Quiet and Peace

Read Isaiah 32:12-20, 33  
 
Isaiah 32:16-18 Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. 17 And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.18 My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest.
 
NOTICE the word “my”. “My people” implies a very special truth: those who obey God belong to God. The Lord Jesus said it this way: John 8:47 “Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God.”  When you belong to God, you will know how to live in his peace. It’s true, that believing Jesus is your Lord and Savior doesn’t guarantee we will have no challenges. Many circumstances confront us. What’s more believing in Jesus and telling the world about him will cause you to be in conflict with unbelievers.
   Where, then, is the peace and rest God promises to his own? God teaches here that his peace is in his justice and righteousness. We can see in Israel’s and the world’s history, and we can see daily, too, that there is no peace where there is no righteous, just law. God’s right law was given to Israel to establish the moral standards. These standards would guide their response to El Shaddai in all matters. The LORD wrote the law, administered the law’s justice and authorized a just response to sin. His justice taught Israel there is no room for their own rules. But the Bible records that only some accepted God’s righteous justice. As God’s own possession, your moral standards must be from God. This is the only way to truly love God and loving your neighbors as yourself.
   For example, a person who lives with a forgiving moral standard is willing to forgive those who sin against him. This forgiveness removes the conflict of retribution and will lead to the peace of reconciliation. When your heart is set on God’s justice and righteousness, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. You will be God’s own to live in safety, quietly at home because you know what is wrong and what is right.