Peace In The Midst Of Troubled Times. Luke 2:25-35

Last Sunday morning, the first Sunday of Advent, we looked at the Advent of Hope. I was privileged to have Caleb Harkness here with me to light the first Advent candle. This morning I would like to have _______________ join me to light the second Advent candle. As he/she is coming forward, let me remind us all what we looked at last week. In looking at the Biblical definition of Hope, it was highlighted that for the believer, hope is not some wishful thinking that something may or may not happen, but a confident expectation based on the sovereign, all powerful God, Whom we can trust completely to fulfill all that He has promised.

Well it is that Hope, that confident expectation, that leads us to this second Sunday of Advent. The Advent of Peace. _______________, will you assist me in lighting the Advent candle this morning?

As we begin this morning, lease turn in your copies of God’s Word to Luke 2:25-25. We will be reading these verses shortly, so please have them marked and ready for that time.

But before we begin, let’s go before the throne of our heavenly Father in prayer:

Heavenly Father, on this 2nd Sunday of Advent, we come to you as our Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of peace, our Lord Who doesn’t just bring peace but our Lord Who is peace. And peace for us goes beyond living a life without conflict, turmoil or trouble. For us it means the presence of God even in the midst of conflict, turmoil or trouble. You are Immanuel, God with us, and the fact that You are with us, can bring us peace no matter what is taking place around us, because we know You are in control. We know You have a plan, and based on the declaration of Your Word, Your plan for us is perfect. We rest on that perfect plan because we trust You. May that trust bring us peace that passes all understanding.

This we pray in the Name of Jesus our Immanuel, Amen

Would you please stand, in honor of the reading of God’s Word?

Luke 2:25–35 (ESV)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”

33 And His father and His mother marveled at what was said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of His Word, please be seated.

The Cambridge dictionary defines “peace” as:

the state of not being interrupted or annoyed by worry, problems, noise, or unwanted actions;

or: freedom from war and violence, especially when people live and work together happily without disagreements.

Based on the Cambridge dictionary, peace is virtually unattainable! For to a large degree, we will never live a life without interruption, annoyances, worry, problems, noise or unwanted actions, and the thought of living and working together happily without disagreements is like looking for a needle in a Texas sized hay stack.

However, according to the Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words,

Peace means many things to different people. To those in war, peace means the cessation of battle and enmity. To those living hectic lives, peace means calm. To those with troubled minds, peace means inner tranquillity. Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained (Peace)

Peace? In The Little Town.

One of the more popular Christmas carols is O Little Town Of Bethlehem, in fact we will sing this beloved Christmas carol next Sunday morning. The song begins; “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie”. And while late that evening the majority of the little town may have been peaceful & still, it was only due to the time of the day. Outside of that, still could hardly be a fitting description for Bethlehem, and almost any other town in the Roman Empire. You see the greed of the Roman ruler, Caesar Augustus brought about a census to determine a tax base. This census brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a small town that appeared to be overcrowded, due to the census. So, while it was peaceful that night, the rest of those days would have been anything but tranquil.

It was also not tranquil for Joseph and Mary. Based on what we read in Luke 2:4, Joseph & Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register because it was the city of their heritage, and there, in the city of their heritage they were unable to find lodging, despite Mary being in the last days of her pregnancy. That, in some ways, really adds to the potential turmoil of what they were going through at the time. Considering Bethlehem as the city of their heritage, leads me, and many others, to believe that they both likely had relatives living in the area. Yet here they are, in the city of their heritage, with no place to stay. One commentator writes;

Mary was not welcomed into anyone’s guest room because of the unusual circumstances of her pregnancy. From their perspective Mary was bearing an illegitimate child; inviting her into their home could be interpreted as an approval of her actions.

(Benjamin A. Foreman, “Luke’s Birth Narrative,” in Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels, ed. Barry J. Beitzel and Kristopher A. Lyle, Lexham Geographic Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016), 14.)

John MacArthur Writes:

When Jesus came into the world, He was born in the most comfortless conditions—a smelly, filthy, chilly shelter, surrounded by noisy animals. It was a fitting entrance for the “Son of Man [who had] nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58); the One Who “was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” (John 1:10); for the One “Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and [was]made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6–7); for the “Son of Man [who] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28) by bearing “our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). His humble birth was appropriate for Jesus, Who came to die as a substitute in the place of lowly, humble, wretched sinners (John F. MacArthur Jr., Luke 1–5, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009), 150.)

So, it appears that the “little town of Bethlehem” was anything but peaceful and still. However, while Joseph and Mary may not have been living in tranquil times or circumstances, that does not mean they were not at peace.

