The Covenant of His Peace

One of the themes of Isaiah is how to find peace. He repeatedly testified that we obtain peace as we seek to keep His commandments and do the works of righteousness. He wrote, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever” (Isaiah 32:17). As we work righteousness we will find peace in Him. The prophet lamented, “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea… There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:18, 22). As we keep His commandments we find peace, but the wicked do not find it. He said again, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20-21). He further warned about the wicked, “Their feet run to evil…. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace” (Isaiah 59:8). Those who choose wickedness will not find peace. But the righteous find peace in Him in this life and the next: “The righteous perisheth…. He shall enter into peace” (Isaiah 57:1-2). Those who die in righteousness will enter into peace. I love this invitation: “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:2-4). The righteous will obtain perfect peace as their minds are “stayed on [Him]” and they trust in Him.  

Through righteousness is an important step in obtaining peace, ultimately our peace comes from the Savior as Isaiah also testified in numerous places. He wrote that peace will come from the Lord as he suggested in this prophecy: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, and His peace will have no end. In another verse the Lord said, “Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me” (Isaiah 27:5). As we take hold of His strength we can find peace with Him. He also declared, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7). He makes peace and so we must look to Him for peace. In particular, it is through His suffering that He can offer us peace: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). He was chastised and wounded and bruised so that we could have peace from our sins. He offers to us all: “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him” (Isaiah 57:19). He can heal us and offer us peace as He promised in this invitation: “For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream” (Isaiah 66:12). We can find peace like a flowing stream through the Savior Jesus Christ. Perhaps Isaiah’s most comforting promise is this one: “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee” (Isaiah 54:10). As we come unto Him, seeking to do the works of righteousness as best we can, His kindness will not depart form us and His peace will not be removed from us.