8. The Paths of Peace
Shalom – one of the most powerful words and concepts in the whole Bible! Although the Hebrew word for "peace" only appears a few times in Proverbs, the concept (like that of discretion, as we saw in Chapter 4) is found throughout the book. Before considering the importance of the concept of peace in Proverbs, however, we should look briefly at the biblical meaning of the word.
The concept of shalom means much more than simply a feeling of tranquility – it is actually a state of affairs. But shalom is not just the absence of war. In fact, the Bible even refers to the shalom of war when King David asked the warrior Uriah about the success of the military campaign in which he was engaged (2 Samuel 11:7). Shalom means welfare and prosperity on the one hand and the absence of problems or discord on the other. The word is also used in the Bible to speak of completeness, fullness, harmony, health, order, perfection, prosperity, rest, safety, soundness, tranquility, welfare, and wholeness!
Given this rich range of meanings, it should not be surprising that peace is very much a part of the way of wisdom, and that Proverbs tells us of personified wisdom herself:
Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17) And we are told that the teachings of wisdom are of great value for gaining a long and peaceful life: for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (Proverbs 3:2) In fact, when we consider the full range of meaning involved in the word shalom, we could even say that Proverbs is a handbook or guide to peace as much as anything else. Proverbs does not simply sing the praises of peace – it gives us specific counsel about things to avoid and things to do to help us achieve its blessings. We will look at just a few of these areas here: the two things Proverbs continually warns against as destroying peace, and two things it indicates we can do to achieve it.
Anger Sadly, we live in an age of unrestrained anger. Each day brings news stories of uncontrolled and unleashed anger in the home, in the workplace, and in incidents of "road rage," "airline rage," and other forms of violent anger. From "blowups" to "meltdowns," the expression of anger has become so common that it is almost an accepted fact of life. But Proverbs categorically rejects the "natural expression of emotion" that has produced much of this open anger and its horrible results:
An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. (Proverbs 29:22) This condemnation of uncontrolled angry behavior (as opposed to controlled angry thoughts that anyone can experience) is repeated in various ways throughout the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 14:17; etc.). And Proverbs also repeatedly contrasts such behavior with the wisdom of patience in these situations. It first shows the need for patience to be able to slow down our own natural tendency to anger:
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (Proverbs 14:29) Proverbs also stresses our need for patience in dealing with the anger of others:
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. (Proverbs 15:18) When we ourselves are the ones who need to be calmed, wisdom encourages us to ask ourselves if our anger is really justified, if our anger is really in proportion to the problem we are angry about, and if we are truly controlling our anger, or if our anger is controlling us. When the anger is on the part of others, Proverbs encourages us with the fact that:
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)
Choosing to follow wisdom in these situations almost always determines their outcome. Pride Proverbs also makes it clear that peace is often lost through pride as well as through anger. In fact, a great deal of anger is often rooted in pride:
A fool's mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. (Proverbs 14:3) Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (Proverbs 13:10) Why is strife linked to taking advice in this proverb? Simply because pride is the underlying problem that is manifested in symptoms such as not being willing to accept or heed advice, and pride – sooner or later – leads to strife and the loss of peace. Once again, however, Proverbs shows a better response, especially when what is said by others is clearly not for our benefit or is even insulting:
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. (Proverbs 12:16) The prudent individual is shrewd and discreet enough that even under provocation he or she maintains composure, shrugs off the embarrassment, and averts further conflict. If we want peace in our lives, Proverbs tells us, we must be willing to focus on de-escalation when we have to deal with anger or pride in our interpersonal interactions. Avoidance of Strife In addition to the principle of de-escalation when problems occur, Proverbs teaches the avoidance of the problems in the first place, whenever this is possible. A great many proverbs speak to this simple but so often unfollowed strategy:
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered. (Proverbs 22:24) Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Proverbs 17:1) Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. (Proverbs 29:17) If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. (Proverbs 29:9) These are just some of the examples Proverbs gives us of situations where we can avoid the loss of peace in our lives through preemptive action. Right Living A final – and tremendously encouraging – aspect of peace that Proverbs teaches us is the simple truth that although the righteous may suffer just like anyone else, a good life leads to both the kind of peace that is tranquility and the peace which is freedom from outward strife:
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30) When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them. (Proverbs 16:7) Ultimately, peace is one of the greatest facilitators of human happiness, and while we all desire happiness, we are all prone at times to forget that thoughts, words, and actions that decrease peace decrease the happiness we want. But Proverbs' wisdom is timeless when it reminds us that: "those who promote peace have joy" (Proverbs 12:20).