Cultivating Peace
Notes
Transcript
Warren Brosi
June 1, 2025
Dominant Thought: We either plow evil or plant peace.
Objectives:
I want my listeners to understand the meaning of peace.
I want my listeners to feel gratitude to Jesu for bringing peace.
I want my listeners to take steps toward peace this week.
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.” (Proverbs 12.20)
His name means “Deceiver.” He was a twin. When he was born, he was grabbing the heal of his older brother. The older brother was named Esau. The younger brother, Jacob, Deceiver, one who grabs the heal.
Later, Jacob and Esau’s father, Isaac, was nearing death. In Genesis 27, Isaac who was old and his eyes were failing called for his older son Esau. He told him to go hunt and prepare my favorite food and I will give you a blessing before I die (Genesis 27.4).
Isaac’s wife, Rebecca, overheard the conversation. She told her son, Jacob, “Go get two goats. I’ll prepare your dad’s favorite food. You take it into him so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.” Jacob is a little concerned about this plan. He tells his mom, “If Dad finds out I’m tricking him, he’ll curse me instead of bless me.” Rebecca said, “My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say” (Genesis 27.13).
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil...”
Jacob obeys his mother and gets the goats she asked. His mom, then raids Esau’s closet and gets Esau’s best clothes. She told Jacob to put them on. One other problem. Esau was a hairy man. Jacob is a smooth skinned man. Mom covered Jacobs hands and neck with goatskins. She finished the tasty food and bread and send Jacob into his father.
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil...”
“My father.” “Yes, my son, Who is it?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing” (Genesis 27.19).
“Back so soon, Esau?” “The LORD your God gave me success,” Jacob answered.
“Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” Jacob comes. The moment of truth. Isaac touched Jacob. “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau” (Genesis 27.22). “Are you really my son Esau?” “I am.”
“Bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing” (Genesis 27.25). “Come here, my son, and kiss me.” Jacob went to his father and kissed him. “When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him” (Genesis 27.27).
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil...”
Later, Esau returned from the hunt and prepared the tasty food just the way his dad liked it. “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing” (Genesis 27.31). Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
Isaac trembled violently. “Who then came and brought me the first meal? I ate it before you came and blessed him and indeed he will be blessed” (Genesis 27.33). Esau burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!” Isaac said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing” (Genesis 27.35).
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil...”
Esau held a grudge against his brother. Twice Jacob had tricked Esau. He took his birthright and his blessing. Esau planned to kill his brother after they had mourned for their father.
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil...”
Now I still can figure out why God chose Jacob to be the father of the twelve tribes and the people of Israel. It doesn’t make sense that the trickster gets the blessing.
But the writer of Proverbs shares the wisdom that is generally true.
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy” (Proverbs 12.20).
Deceit or lies were in the hearts of Rebecca and Jacob that day. The tricked and lied to the patriarch of the family. They stole a blessing from a son and a brother. The family experienced a fracture that day.
Today, we focus our attention on peace. Those who promote peace. However before we promote peace, we need to know what contributes against peace. In Proverbs 12.20, we are warned against deceit in the heart of those who plot evil.
Again, as we encounter these themes of love, joy, and peace, we encounter our hearts. Jesus said “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12.34).
The phrase, “those who plot evil” from Proverbs 12.20 carries the idea of plowing. “Those who plow evil.” It is used to describe people working with tools to inscribe or engrave on metal. It is a clear intentional path.
The word of for evil is the general word in the Hebrew Bible for “bad.”
Deceit is in the heart of those who plow bad things.
As we continue look at the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul warns the church in Galatia against the works of the flesh. Before he shares the fruit of the Spirit, Paul describes the works of the flesh. Several of those works, describe those who plow evil.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
The second half of that list describes the enemies of peace: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, and factions.
One of the common themes I hear people ask prayer for is for peace. They say, “The world is a mess.” Pray for peace.
We live in divisive and angry times.
Paul says it clearly in Galatians 5:21 “...I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
We live in a world of two competing kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. God’s kingdom is focused on light, and love and truth. The kingdom of darkness deals in anger, hatred, division, and death.