In the New Testament, the most common Greek word for peace is the word “eirene”, which describes “a … calm and a relationship of goodwill between God and humans....it describes a social reality, a state of reconciliation and wholeness among a group of people.” For the believer, that wholeness is the result of having peace with God the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, whatever it may be.

Scripture indicates that despite the surrounding circumstances, there was peace for this young family that night.

Peaceful Birth In A Noisy Stall. Lk. 2:14

We looked at Luke 2:14 last week, but I want to look at it again this week, but from a different perspective. Look in your copies of God’s Word at vs. 14:

Luke 2:14 (ESV)

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

As we all know, in this verse a multitude of Angels is singing to lowly shepherds, of the One Who had come to shepherd His people. Take a minute and look at this verse, who is it that the angels declare are at peace with God? (those with whom He is pleased). What would you say was the condition of Joseph and Mary that night?

It would be hard not to imagine that these two, who had been completely obedient to God despite their obedience throwing their entire existence into great turmoil, being anything but those with whom God was pleased.

Yes, I would say that despite their turmoil, despite them being 90 miles from home, spending the night and Mary giving birth in an animal stall and placing her newborn Son into a feeding trough, despite the judgmental stares, and folks talking behind their backs. Despite all of the circumstances that surrounded them, they were at peace because they were at the very center of the will of God.

Now let’s take a few minutes and look at another character from Luke chapter 2.

Simeon-waiting for the consolation of Israel. Luke 2:25

As far as we know, Simeon had no knowledge that God had broken the 400 years of silence 6 months earlier. What he did know, was that the Nation he loved had turned its back on God. As a result, while they were in their own land, their own land was owned by the hated Roman Empire. A pagan empire that held the Nation of Israel under it’s powerful thumb. Exacting huge taxes on the people. And worshipped false gods.

Everywhere Simeon looked he saw turmoil and hate. He was one of the few in the entire Nation of Israel who still loved and worshipped God, which broke his heart. But he remained faithful, despite the unfaithfulness of his people.

One day, we are not sure when, but one day God spoke to his heart and let him know that before he tasted death, he would see the Messiah face to Face. He held on to that promise like a priceless treasure.

Then the day came, we see from verse 27 that the Spirit of God directed him to the temple that day. In my mind, I picture Simeon picking out the very best set of clothing to wear as he prepared to head to the temple. If Simeon is anything like me, he would have purchased those clothes after God revealed to him he would see the Messiah. Now, I could be wrong, but I am guessing that he was expecting to meet a powerful leader, strong, handsome & mighty. He really wasn’t sure, but he knew God would let him know at the perfect time. Perhaps his gaze went to and fro as he entered the temple, like Samuel before the son’s of Jesse, looking for the perfect man. When up to him walks a young couple, Baby in the mothers arm, clearly very poor because all they brought for the sacrifice was 2 turtledoves. And the Spirit of the Most High God spoke to his heart, revealing the Baby was the long awaited for Messiah.

His heart must have lept for joy as Mary handed the Baby to him. There, in his arms, he held the Messiah. Could you not reach down and touch the face? Then, Baby Jesus in his arms, I imagine he looked deeply into His eyes and said;

Luke 2:29–32 (ESV)

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”

Despite the trouble circumstances of all that surrounded Simeon at that point in history, he was at peace, because he was at the center of the will of God.

*Pause for a moment before moving on*

If you haven’t already noticed, I love studying the Names of God. In fact, I use many of the Names of God as a part of my prayer time almost every single day. Well, when I think of this second week of Advent, my mind naturally gravitates to one of the Names of God.

Jehovah Shalom. The LORD of Peace. Judges 6:24

As you travel through the pages of Scripture, we frequently see God revealing one of His character traits or attributes to someone, and then giving that individual a new Name for Himself that matches the character trait or attribute.

However, in this instance, Gideon gives God a new Name, based on something he learned about God.

As the Biblical account unfolds, the Nation of Israel has, once again, turned their collective backs on God. As a result God had delivered them into the hands of the Midianites. The Midianites were a nomadic people who roamed that area, huge army intact. The Israelites largely made their living off of agriculture. Each year, at the time of the harvest, the nomadic Midianites would descend on the Nation of Israel and strip their crops clean. As a result, in Judges chapter 6 we find Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress, due to his fear of the Midianites. An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and lets him know that he would not only be leading the Nation of Israel in a spiritual revival, but he would also be leading them in victory over the Midianites.

In order for Gideon to accomplish this, the first thing he has to do is go completely against his own people and tear down some of their idols, and use the wood those idols were made from to burn a sacrifice to the God of Israel. Then God would move through him to defeat the Midianites.

