“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The word Paul uses for peace is related to the Old Testament word for peace, “shalom.” “Shalom” meant more than a lack of conflict. It meant wholeness, health and prosperity. Israel was an agricultural society. When there was war farmers had to leave their farms to go fight. Peace meant that they could stay home and care for their crops. Peace definitely affected their economic well-being.
Paul says that this peace “transcends all understanding.” It doesn’t mean that we can’t understand it. Paul meant that it is beyond our human ability to plan it or make it happen. God’s peace is better than anything our minds can create for us. Paul is assuring that this peace God brings is not only a result of prayer but that our prayer brings with it protection by the peace He provides.
Prayer brings peace that will guard our hearts and minds. The idea of the word for guarding was well known in the culture of Philippi. It was used of Roman soldiers who were chained to a prisoner. Paul was chained to guards in Rome. The Philippians were familiar with seeing prisoners chained to guards in Philippi. Paul explains that when we pray God will chain us to peace that will guard our hearts and minds with a sentry that watches over our hearts and minds. Another use of this word describes a sentry. That sentry is peace. It, like a sentry, will keep worry and anxiety from entering our minds and hearts.
God’s peace reinforces our relationship with God and our healthy relationships with others. Worry and anxiety will not be able to destroy that kind of peace.
In the 1990s a naval submarine officer, Captain Cavey, told me that he was the captain of a submarine in the harbor at Charleston, SC. When a hurricane was headed toward Charleston he sank his submarine in Charleston River and had it resting on the bottom of the river. The hurricane came and passed over Charleston but he and his crew didn’t feel the effects of it.
If we rest in Jesus, trusting Him with our prayers, we will have peace whatever comes our way.
