SCRIPTURE: “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you. . . . All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” Isaiah 54:10, 13 NIV
THOUGHT: I’ve always enjoyed both writing and reading headlines. I’ll do a quick survey of the headlines in the news feed before I read — a good headline should tell the story. Well, the ESV and NRSV title Isaiah 54, “The Eternal Covenant of Peace,” and the text bears it out. God says through Isaiah, it doesn’t matter what else happens around you – even if the mountains fall apart and the landscape becomes unrecognizable, I will not fall apart and become unrecognizable. My love is more certain than whatever your feet feel so firmly planted on. My covenant of peace can’t be broken, or retracted, or annulled. It won’t disappear like the landscape; it’s eternal. My compassion is still active as the foundations crumble, and it’s for you and it’s for your children.
I feel like shouting “hallelujah!” when I consider the promise that God will teach my children. I tried, but was broken in so many ways. God is not broken – and when he is the teacher, great will be their peace. It’s one thing to struggle yourself, but another to watch your children struggle and know you own part of it yourself. Praise God for the day our children will see God, the teacher.
As you go about your day today in this world of conflict, remember God’s promises for peace. Remember that one of the names of God is Yahweh-Shalom (Judges 6:24). Jesus is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Romans 15:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and Hebrews 13:20 each use the phrase “may the God of peace,” as part of their final words of blessing. We serve a God of peace, beloved!
SONG: The Blessing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ55mDL7dA0
PRAYER: May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Rom. 15:33).
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
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