WONDERS OF JOY AND PEACE

“For you shall go out with JOY, and be led forth with PEACE...” – Isaiah 55:12a

GOD’S WORD is the Source of the WONDERS of JOY and PEACE: “For you shall go out with JOY, and be led forth with PEACE; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isa.55:12). The Message Bible says: “So you’ll go out in JOY you’ll be led into a WHOLE and COMPLETE LIFE. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause.” Divine Joy and Peace are like spiritual Siamese twins, and key constituents of the Abundant Life. They form an unbreakable couple that those who seek, obey, and trust in God can enjoy.

Joy and Peace flow from God’s Word as seen in the preceding verse: “So shall MY WORD be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (v.11). God assured Israel that His Word always achieves what it was sent to do. Now, their exile would end, they’ll leave in Joy, and go home in Peace! This Message of Hope was being given to a people who had been in captivity for many years because of their disobedience. God promised them joy and peace, as well as restoration to a blossoming future, if they were obedient.

Divine Joy surpasses mere happiness, based on happenings. Divine Peace differs from the false peace that the world offers. When God’s people turn to Him, listen to Him, and His Word works in them, Joy and Peace always follow; a Joy so great, that even the mountains, hills, and trees of the field join in. Where there were thorns, there will be beautiful and useful trees (v.13a). God takes away the barren and the cursed, and brings forth beauty and fruit. His works are eternal, and done for His name, and for His glory (v.13b).

The Wonder of Divine Joy is that, by reason of redemption, it can be enjoyed by finite humanity: “...Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1Pet.1:8). Believers are instructed in the New Covenant: “Rejoice always” (1The.5:16). This is not a natural thing for human beings to do. But, when we understand God’s Love and Grace, Joy becomes easier: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jh.15:11). Joy flows from God’s Word!

The Wonders of Divine Peace are rooted in the Person of Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isa.9:6b). He described His kind of Peace: “PEACE I leave to you, MY PEACE I GIVE unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jh.14:27). This Peace is a GIFT, not a human attainment. This Peace also flows from the Word: “In Me you may have PEACE” (Jh.16:33).

Here are few of the Wonderful Promises of Peace that can be the possessed portions of Believers:

Peaceful Sleep: “I will both lie down in PEACE, and SLEEP; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psa.4:8).

The Blessing of Peace: “The LORD will BLESS His people with PEACE” (Psa.29:11b).

Perfect Peace: “You will keep him in PERFECT PEACE, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isa..26:3).

Peace as Product of Righteousness: “The work of righteousness will be PEACE, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever” (Isa.32:17).

Peace as a river: “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your PEACE would have been LIKE a RIVER, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea” (Isa.48:18).

Peace as fruit of the spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE...” (Gal.5:22).

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom.15:13).