Peace in the Scriptures
Rest for the Soul
YHWH says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction; it is to be found close by. See with your own eyes that I have labored little and found for myself much rest.
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I am YHWH your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you walk upright.
I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and fed him.
... to whom he said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to the weary,” and, “This is the refreshing;” yet they would not hear.
See also my study on the Burden of YHWH and rest.
Be Still
YHWH will fight for you, and you shall be still.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.
He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven.
You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.
He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
To calm the raging sea is something the Psalms say only YHWH does. Yeshua simply speaks to it.
The Peace He Keeps
You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, YHWH alone, make me live in safety.
YHWH, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.
YHWH, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those who have their young.
YHWH bless you, and keep you. YHWH make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. YHWH lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.
Quietness and Confidence
For thus said the Lord YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, “You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.”
The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
My Soul Waits in Silence
My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of YHWH.
Eternal Peace for the Elect
For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end.
The Messiah's title is Sar-Shalom, “Prince of Peace.”
But to the elect there shall be light and joy and peace, and they shall inherit the earth. […] And their lives shall be increased in peace, and the years of their joy shall be multiplied, in eternal gladness and peace, all the days of their life.
Peace and the Law
The same threads run through every verse below: keeping the law brings peace, and with peace, life and joy.
Mercy and Truth
Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Righteousness (living rightly by the law) and peace are inseparable.
The Love of God
Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love. ... I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Life and Peace
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
If you walk in my statutes and keep my commandments, and do them ... I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might be reverent toward me ... The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.
See also my study on God’s law.
No Peace for the Lawless
But ye have not been steadfast, nor done the commandments of the Lord, but ye have turned away and spoken proud and hard words with your impure mouths against His greatness. Oh, ye hard-hearted, ye shall find no peace.
The same passage that promises the elect “eternal gladness and peace” (5:7–9, above) first warns the hard-hearted who forsake the commandments: they will find no peace.
Oh that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can’t rest, and its waters cast up mire and mud. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
They have healed the hurt of my people slightly, saying, “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace.
“Peace, peace” here is the same doubled Hebrew (shalom shalom) as the “perfect peace” of Isaiah 26:3 above. One is the peace YHWH keeps, the other the lie that all is well when it is not.