Solomon's Wisdom

Character of a Peacemaker

Peacemaking is stunningly difficult stuff. There are conflicts in all the world, and even more posturing and suspicion in the wake of Covid-19. Yet, peacemaking is also something that we each do or avoid on a daily basis. It is a choice. There are peacekeepers and peacemakers, I have heard said. Peacekeepers do everything they can to keep the status quo while peacemakers admit that there is brokenness and seek to repair it. The one who closes the closet door every time the skeleton falls out, the one who avoids every family gathering because of the pain, the one who arrives at the office early to miss the arrival of the ‘one who hates me’ is a peacekeeper. Every father who resolves conflict between his teenagers, every coworker who seeks compromise between polarized thoughts, every man or woman who confronts the issues and doesn’t avoid confrontation, everyone who restores a brother or sister to the Lord and recovers from sin is a peacemaker. As children of God, we are called to be peacemakers.

Biblical peacemakers

Peace as a word appears in the Bible about 400 times, varied according to which version you read. Yet, I had to really stop and consider a while the lessons that we learn in the Bible form the peacemakers. Who are the peacemakers in the Bible? Usually I can google my topic thoughts and get tons of web hits on the answers to the question or pages on the topic. Not this one. It seems that listing and learning from the peacemakers in the bible has not been put online. Yet there are several stories that come up when I search for conflict in the Bible. What is rather unfortunate is the number of peacemaking examples in the Bible that are steeped in violence. I admit I was thinking, planning even, to choose just four or five characters and look at their characteristics to see how to best be a peacekeeper. But I can’t. We either have too little information about a person for multiple articles, or we have single incidents of peacemaking in the midst of this lack of peace that has reigned since the garden of Eden.

Peace in Differing Conflicts

There are nations warring against nations, which the Israelites do so often. Even the new church has its own factions about Gentiles and Jews following the old laws or not. On a smaller scale we might see two brothers upset at each other, like Esau and Jacob. There are also the complaints and discontent that make for contentious scenes, most notably with the Exile. There is also civil disobedience in the Bible, consider the stories told in children’s Bible class about Daniel and his friends. The constant peace is God’s choices to reconcile with us and the push and instruction to bring about peace and reconciliation amongst ourselves. It is an action, many acts, which bring about peace.

Solomon’s Peacemaking between Women

We can dive right in with a quick look at Solomon’s decision over the baby with two women who both claim to be the mother, found in 1 Kings 3. He famously as asks for a sword to cut the baby in two to split between the mothers. How is this peacemaking, right? Goodness, the level of anxiety among all of the spectators must have been felt at the outer reaches of the palace. Solomon seeks to understand the true feelings and the true motives of the ladies. He utilizes the wisdom that God granted him to rule well. ‘Her [Wisdom’s] ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed’, (Prov 3:17-18). Wisdom will bring us the peace we seek, but on a path. This kind of peace and life is that which we actively seek, following a path where wisdom may lead. Solomon too sought wisdom above all else, he sought a discerning heart to rule well. It was a request that he made to God, and we can too. 1 John 5:14-15 confirm that we can confidently expect an answer to our requests which are according to His will. God’s response to Solomon’s request confirms that His will includes wisdom in our lives, we need only step out and ask for wisdom, a discerning heart and desire to do well, and He will respond. Solomon demonstrates wisdom in peacemaking for us; he seeks the true motive behind the position of the parties. Perhaps also boldness!

So, let’s take a look at these peacemakers, actors of peace. We will consider several stories over the coming month, all illustrating peacemaking in big and small ways. Who do you think of when I ask, ‘who is a peacemaker from the Bible?’