Judg 19:20, And the old man said, "Peace to you. Only let me take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the open square." 
In our reading, we are at a very heartbreaking and distressing state of affairs within the nation of Israel. Each man was doing what was right in his own eyes. There was very little care for those who were downtrodden or those who were in any state of necessity. In this morning’s reading, we have a Levite who was traveling home with his small entourage. They needed shelter and were seeking it from their own people, fellow Israelites. They were in the Benjamite community of Gibeah, looking for some refuge for the night. 
They were in the center of the town, having been shunned by the community. An old man saw them and recognized that they needed some shelter, a place of safety. He opened his home to them and gave them what was required for themselves and their animals. The old man knew this community and what could take place and tried to keep these travelers as protected as possible. 
He greeted this Levite and his troupe with the salutation that is often given voice because it creates in its hearers the ability to just relax in the midst of what could be seeming danger. This old man was doing his best to provide every opportunity to bring safety forth for these travelers. Even at the point of the worst case scenario, as it unfolded, the old man was set on the protection and the peaceful treatment of his guest. Faced with a horrible choice, he offered up his own virgin daughter and the man’s concubine rather than have this Levite viciously violated by these, fellow Israelites. 
The cost of peace for this Levite was so horrendous, as we have read, that all of Israel would soon rise up in arms to avenge what had taken place. The promised peace would come as a response to the call of the Levite to avenge and to cleanse the nation of such as these fellow worthless Israelites who had perverted their placement within the nation of the Lord. This entire account indicated that the people had so turned away from the commands of the Lord. They would foully and violently abuse one another in such despicable manners as detailed in these final chapters of the Book of Judges. It was clearly apparent that there would be no peace until there was a cleansing of the community in a restoration of that which was supposed to be a testimony of the Lord’s nation on this earth.
We saw the importance of this peace that is promised earlier in our reading of this Book of Judges. If you will recall, it was absolutely vital to the heart of Gideon as he was in the presence of the Lord. There was that complete sense of his unworthiness in comparison to the Holiness of The Lord that should have resulted in his immediate annihilation. Instead, the Lord spoke peace to his heart as we read in Judg 6:22-24. This was so hard pressed into the being of Gideon that he built an altar that he named, The Lord is Peace.
Judg 6:22-24, When Gideon saw that he was the angel of the Lord, he said, "Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face." And the Lord said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 
	Another example of the absolute need for this greeting of peace to allay any fears of the alternatives was a chief of warriors named Amasai as he was offering the services of his men to David. These were 30 valiant warriors who ended up being a mainstay within David’s army. They did not know, initially, how they would be received by David. They were placing their lives on the line even in approaching him. This is recounted in 1 Chron 12:18.
	1 Chron 12:18, Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, O David, And with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to him who helps you; Indeed, your God helps you!" Then David received them and made them captains of the band. 
	Another who looked out for the needs of those who were traveling and required a place of safe-keeping was Job. He recounted this in Job 31:32. 
Job 31:32, "The alien has not lodged outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. 
Job made sure that there would be an open door for those who had no other means of a peaceful place in which to rest their weary bodies. This was something that would bring peace within the hearts of those who were traveling and had no other recourse. 
Job relayed this as a means of expressing how the Lord is blessed when we open our homes and hearts to those who are in need of peace in the midst of their wandering. There is to be a safe haven in the presence of the Lord’s people, one in which the peace of God is present and available to those in such distress.
	Next, consider what the Prophet Isaiah brought forth. Please open to Isa 58:6-11. Herein is recounted how the people of the Lord are to deal with all those in such need. It is a matter of how we choose to please the Lord by caring for those with the greatest necessity to know the peace of God in a most vibrant and manifest manner of their care and well-being.
	Isa 58:6-11, "Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke? "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? "Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am. 'If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, And if you give yourself to the hungry, And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday. "And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 
	This is the complete picture of the promised peace of God which surpasses every human understanding. The sacrifice is not one of lip service, but of actually opening our hearts to one another. We are all in need of the support and the comfort and the refreshment and the grace and the mercy of the Lord. That is to be expressed within the every manner in which we deal with others. Be they foreigners or travelers in a strange land, or our neighbors, or brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to be an expression of the visible peace of God as we deal with any person whom the Lord so graciously brings into our lives.
	The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, brought this to the fore as He was sending His disciples out to spread the Good News that the Kingdom of God was at hand. This is given to us in Luke 10:4-12, if you would please turn to it in your Bibles. 
