“Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.”
(Isaiah 48:6)
When Christ was born, heaven’s angels proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). God’s peace came to earth with the Child of Bethlehem, for through Him God reconciled the world unto Himself.
Thus the greatest blessing that God imparts to His people is peace—true, spiritual, and enduring harmony between God and His redeemed. This peace is the restoration of order where sin brought disorder and the renewal of fellowship where rebellion brought alienation.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which expresses more than calm; it signifies completeness, wholeness, prosperity, and well-being. So to speak peace over someone is to invoke the fullness of divine favor. It is the blessing of being rightly ordered before God and inwardly content in Him.
This is why peace and righteousness are inseparable. Hebrews 7:2 notes that Melchizedek, “first being by interpretation King of Righteousness, and after that also King of Peace,” foreshadowed Christ. Only after righteousness is established can peace follow, as noted in Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In its fullest sense, peace is the fruit of righteousness. The prophet declares, “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river” (Isaiah 48:18). The righteous heart flows smoothly in obedience, like a river whose current runs strong and steady under divine guidance. But the wicked, by contrast, are restless like a troubled sea, for “there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22).
When the peace of God reigns in the heart, it brings stability amid life’s storms. It silences anxiety, stills the conscience, and steadies the soul. This peace remains firm when wealth fades, health fails, or friends depart. “Peace I leave with you,” said Jesus, “my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). To be at peace with God through Christ is to possess the richest treasure heaven can bestow.
This inward peace also becomes an outward testimony. The Christian who lives in communion with God radiates calmness, gentleness, and grace to others. As the heart rests in divine peace, the life begins to mirror it. It is the believer’s privilege and duty to extend the peace of Christ to a restless world, showing that true tranquility can be found only in reconciliation with God.
Peace also equips the believer for endurance. Trials no longer shake faith, for the mind stayed on God is kept in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). When the conscience is cleansed and the will aligned with divine purpose, obedience becomes joyful and burdens light. The believer learns that even affliction serves to deepen rest, for Christ’s yoke is easy and His burden light.[1]
And when this temporal life closes, the peace of God will be perfected. Christ, who now grants inward peace, will soon bring outward and eternal peace. The discord of sin will be no more; all things will be made new. “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).
Contemplations
- The Gift of Peace in Christ. Isaiah 48:6 reminds me that God reveals new and hidden things, and among these revelations is peace through His Son. In a world restless and torn, Christ offers peace unlike any other—a peace that reconciles me to God, steadies my heart, and quiets my mind. His peace is not earned but given, freely and fully, through grace.
- Righteousness, the Root of Peace. There can be no peace without righteousness, for Isaiah 48:18 teaches us that peace flows from obedience. When I walk uprightly, harmony fills my soul. But sin disrupts that harmony and drives peace away. If I would enjoy the calm of God’s favor, I must live righteously, for peace follows holiness as fragrance follows the flower.
- The Battle Within. The greatest conflicts are not external but within. The mind wars with such enemies as lust, pride, and fear. Yet Christ brings victory where the battle rages fiercest. His Spirit calms the stormy thoughts and subdues the rebel will. When I fix my eyes on Him, my inner turmoil yields to divine order, and peace rules where strife once dwelt.
- Christ, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 names Jesus the Prince of Peace—the embodiment of peace itself. His presence brings calm amid chaos, confidence amid fear, and hope amid despair. To know Him is to know peace, for He governs all things in righteousness.
Prayer (Thanksgiving)
O Lord God of Peace, Father of mercies and fountain of all blessing, I lift my heart in thanksgiving for the peace You have given through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Once I was Your enemy, estranged by sin, restless in conscience, and weary in spirit. But through Christ’s blood, You reconciled me to Yourself and spoke peace into my storm-tossed soul. I praise You for this divine harmony that surpasses all understanding.
I thank You, gracious Lord, that this peace is not of my making but of Your mercy. You established it through the righteousness of Your Son, who bore my sin that I might bear His peace. You have turned judgment into joy and wrath into rest. How sweet it is to dwell under the shadow of Your favor, where the conscience is quiet and the heart content.
Forgive me, Father, for the times I have disturbed this peace through pride, impatience, or unbelief. When I allow the cares of the world to trouble my mind or the sins of the flesh to cloud my heart, restore to me again the serenity that comes from fellowship with You. Let Your Spirit rule in me, stilling every anxious thought and calming every fear.
Thank You, Lord, that Your peace endures through trial and shines in darkness. When affliction comes, it teaches me patience; when temptation rises, it keeps me steadfast; when sorrow falls, it comforts me with the hope of glory. Let this peace guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
Teach me, Lord, to be a peacemaker, reflecting the tranquility of heaven in all my dealings with others. Let my words heal, not wound; let my spirit bless, not strive. Make me an instrument of Your peace in a world filled with conflict and despair. May those who see my calmness perceive Your presence.
And as I look toward the day of Christ’s return, I thank You that His peace shall be made perfect. The warfare will cease, the curse will end, and the redeemed shall dwell in eternal rest. Until that day, keep me thankful, humble, and trusting in Your steadfast love.
All praise be to You, O Lord of Peace, who has made me whole in Christ Jesus. May my life ever declare Your glory.
In Jesus’ name I give thanks. Amen.
Further References for Isaiah 48:6
Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 43:19; Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:27; 2 Timothy 1:9
[1] Robert Bruce, The Way to True Peace and Rest (London: R. Field for Thomas Man and Ionas Man, dwelling in Pater-Noster row at the sign of the Talbot, 1617), 239.
