Immanuel: Our Prince of Peace

Whenever I hear or see the Hebrew word for peace, "shalom," I can't help but think of that day I first heard the album that defined my teenage years. I was at my friend Pat's home and we were preparing to play a game of "Russian Campaign." He was excited about new album he had just picked up and placed it on the turn table. As the album played, I couldn't believe it, every single track was awesome! The album was entitled "Boston" by the group with the same name. The song I think about every time I see or hear the Hebrew word "Shalom" is the second track on that album, "Peace of Mind." The refrain is playing in my head right now.

I understand about indecision

But I don't care if I get behind

People livin' in competition

All I want is to have my peace of mind, yeah, whoa

This perfectly conveys the meaning of "Shalom". When we read the English translation of this word we read "peace." The English word "peace" has a wide range of meaning in the English language, but we almost think exclusively of the cessation of conflict when we read or hear the word "peace." "Shalom" means this, but so much more. The basic meaning of "Shalom" is to be whole or complete. For example, in the book of Leviticus, God promises to give Isreal "Shalom" if they are obedient.

Leviticus 26:3–6 ESV

“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.

Did you notice that this promise contained much more than just a cessation from conflict? Let me give you another example: to "die in peace" is biblically understood as having lived a fulfilled life, to have achieved all God planned for you. When the righteous king Josiah learned that Judah was under God's wrath because of their sin, God gave this reassuring word to Josiah.

2 Kings 22:20 ESV

Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’ ” And they brought back word to the king.

One final example, in 1 Samuel, we find the story of a women named Hannah. Her soul was filled with much consternation because she was childless. Eli the high priest observed her silently moving her lips while she prayed and accused her of drunkeness. Listen to Hannah's defence and Eli's response once he learns the truth.

1 Samuel 1:15–17 ESV

But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”

Eli's words, "Go in peace" or "Go in Shalom" was a high priestly blessing. Similar to the benediction was are so familiar with as we end our services on Sunday mornings.

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Just as Boston sang in the 1970's, Hannah longed for "peace of mind." This is what we all long for--the need for Shalom is universal.

In the book of Genesis we have the story of Joseph and his brothers. If there was ever a group of people filled with consternation and in need of Shalom it would have to be this group of brothers. In the words of Boston, they were a "people livin' in competition." Out of jealousy, they had sold their bother into slavery, this of course ruptured their relationship with Joseph. Then they lied to their father that a wild animal had killed Joseph. The biblical text seems to suggest that their father Jacob suspected there was more to the story than they were telling, because from that point on their relationship with their father was filled with mistrust and suspicion. Finally a multi-year famine had struck the land threatening to destroy not only their wealth, but taking their very lives as well.

It is in this situation that Joseph steps up. After being sold into slavery he rises up to become a "Prince of Egypt," but he is more than just a "Prince of Egypt", he becomes a biblical type pointing to the "Prince of Peace."

Joseph is an Old Testament Type of a Prince of Peace

In the dramatic moment that Joseph reveals himself to his brothers who had come to Egypt to purchase grain, this is what Joseph says.

Genesis 45:4–8 ESV

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph was raised up by God to become a minister of reconciliation and peace. He brought reconciliation and peace between himself and his brothers. He brought reconciliation between his brothers and his father. He brought peace to their anxious minds concerning the famine. Most importantly, Joseph brought peace between his brothers and God.

Imagine the guilt these ten men must have lived with! There probably was not a day or night that in their mind and imagination they did not hear their brother's pleading voice or see his frightened and betrayed eyes. They most certainly did not need their imaginations to see the sorry in their father's heart. But worse of all, how could they approach God in prayer? They could pull the wool over their father's eyes, but God's all seeing eyes cannot be deceived!

How they must have longed for Shalom! When you have lived years without it, Shalom is the sweetest gift God can give.

We celebrate Advent and Christmas, because Jesus, Our Immanuel, is the ultimate Prince of Peace we all long for.

Jesus, Our Immanuel, is the Prince of Peace We Long For

Jesus' birth was announced to shepherds by a multitude of angels proclaiming "Shalom" to all humanity.

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

In our Scripture lesson this morning, the apostle Paul proclaims Jesus himself as our Shalom.

Ephesians 2:13–14 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

As God used Joseph's suffering to save His elect people from famine, so is a greater way Jesus' suffering on the cross was the way God saved His elect people from an even greater threat. The threat of sin and death:

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus was able to save us from sin and death, and give us the gift of eternal life by offering himself up for us as a substitutionary sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:5–6 ESV

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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

God inspired Isaiah to use the imagery of a nursing mother and her love for her nursing babe to communicate to us how great the coming Shalom would be that the Prince of Peace would be.

Isaiah 66:10–13 ESV

“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.” For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

For over two thousand years, Jesus, Our Immanuel has been the Prince of Peace. The overflowing abundance of his grace is offered to all who believe. Do you know the comfort of his peace? Repent of all the failed and false promises of peace the world offers and come to Jesus, Our Immanuel.

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