Philip Kenneson, teacher at Milligan College in Tennessee, observes that we live in a fragmented culture. We live in divided times. People have public lives and private lives. People can have different boxes and faces for different parts of their lives. You can have your church life, your work life, your family life. In some ways, you can have different lives or personalities depending on the situation or the group you currently joined.
Kenneson asks, “How can Christians bear the fruit of peace in a culture that seems to specialize in cultivating fragmentations?” (Philip D. Kenneson, Life on the Vine—Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community, p. 82)
Part of the answer is the second part of Proverbs 12.20, “but those who promote peace have joy.” The English Standard Version reads, “those who plan peace have joy.” Are you planning and promoting peace? The word behind planning or promoting is used many times in the Hebrew Bible for counselors or advisors. Many times, these counselors were royal counselors who advised the king. Sometimes these counselors were good. Other times, they did not give good advice. Those who counsel peace have joy.
We also need a better understanding of peace. Most of the time we define peace as “the absence of conflict.” That is a true definition, but it is incomplete. It is describing peace by what’s not there—conflict. So, what is present when you have peace?
Peace is best described as wholeness, healed, complete, or even salvation.
Three other proverbs describe peace.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
These proverbs suggest that peace generally accompanies: long life, prosperity, pleasant way, good relationships with enemies.
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.” (Proverbs 12.20)
Those who counsel peace have joy.
The prophet Isaiah ties the themes of counsel, peace and joy together speaking of the coming of Jesus.
Isaiah 9.2-7 describe the people walking in darkness have seen a great light. God has increased their joy, the rejoice before God as people rejoice at harvest, as warrior rejoice when dividing the plunder. Then we hear these memorable words, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end...” (Isaiah 9.6-7).
Jesus the Wonderful Counselor. Some understand these titles to read, “He who is planning something wonderful” (A. Wolters, New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, 2:491, quoting H. Wildberger).
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.” (Proverbs 12.20)
Later in Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.””
It’s a beautiful sight to see the messenger who brings good news of peace about God’s reign.
Then, we read in Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Jesus would take our sins and punishment to bring us peace. We are healed by His wounds. We are made whole by His suffering. That’s peace.
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.” (Proverbs 12.20)
And finally in Isaiah 53:9 “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”
There was no deceit in the mouth of Jesus.
So, how will we pursue peace this week?
Here are three sets of choices to consider.
Will we choose...
1-The group over self? When people start using the language of rights to gain what they think they deserve, then peace becomes less likely. When we can think of the benefits of the group over your self, the peace comes closer.
Jesus laid down His life. He laid down His rights to give His life for us. Listen to how Paul opens His letter to the church in Galatia.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Will we choose...
2-Wholeness over division?
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Will we...
3-Kindness over violence?
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5.9). They are promoting peace, counseling peace, wanting peace, and taking action.
On Spring Break 2022, our family traveled through Little Rock, Arkansas. Grace suggested we visit the National Historic Site of Central High School in Little Rock. In 1957, the Little Rock 9 captured the nation’s attention as schools wrestled with integration. In 1957, nine African American students sought the opportunity to attend the largest high school in the country, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Prompted by mob violence, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to ensure these nine students had the opportunity to attend Central High School.
One of the exhibits at the site, highlighted one of the ways peaceful demonstrations challenged racial injustice. The display showed pictures of what was called “Sit Ins.” African American students and later white students would sit at lunch counters of luncheonettes who denied service because of race. After service was denied, they refused to leave. I saw one picture of people pouring ketchup, other condiments on those who are were seated. What captured my attention was the expectations of those who participated in the sit ins.
One of the early organizers was James Lawson, a theology student from Vanderbilt who came up with the following rules: “Do show yourself friendly on the counter at all times. Do sit straight and always face the counter. Do not strike back or curse if attacked. Do not laugh out. Do not hold conversations. Do not block entrances.” (“Sit in Movement,” www.african-american-civil-rights.org)
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.” (Proverbs 12.20)
We either plow evil or plant peace.
