Peacemakers or Pieces-Makers?

Matthew 5:9  •  6 min. read  •  grade level: 11
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“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:99Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)).
Recently we were considering with a beloved brother the vital importance of peacemakers among brethren, in view of the day in which we live. He mentioned that when ministering one time where a difficultly was threatening to divide some of God’s dear people, he had pointed out that the Word says, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” not “the pieces-makers.” We feel this is a seasonable word to our hearts, especially because of the ever-increasing efforts of the enemy to create confusion and strife in the assembly. Sometimes self-will and disobedience create circumstances in the assembly or family which must be dealt with in order that there can be peace. But let us ever remember that the “God of peace,” whom we know as our Father, tells us to be “at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess. 5:1313And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:13)). We are also taught in all our relationships as believers to be found “if possible, as far as depends on you, living in peace with all men” (Rom. 12:1818If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18) JND). And, as brethren, we are enjoined to be always “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)).
We have a perfect pattern of a peacemaker in our blessed Lord Jesus. As to His blessed person, He is our peace. As to His work, He has made peace, bringing Jew and Gentile together as one, and He has, as to His Word, preached peace to both the far and the near (Eph. 2:14-15,1714For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:14‑15)
17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:17)). We learn from the divine pattern that one wishing to be a peacemaker must be guided by the Spirit in order that what he seeks to say and do for those who are at odds with each other will be morally in keeping with what he is personally in his walk with God.
However, the believer is not long in this wilderness before realizing that there is a “time of war,” as well as “a time of peace.” As much as we might desire peace, that condition cannot exist when that which dishonors God is allowed. And so, at times, the child of God is engaged in conflict rather than being able to enjoy peace. The spirit in which he enters into conflict, however, will determine whether the outcome results in sweet peace or sorrowful pieces.
This principle is strikingly illustrated in the sad account of the sin of the tribe of Benjamin (Judg. 19-21). The men of Gibeah committed a wicked abomination which caused the death of the Levite’s concubine. Each of the twelve tribes received a piece of the body of the violated woman, identifying them with this wicked act (Judg. 19:29-3029And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. 30And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds. (Judges 19:29‑30)). Only the tribe of Benjamin, where the abomination had taken place, remained indifferent to the holy claims of Jehovah. Their conscience was so hardened that they went to war with their brethren in defense of those who were guilty (Judg. 20:12-1412And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? 13Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: 14But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. (Judges 20:12‑14)).
On the other hand, the eleven tribes seemed eager in spirit to execute righteous judgment on the guilty. They were right in their abhorrence of this wickedness, but they did not realize what God thought of their own self-righteous zeal. He must first judge their spirit before He could use them as an instrument of judgment on the sin of Benjamin. Their spirit is sadly evidenced by the question they ask Jehovah: “Which of us shall go up first to the battle?” How sad! They were eager to be the instrument of vengeance, without feeling proper sorrow that, for their brother Benjamin, there was no peace to the wicked. The eleven tribes were as guilty of being pieces-makers in their eagerness to set things right as Benjamin was in his fellowship with the awful sin of Gibeah. The result of Jehovah’s dealings with Israel’s spirit is solemn to consider. Over forty thousand warriors of Israel were slain before their spirit was broken. What a terrible price to pay for an unsubdued spirit! May we carefully guard our spirits when entering into conflict, remembering the rebuke of the blessed Lord Jesus when His beloved disciples would call down fire from heaven against those who opposed them: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of ” (Luke 9:5555But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. (Luke 9:55)).
After this, when Israel gathered, weeping, before Jehovah at Bethel (Judg. 20:2626Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. (Judges 20:26)), proving the reality of “a broken and a contrite heart,” the sin that Benjamin would not judge was fully judged by Jehovah’s using these humbled and subdued brethren (Judg. 20:4646So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor. (Judges 20:46)). Then as they viewed the results of this righteous judgment on Benjamin, the eleven tribes felt deep sorrow at the pieces of God’s heritage that sin had caused. Because they were now a repentant and subdued nation, Israel was in a morally suited condition to become true peacemakers. The peacemaking began with an even greater humbling of their hearts. “And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; and said, O Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?” (Judg. 21:2424And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. (Judges 21:24)). This was true moral preparation for peacemaking. Weeping in sorrow for the few pieces that were left of Benjamin, they desired his preservation in order that Jehovah’s inheritance would not be marred.
The desire of Israel’s heart then shows in their actions. Going to where the few remaining pieces of Benjamin were hiding, “the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.” The beautiful result of their efforts at being peacemakers was that “Benjamin came again at that time” (Judg. 21:13-1413And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them. 14And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not. (Judges 21:13‑14)). The eleven tribes, who had at one time been pieces-makers, acting now in the character of peacemakers have the joy of seeing “the children of Benjamin” return “unto their inheritance” and repair “the cities” and dwell in them (Judg. 21:2323And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them. (Judges 21:23)). What joy that must have been to their hearts! The whole nation of Israel was cleared from the wickedness that had so dishonored Jehovah, their guilty brother was restored and once again enjoying his possession, and fellowship again existed among all twelve tribes.
God grant that we may always have the heartfelt desire to be peacemakers in our homes and in the assembly. Pieces-makers will not keep the body of Christ fitted together and connected. Let us seek to do all within our power that the testimony of the body of Christ be maintained in peace, for we “are one body in Christ, and each one members one of the other” (Rom. 12:55So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:5) JND). How blessed it will be in that coming day of glory to hear the Lord voice His approval and appreciation to those who truly sought to be peacemakers among those who are members of that which is so infinitely precious to His heart: the church which He loved and gave Himself for!
D. Nicolet