I Come In Peace

1 Samuel 16:4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The Elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said “Do you come peaceably?”


I enjoy watching the old movies. The artistry of some of those classic westerns filmed in black and white is great. And in those movies, when the peace negotiators approached each other it was under a white flag of truce. Someone would say “I come in peace,” and the negotiating would begin. Occasionally, peace would actually result from the negotiation. Only occasionally though. Human nature was the target of the screen writers and the irony of the situation would wind down to the logical conclusion of the conflict that had to begin. Otherwise, it would be a short and dull movie.


Have you heard the phrase, your reputation precedes you? Have you been in the situation where you have developed a track record for being the bearer of bad news? Samuel was not welcome in Bethlehem. Saul, the king who had lost favor with the Lord was out to get Samuel. And people were afraid of Samuel because he was usually the bearer of bad news in the form of the truth. Back in the days of Samuel, just as in our days now, the truth was not normally welcome if it involved bad news. Sugarcoat it, minimize the bad. Happy, happy, joy, joy, was and is the preference. And so when Samuel tells the Elders of Bethlehem that he comes peaceably they are understandably relieved. A kind word goes a long way in breaking the ice and setting everyone at ease. And so it is with Samuel then and our lives now. If you cannot think of something nice to say in conversation, texting, Twittering or Facebooking then maybe your motives should be reviewed. The phrase from 1 Samuel 16:4 “Do you come peaceably?” is equivalent to our modern day equivalent “Do you come in peace?” We as Christians must come in peace. We are representing Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace (See Isaiah 9:6). We are His emissaries and must act accordingly. We must put on the full armor of Christ, and take off our sinful nature and go forward in the light of Christ. To do otherwise dishonors Christ. But what do you do when confronted by conflict and enemies? We take heed to the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:43-48. We are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We will forgive our brother who sins against us no seven times, but seventy times seven. And oh by the way, if you are keeping track of the number of times you have forgiven your brother who has sinned against you, have you really forgiven him? I think the answer to that question is no. We give grace because we have been given grace. We love because we were first loved. That is what being a Christian is about. Prayer and grace is needed when dealing with those who persecute us if peace is to have a chance.


PRAYER: Father, Abba, as sinners we sometimes struggle forgiving others. The grace given to us by You is easy to take for granted. We are like the wicked servant who when his debt was forgiven demands payment from others. Help us in our frailty to hold close, and dear to our hearts, Your grace. Help us to remember to forgive others and are forgiven. Help us to remember to pray first for those who persecute us rather than lashing out in anger. Let us remember to forgive seven times seventy times. This we ask in the name of Your Son, who with the Father and the Spirit are one God, now and forever. Amen