Filled with fear, Gideon seeks assurance from God and when he receives it, he then builds and altar to God and gives God the Name Jehovah Shalom, the LORD of Peace.

The reason I am having us look at this Biblical account from Judges chapter 6, is this; nothing had changed in Gideon’s circumstances. So far he had not yet torn down the idols. By the next morning, because that night he did obediently tear down the idols, his own people wanted him dead. Within a few days the huge army of the Midianites wanted him dead, yet God gave him peace.

Gideon, like Simeon, Joseph and Mary in Luke chapter 2, was learning that peace with God was not dependent upon outward circumstances. Gideon was staring in the face of a war he had no chance of winning. At best, he could muster an army of 32,000 to do battle against an army of somewhere between 136,000-150,000. Before God was done, his army would be 300 and have no weapons! Yet God gave him peace. And in the end, God also gave him victory!

Gideon was at peace, because he was at the center of the will of God.

Hundreds of years before Paul wrote the Book of Philippians, Gideon was already living out Philippians 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

..do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Now, to be honest with you, there were still a few times before Gideon watched God deliver he and the Nation of Israel, that he had anxious thoughts, but each time God lovingly reassured him that He was still sovereign and in control.

As we close out this morning, I want to direct us to what is necessary to live a life of perfect peace. Because, like Joseph & Mary, like Simeon, like Gideon, we live in troubled times.

The Key To Living A Life of Perfect Peace. Is. 26:3-4

The key comes down to focus.

In 1993, early in our days in the Youth Ministry in Scottsbluff NE, Pam and I purchased this camera. Back then, it was a top of the line camera. Now-a-days my phone can take better pictures. However, one of the cool features to this camera is it is equipped with an “autofocus” feature. Simply put, the camera had the ability to intuitively determine to object of the picture and automatically adjust the focus so that the object is the clearest part of the picture. In most instances it works very well. In most instances! Right off of the deck at our home in Scottsbluff, we had a beautiful cotton-less cottonwood tree and every year we had a family of owls make their home in the tree. It was really quite cool looking up and seeing the family of owls. They always would sit on the exact same branch. I decided to take a picture. The problem was, the autofocus lens would focus on the branches and leaves around the owls instead of the owls. In order to correct this, I needed to turn the dial on the lens from the autofocus feature to the manual focus. Then I was able to adjust to focus to the owls.

In many ways the autofocus on this camera is a good.... well a good picture of our lives and what it takes to have peace despite all that may be happening around us. Our human nature tends to automatically focus on all that surrounds us, and when that which surrounds us is not good. When we are surrounded by trouble, heartache, trials, tragedies, loss, a divided political landscape, rebellion, a frightening medical diagnosis's… you can easily fill in your own blank. Our natural tendency is to focus on those things, and when we focus on those things, any hope we have a true peace is out the door.

In order to have true peace, we have to manually turn the dial on the focus of our minds off of all that surrounds us and onto Jehovah Shalom, the God of Peace.

Isaiah put it best when he wrote, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: Isaiah 26:3-4

Isaiah 26:3–4 (ESV)

You (God) keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah was surrounded by turmoil. During his time as a prophet, he watched the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel and saw the southern kingdom of Judah heading in the same spiritual direction as the northern kingdom, which is what led to their destruction. The divided nation he loved was crumbling around him. Isaiah was learning to take his focus off of the calamities of his world and on to the God of creation.

When he writes “whose mind is stayed on You”, the Hebrew Word for “stayed” means “to lean or lay upon, to rest on, to support, sustain, uphold”. The picture is of being in a position where you have no hope of sustaining yourself, the only way you can survive is to rest on something more secure than yourself. The word “trust” conveys “confidence, boldness, security”. Then Isaiah identifies Who it is we are to lean on, to rest on, to place our confidence in. To do so, he brings in to play 2 more Names of God.

Focus on El Olam- The Everlasting God.

El Tsur- God My Rock.

Do you see the power of combining those 2 Names. The God Whom we lean on for support, for sustenance, to uphold us, the One Whom we can confidently and boldly lean on is an everlasting Rock!

So, as we continue through this Christmas season, and the new year that lays before us. We need to turn the dial on the lens of our life off of what we automatically focus on, and manually adjust our focus on:

Jehovah Shalom, The God of Peace, knowing He is El Olam, the Everlasting God, Who will always be there for us and Who is El Tsur, Our Rock.

Peace In The Midst Of Troubled Times.

Let’s Close our time in prayer.