Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Fri, 18 November 2022

From the Lord of Peace (2)

Observation:

How is Paul’s prayer for peace related to the Thessalonians’ situations in
2 Thessalonians 2:4-5 and 3:1-2?

Deeper Reflection
THE “PEACE” IN VERSE 16 REFERS TO RELATIONAL HARMONY in the immediate context, and broadly includes inner steadiness in the larger context of the letter. Some commentators understand the “peace” in terms of only the former. But the peace that Paul prays that the Lord of peace will give is “at all times in every way”. “The phrase [at all times in all ways] implies a multitude of troubles, and the letter has revealed a persecuted, doctrinally confused and socially troubled church. Thus the plea for peace should be understood as broadly as this phrase and the larger context demand.”36The Thessalonians were suffering for the kingdom of God, and enduring persecutions and afflictions with steadfastness and faith in God (2 Thess 1:4-5). Surely, they needed peace from the Lord to strengthen their hearts. False teachings were going around that “the day of the Lord has come”, which caused these young believers to be “quickly shaken from your composure” and “disturbed” (2 Thess 2:1-2). How they needed the divine peace to stabilise their hearts.The Lord gives us peace “at all times” and “in every circumstance” (NASB). But having inner peace does not necessarily mean an absence of disturbing feelings. “Biblical peace is not often a general tranquillity but rather a rightness at the centre in the midst of much turmoil.”37 Jesus was “very distressed and troubled” in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk 14:33) – but in the most intimate relationship and communion with God. Where is the peace of God in Jesus here? The peace is “Thy will be done” (Matt 26:42).
36 Jeffrey A. D. Weimar, 1-2 Thessalonians, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Baker Academic, 2014), 634 – citing D. M. Martin 37 Dale Ralph Davis, 1 Samuel, Focus on the Bible (Christian Focus, 2000), 213
Application:

What do I do when I go through times of trouble?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To be empowered by God’s peace in their trials
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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