Peace, a word with several different meanings in the Old and New Testaments.
The Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and well-being of the total person. This peace was considered God-given, obtained by following the Law
Ps 119:165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. NKJV
Peace sometimes had a physical meaning, suggesting security
Ps 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. NKJV
Contentment
Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Prosperity
Ps 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. NKJV
The absence of war
1 Sam 7:14 Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. NKJV
1 Kings 4:25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, NKJV
The traditional Jewish greeting, shalom, means “peace” and was a wish for peace.
In the New Testament, peace often refers to the inner tranquility and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God through Christ. This understanding was originally expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming MESSIAH.
Isa 9: 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. NKJV
The peace that Jesus Christ spoke of was a combination of hope, trust, and quiet in the mind and soul, brought about by a reconciliation with God. Such peace was proclaimed by the host of angels at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:14), Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” NKJV
By Christ Himself in His SERMON ON THE MOUNT and during His ministry.
Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. NKJV
He also taught about this kind of peace at the Lord’s Supper, shortly before His death
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. NKJV
The apostle Paul later wrote that such peace and spiritual blessedness was a direct result of faith in Christ.
Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
NKJ
Peace with God is the theme of the NT.
Matt 11: 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” NKJV
He will quiet you in the midst of the storm in your life.
Zeph 3:17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” NKJV
Phil 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. NKJV
The Shepherd of our souls gives us peace.
Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; NKJV
The contrast between the wiched and the just.
Ps 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power,And spreading himself like a native green tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. NKJV
Isa 57:20 “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. 21 There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God. NLT
The greatest need any person will ever have is to have peace with God.
Rom 5: 1 THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified ( acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). AMP
Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. NKJV
We deserved the pain of eternal separation from God, but thank God Jesus took our pain and suffering and gave us His peace.
Isa 53: 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. NKJV