The Path to Peace
Philippians 4:4–9
Everyone faces discouragement. The Jewish patriarch Moses became so discouraged with the Israelites’ complaints for meat in the wilderness that he said, “I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now” (Num. 11:14–15).
The prophet Elijah was discouraged after a great spiritual victory over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel and wanted to die when the evil Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him (1 Ki. 18). He fled to Beersheba, sat down under a broom tree, and prayed for death (19:4).
The apostle Paul had many reasons to be discouraged. Five times he was whipped with 39 lashes, three times he was beaten with rods, three times he was shipwrecked, and once he was stoned. He was threatened with death continually by Jews and Gentiles alike. False teachers tried to destroy his ministry. He faced great danger at sea, in cities, and in the wilderness. He endured sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, church conflict, and imprisonment (cf. 2 Cor. 11:24–28).
Rejoicing in Christ
Through all Paul’s sufferings, he cried out to the Philippian church, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4).
Using the word rejoice as a command, Paul exhorted the Philippian believers to rejoice habitually no matter what they faced for the cause of Christ and the gospel. Paul repeated his command, showing that he continually rejoiced in the Lord in every situation. He impressed on the Philippian church the importance of finding joy in both prosperity and adversity.
The word joy speaks of a deep-seated, inner happiness or feeling of well-being. Christians can be filled with the joy of the Lord rather than discord and anxiety even while
experiencing trials. Paul could rejoice always because he lived in spiritual union with Christ. Even in the face of death, Paul rejoiced because he knew nothing could separate him from God’s love in Christ (cf. Rom. 8:38–39).
Paul instructed the Philippians, “Let your gentleness be known to all men” (Phil. 4:5). The word gentleness (Greek, epieikes) does not denote weakness but, rather, “sweet reasonableness.” Rather than retaliating, the Philippians were to show patience, kindness, forbearance, and mercy to those who committed injustice toward them. Christ set the greatest example of gentleness, for “when He was reviled, [He] did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23).
Believers must make their gentleness known because “the Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5). This phrase has two common interpretations: (1) The Lord’s coming for His church (the Rapture) is imminent, and (2) Christ indwells Christians through the Holy Spirit and is present to help every believer. Both interpretations are correct and applicable.
Request of Christ
To ease the Philippians’ worries, Paul told them, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (v. 6).
The word anxious (Greek, merimnao) means to be troubled, continually fretting and worrying about life’s situations. It indicates a lack of trust and peace in God’s wisdom and power to solve our problems.
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5—7), He warned His listeners not to worry or be anxious for life’s needs:
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (6:25, 32–33).
Therefore, God provides what we need when we need it.
Believers must ask God to supply their needs by “prayer and supplication.” Paul used the general word for prayer (Greek, proseuche), which means asking God to meet a need. Supplication (Greek, deesis) means to plead more strongly or implore God in prayer. Request (Greek, aitema) means to beseech God for a specific need or appeal. Believers should pray “with thanksgiving” (Phil. 4:6). Thus, we should not be worried or anxious about our needs but, rather, trust God for His answer.
Resting in Christ
Paul wrote, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (v. 7). Everyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior possesses “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1); but, unfortunately, many Christians who are filled with worry and anxiety do not recognize this peace in their daily lives.
Paul lists two characteristics of the peace of God:
1. It “surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). The peace God provides believers who commit everything to Him in prayer exceeds reason, comprehension, and explanation.
2. It “will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (v. 7). Guard is a military term that describes placing a garrison of soldiers around an object of defense. Paul uses the word to teach believers to protect their hearts and minds to keep worry out (cf. Isa. 26:3; Jn. 14:27). Jesus, who experienced perfect peace on Earth, bequeathed the same peace to all believers who take their requests to Him in prayer.
Right Thinking in Christ
It is one thing to have peace of mind for a moment but quite another to maintain it. But as man “thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). In Philippians 4:8, Paul explained the things on which believers should meditate to maintain right thinking:
1. “Whatever things are true.” Factual truth is found in God’s Word, which Christians must read and on which they must meditate.
2. “Whatever things are noble.” Such things are honorable, worthy of respect and reverence, and have gravity and dignity.
3. “Whatever things are just [righteous].” This designation refers to the divine standards stipulated in God’s Word.
4. “Whatever things are pure” refers to what Scripture declares to be holy, morally clean, and undefiled.
5. “Whatever things are lovely” (Greek, prosphiles), or amiable, indicates Christians should be gracious and winsome toward others.
6. “Whatever things are of good report.” Believers should speak well, thinking carefully about their words before uttering them. Words that cause damage or scandal should not be used. Believers should use pleasing and amiable words to build up others.
Paul summarized his statement by saying, “If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (v. 8). The word if does not suggest doubt and is best interpreted “since” or “because.” Therefore, because there is virtue in Paul’s teaching, believers should apply these statements to their thoughts. King Solomon rightly said, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).
Paul concluded this section by shifting his emphasis from right thinking to right doing: “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9).
Paul previously asked the Philippians to follow his example (3:17). He repeated this command to stress that such imitation is essential to experiencing a life of joy and peace from God.
The Philippians “learned” through Paul’s preaching, teaching, and counseling. They “received,” or incorporated, his teaching into their own lives. They proved what they “heard” about Paul’s impeccable, virtuous, and blameless reputation to be true. They “saw in [Paul]” his character, preaching, and teaching; and they were to imitate these things.
Along with his exhortation, Paul promised, “And the God of peace will be with you” (4:9). Believers who habitually practice and imitate what Paul taught will experience God’s peace in all situations; but those who fixate on strife, rivalry, discouragement, worry, and anxiousness will not.
Paul taught us the path to the peace of God. Let us walk in it today.