Luke 10:4-12, "Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. "And whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' "And if a man of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you. "And stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. "And whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them,' The kingdom of God has come near to you.' "But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' "I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 
The very first thing that was to be spoken to those who opened their doors to the messengers of the Gospel, was peace, peace be to this house. Accordingly, if there was a positive response of peace in the care and the feeding of those who brought forth the Good News, then the peace of God would rest there. 
If, however, the bearers of the Good News were rejected, and no peace was offered through meeting the needs of the deliverer of the Good News, then they were to shake off the dust of that place from their shoes. They were to go on to the next place, knowing that the Lord would deal with that heartless community as with Sodom. Utter destruction and devastation would reign down upon the heads of those to whom the peace of God meant nothing at all.
	Our Lord details the full effect of the peace of God which is ours in Him in John 14:27. We will never find any peace in all the scams and ploys and lies of this age. There is nothing labeled as peace by this realm that is worth anything! The only peace that is true and unadulterated and freely offered is the peace of God that is given by Jesus. We have been created by God and will only find our satisfaction and contentment and rest in the peace that He is! As was evident in the altar built by Gideon, God is peace. That is the peace that we have when we place our every trust and hope in Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. 
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, nor let it be fearful.
	The Apostle Paul, in Rom 12:9-18, brings forth the measure of how we are to deal with one another in this peace of God that is to be in full evidence in our lives. As was so declared by the Prophet Isaiah, and now by the Apostle Paul, we are to be the living witnesses of the full measure of the peace of God to each person with whom we come into contact. We are to be at peace with all men in all our dealings because we show forth the love of Christ to His honor and His glory in action in our every interaction.
Rom 12:9-18, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 
	The Apostle, in Gal 6:6-10, echoing Our Lord Jesus Christ, also encourages the care of those who are bringing forth the Word of God. There is to be the full measure of the peace of God expressed in the manner in which we provide for the needs of those who teach. This is as the teachers share the good measure of the Word freely and without withholding any of the truths of God’s Word opened by the Holy Spirit. There is to be that mutual envelopment of peace in the way the church operates in the fullness of Jesus Christ on this earth.
	Gal 6:6-10, And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. 
	We next have that great passage of our consideration, which we often quote, but constantly need to have embedded into our essence. That is found in Phil 4:6+7. It is the most practical measure of the peace of God that truly is in place in our lives. When there is that solid assurance of the fact that God does have all things well in hand in our lives and in the lives of those whom we love, there will be that quiet confidence that God is in charge. Our lives will show forth, in full glory, the peace of God.
	Phil 4:6+7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
	The Writer to the Hebrews then picks up this living expression of the peace of God that is to characterize those who truly belong to and know the great measure of God’s love poured out in the giving of His Only Begotten Son. Please turn to Heb 13:1-9, as we want to relish the truth that God has a plan and a purpose for you and me on this earth. We are here to be those peace-filled and loving expressions of what this world does not have, and never will have. True and eternal peace is found only in the living relationship with Jesus Christ that is our adoption into the very family of the Lord God Almighty.
	Heb 13:1-9, Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," so that we confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited. 
	The measure of the peace of God present in the treatment of others is highlighted by Brother James, in James 2:14-17. The idea of faith without the works which show the living peace of God for the sake of others is at the core of our consideration this morning. There must be that kindness and that active laying down of our wants and our desires and our lives. This is for the sake of those who are so desperately in need of knowing the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
	James 2:14-17, What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 
	The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 4:7-10, also has much to share with respect to the manner in which we treat others with the measure of the peace of God which reigns in our hearts. Without His peace operating to cause us to treasure and to value only those things which are above, and not of this earth, we would be filled with envy and jealousy and a hoarding mind and conduct. All that we have is to be seen as belonging to the Lord. It is to be used for His purposes Alone. It is to serve the needs of all in order that the peace of God may be instilled into our minds and our hearts and our essence of being.
	1 Peter 4:7-10, The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 
	We will close, this morning, with the words of the Apostle John, in 1 John 3:14-18. Here, John sets before us the detailed measure of how the peace of God, the true peace that needs to be shared in all the abundance with which Christ was given, will show forth especially in the attitudes and the motivations of our treatment of one another.
1 John 3:14-18, We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. So be it.
And the old man said, "Peace to you. Only let me take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the open square." Amen.

This morning’s benediction is Deut 7:6. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Amen.