, and let the Lord fill you with His 'shalem shalom'. He will know how to turn things around for you. He will know how to make a way where there seems to be no way.
Not just that. You also have this peace and assurance inside of you that He deeply loves you. You are His beloved. In other words, you are deeply loved by the Lord. And you know what? This perfect love of God inside of you casts out fear. That's in 1 John 4:18.
We shall go to Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) 2:1. The king says: I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Song of Songs 2:4. The Shulamite woman says: He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Now, 'banqueting house' here means 'banquet hall', the place where you dine. And 'banner over me' here means 'surrounding me, and in this context, with His love'.
Song of Songs, or Song of Solomon, another name for this book, is a beautiful book of love between a man and a woman, written by King Solomon himself. It is a 'picture' of God's love for you, His beloved. Jesus is the Lover of your soul. Jesus is the Lover of who you are.
There's a reason why this book Song of Songs is included in the Scripture.
There are three main entities in this book:
1. The King (speaks of God Himself).
2. The bride, which is the Shulamite woman (speaks of you, His beloved).
3. The chorus, which are the daughters of Jerusalem (speaks of 'the whole citizen of heaven').
So, that's a quick background to this book Song of Songs.
But today, I want to point you to these expressions 'Rose of Sharon' and 'Lily of the valleys'.
In our context here, the Lord says He is the Rose of Sharon and He is the Lily of the valleys. What do all these mean? This is what we are going to study today.
Let's begin with Rose of Sharon.
'Rose' speaks of 'sweetness, sweet-smelling, fragrance'.
'Sharon' is condensed from this Hebrew word 'yashar'. See the part 'shar' here? Now, 'yashar' here means 'to make straight, to make a way, to make right, to make pleasant, to make prosperous'.
So, Rose of Sharon speaks of Jesus is the Sweetness that makes straight your way, that makes right your way, that makes pleasant your way, that makes prosperous your way! And that's who the Lord is to you!
Geographically speaking, the place Sharon is a land bountiful and beautiful; and the inhabitants of this land those days (the Sharonites) were worshippers of the Lord who 'make straight the way'.
Let's look at Lily of the valleys now.
'Lily' here is 'shuwshan' in Hebrew. Like the flower, it means 'to be bright, to be cheerful, to be joyful'. This speaks of the brightness of the Lord's shining. This speaks of the joy of the Lord. And you know that the joy of the Lord is your strength. In other words, when you have the joy of the Lord in you, you have the strength to look ahead in your life, to move on in your life, and to move forward in your life.
How about the word 'valleys' here? Notice the word 'valleys' here is plural. It means more than one valley. This speaks of 'depression, deep trouble'. Different kinds of troubles in this world.
So, if you combine 'lily' and 'valleys', 'Lily of the valleys', this speaks of Jesus is the Lord who brings joy in a time of sorrow, and He who turns your sorrow into joy. Not just that. He sets you free from your depression. He rescues you from whatever deep trouble that you have. He pulls you out from your pit. He sets you free from your bondage. He makes a way of escape for you. He makes a way where there seems to be no way. He is your Lily of the valleys!
With this assurance of the Lord in the Scripture, there's nothing that you should be afraid of, knowing that this peace and this love of the Lord lives in you. This peace calms the storm, and this love casts out every fear!
Let us pray:
"O Lord God, we thank You for Your words of assurance to us in a time like this. We receive Your perfect peace that calms every 'storm'. We receive Your perfect love that casts out every fear. Your Scripture says Your peace You leave with us, and Your peace You give to us. The peace that we cannot find anywhere else in the world. Your Scripture also says Your love casts out fear, and Your love for us fails not. We receive all these with gladness and thanksgiving in our hearts. Indeed, You are the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys in our lives. You yearn to fellowship with us and Your banner over us is love. We want to come into Your presence right now. In Your presence, we are filled with Your love and Your perfect peace. In Your presence, we are surrounded by Your love and Your perfect peace. In Jesus' name. Amen."
