'The Peace of God . . . Surpasses All Understanding' - IT "SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING"

What do we learn from these events?  Jehovah can do the unexpected, so we need not be anxious in the face of trials.  That lesson no doubt made a deep impression on Paul, as evidenced by what he later wrote to the brothers in Philippi about anxiety and the peace of God.  Let us first discuss Paul's words recorded at Philippians 4:6,7.  Then, we will review some additional Scriptural examples of how Jehovah did the unexpected.  Finally, we will consider how "the peace of God" can help us to endure with full confidence in Jehovah.

No doubt when the brothers of Philippi read Paul's letter to them, they remembered what had happened to him and how none of them had expected  Jehovah to take action in the way he did.  What lesson was Paul teaching them?   Basically:  Do not worry.  Pray, and then you will receive the peace of God.  But notice that "the peace of God . . . surpasses all understanding."  What does that mean?  Some translators render this expression "surpasses all our dreams" or "excels all human planning."  Paul was, in effect, saying that "the peace of God" is more wonderful than can be imagined.  So although from a human viewpoint we may not see a way out of our problems, Jehovah does, and he can do the unexpected. -Read 2 Peter 2:9. 

As the brothers in Philippi thought over what had happened in ten years since those events, they would have been strengthened. What Paul wrote was true. Although Jehovah had allowed an injustice to occur, this ultimately resulted in "the defending and legally establishing of the good news."  (Philippians 1:7)  Those city magistrates would think twice before doing anything against the newly formed Christian congregation in their city.  Perhaps because of Paul's actions, his traveling companion Luke, the physician, was able to remain in Philippi after Paul and Silas left.  Luke could thus give extra help to the Christians in that city.

Indeed, when those brothers in Philippi read Paul's letter, they knew that these were not the words of an academic who was sitting somewhere in an office.  Paul had experienced extreme difficulties; yet, he demonstrated that he had "the peace of God." In fact, when Paul wrote to those brothers, he was under house arrest in Rome.  But he was still showing that "the peace of God" was with him. -Philippians 1:12-14; 4:7, 11, 22.


Next time: 'The Peace of God . . . Surpasses All Understanding' - "DO NOT BE ANXIOUS OVER ANYTHING" 

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