Peacemakers

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Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. -Matt. 5:9

When the term peacemaker is used, ones initial thought is of someone who keeps the peace between two opposing parties. A peacemaker solves a dilemma often without the force of violence, although the threat of violence is sometimes present, and to be used if necessary.

In early black and white Westerns the sheriffs were the good guys, armed with a Colt 45 "peacemaker".  The rational is simply you can only have peace through strength.

The Prince Of Peace

His strength will be on display as He rules in His kingdom with a rod of iron. In  the Hebrew New Testament, the word "peacemaker" has a completely different connotation than our understanding in English. The word peacemaker in Hebrew is the phrase "rod-fey shalom".

Shalom has a much richer meaning than simply the word peace. It can also mean completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing and rest. The word "rod-fey" in Hebrew literally means to "run after" or "to chase!"

So, in Hebrew it says to "chase after shalom" -- to run after God's shalom! And one can only find God's shalom through our "Sar Shalom"  our Prince of Peace!