And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. – Isaiah 32:17
Following the end of the Second World War, leaders and representatives from 51 countries gathered in San Francisco, California, for to establish and draft a United Nations Charter. In 2024, its membership consisted of 183 sovereign states. The conglomeration of nations has agreed on four main purposes: “To keep peace throughout the world; to develop friendly relations among nations; to help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease, and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms; and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.” So, how are they doing?
These lofty goals of establishing quietness and the assurance of peace cannot be fully met, and thoughts that they may eventually get there are illusionary. For all their idealism, humans are insufficient in themselves to meet the goal of keeping peace throughout the world. Only perfect righteousness will bring that kind of peace among all nations. However, there is a day coming when peace will rule, because the King is coming! The Prince of Peace will bless the world with His peace.
In the meantime, your charge is to live a life of righteousness. Dr. Charles Stanley says, “To pursue righteousness is to live with an unrelenting desire for justice and holiness. It’s like selling all our possessions in order to buy the field where we know treasure is buried. But we don’t engage in this pursuit out of obligation or anxiety.” Rather, he says, your pursuit should be out of joy. “You would be joyful, too, if you believed you were gaining something worth more than all your possessions combined.” As you live a holy life, inward peace and quietness of spirit will be yours despite the absence of peace in the world. Pray for a more righteous influence in the United Nations by the representatives of the United States.
Today’s Verse: Isaiah 32:17
And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Isaiah 32:1-4, 16-20
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
and princes will rule in justice.
2 Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,
a shelter from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry place,
like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will give attention.
4 The heart of the hasty will understand and know,
and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
19 And it will hail when the forest falls down,
and the city will be utterly laid low.
20 Happy are you who sow beside all waters,
who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
