Isaiah 32:17 “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”
This is a beautiful promise Isaiah offers as he envisions the work of God’s Spirit in the world. One might be tempted to spiritualize these benefits. It might be said that for the individual who lives righteously, there will be inner peace, inner quietness, and inner confidence. Nevertheless, the broader context of this passage is a picture of society restored.
Righteousness is justice well lived out. According to Isaiah, the results of living righteously are peace, quietness, and confidence.
- In the midst of our broken world, the Spirit is poured out on us.
- The Spirit causes justice and righteousness to spring up in unexpected places.
- That righteousness bears peace, quietness, and confidence —not only spiritually, but a peaceful, quiet, and confident society.
- Even though trouble comes, the righteous can continue to grow and bear fruit.
Peace often follows obedience to God’s will. When we walk in righteousness—pursuing the path God sets before us—peace is the natural result. It may not always be easy. When we align our lives with God’s purposes, we experience a deep inner peace. This peace comes from knowing we are where He wants us to be.
There was a time when God called me to make a difficult decision, one that seemed risky and uncertain. I first resisted, fearing what might happen if I stepped out in faith. But when I finally obeyed, even though I still didn’t know the outcome, I felt a deep peace settle in my heart. I knew I had done the right thing, and God’s peace gave me the confidence to move ahead.
To sum up: The Spirit brings forth righteousness in the world and in us. When we cooperate with His work in us, the results are peace, quietness, and confidence. These qualities in us spill over to our society.
Peace comes when there is no cloud between us and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God’s removal of that which obscures His face and so breaks union with Him.
– Charles H. Brent
Reflection Questions: What days have furthered you most in the knowledge of God? Are they the days of sunshine, peace, and prosperity? Never!
What does trouble teach me about peace? Do I welcome God to interrupt my life? Have I put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door of my life? Quotations taken from The Philosophy of Sin, © Discovery House Publishers
Prayer: Father, help me to obey You, even when it’s hard. I know that peace comes when I follow Your will for my life. Give me the strength to trust and obey, and may Your peace be the fruit of my obedience. Amen.
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