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#2.
The enmity that necessitates peace.
pp. 72 - 76
Wherever there is found the necessity for peace, there must also be some phase of
enmity. We have learned something of the basic meaning of "peace" by examining the
Hebrew word shalom. Let us now add to our understanding and appreciation of this
wonderful legacy, by considering some of the references to enmity that are to be found in
Scripture.
The Hebrew word for "enemy" is oyeb, which becomes ebah, "enmity", and gives the
name Job, "hated". The story of Job is the story of peace triumphing over enmity, a
peace that "restores" and "makes amends" as the sequel so plainly shows. The Greek
words for "enemy", echthros, and "enmity", echthra are of uncertain derivation. The
root word is probably a compound of echo, "to have", and thrano, "to shatter, bruise,
enfeeble". It will be seen how fully the word shalom answers all the awful implications
of its opposite, whether expressed by the Hebrew ebah, by the story of Job, or by the
thought of destruction that appears to be resident in the Greek word.
It will be necessary to have some check upon our search for references to "enmity",
"enemies", "war", "sword", "strife" and the like, for these would be too numerous to deal
with, without some selection. Let us look, therefore, at "enmity" as it comes into relation
with "peace", and especially as it comes into touch with the "God of peace".
"The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16: 20).
Without the illumination already received, the idea of associating the God of peace
with "bruising" would sound incongruous. We have learned, however, that peace does
not mean simply quietness; it means settlement, completeness, perfectness, and the God
of peace will most surely wage war with all that is contrary to His glorious goal.
The enmity of Rom. 16: 20 reminds us of the "enmity" that we find in Gen. 3: 15:
"I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
The essential meaning of "peace" prepares us for the revelation of Scripture, that in
the procuring of peace there must be a "bruising":
"He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him"
(Isa. 53: 5).
The Lord could not, however, be holden of death, and so Isa. 53: continues:
"When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall
prolong His days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand" (Isa. 53: 10).