Seek Truth, Speak Truth
Peacemakers Seek Truth and Speak Truth
When considering the peacemakers of the Bible, I kept returning to Ezra and Nehemiah and the opposition that they faced in rebuilding Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah were doing the work of implementing God’s restoration plan. They were sent to restore; they had a mission of peacemaking but that was constantly interrupted. But I have to admit that I couldn’t remember much of what they did to carry on.
Seek Truth
Ezra and Nehemiah both had to remind people to seek the truth of the situation in order to settle issues and problems that came up. Ezra and the efforts to rebuild were frustrated first by neighbors, then by a formal letter from the king who was told to search for specific information about the Israelites, only the past and not the current relevant details. How often do we stop looking for information about an issue once we find the first negative news? I’m sure I’ve done it. Instead, the Israelites encouraged the king to continue looking for the information about the rebuilding plans. In finding the information about the temple plans, the king found even more. Though the leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel, (Ezra 4) did not mention the funding that King Cyrus has dedicated, this information was also found. And King Darius decreed that all the funding necessary for the project of restoration would be covered by his government. It was in seeking all of the information and not just what is convenient to our side that settles issues. And it is in continuing to seek the full picture and not giving up at the first discouragement that we settle issues.
Speak Truth
Nehemiah was battered on all sides from the beginning of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 2:19, upon the declaration of the intent to rebuild, they were mocked. And Nehemiah responded with God’s truth and the truth of the situation, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it,’ (2:20). In Neh 4, the harassment continues again and again, with Nehemiah repeatedly calling out to God and reminding the people to remember that ‘God will fight for us,’ (Neh 4:20). The scheming continued in Nehemiah 6, even bribing insiders and Jewish leaders, but he stood firm in God’s truth. Nehemiah 6:19 even says that upon completion the intimidation tactics continued. When they completed the rebuilding, the whole gathering read from the Book of the Law of Moses and they worshiped and feasted (chapter 8), they repented and praised God (Chapter 9). The people of God sought the truth of God in the book and then declared the truth. It is in truth that we find peace. As peacemakers, it is as in John 8:31-32, ‘So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The rebuilders, the peacemakers of their time, sought the word and thus the truth. It set them free from the worry of their harassing enemies and set God in His right place, the object of worship.
There are many more stories of peacemakers in the Bible. Are there any that you wanted to see discussed, but weren’t? Please share in the comments below or contact us with your thoughts. Thanks. Have a peaceful day!
