In our small group study Sunday night from Isaiah 26, we came across a concept that sparked a lot of vigorous and wonderful discussion. Here is verse 12 from that chapter:
“Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”
The prophet articulates what Israel has been so reluctant to see and acknowledge. But only after Judah has experienced desolation and ruin is she as a people ready to see the hand of the Lord.
Isn’t it amazing that the same seems to still be true today! Often we have to hit our heads up against a brick wall, have no where else to turn, and only then are we ready to see the hand of the Lord. Two things particularly are mentioned by Isaiah here: peace and accomplishment.
True, lasting, inner peace is a work that only God can establish. During my lifetime I have heard about so many peace talks, peace movements, peace marches, peace accords, and the list goes on. But the reason that none of this ever has a lasting effect is because it is not peace that God has established. True, lasting, inner peace is the work and hand of God. God alone gets the credit.
Accomplishment…it tends to be the soil for the seeds of human pride to sprout and take root. Even when Israel and Judah rebuilt after the exile, it was only because God was in the project. It was not something that was dreamed up by some savvy leaders and ingeniously orchestrated. My, how this realization convicts all of us relative to the church, the kingdom of God! God’s kingdom is divine work, in which we choose to participate. There are no grounds whatsoever for boasting and pride in what we have done.
So, who gets the credit? The work of peace and the accomplishment of kingdom ventures are all divine work. We collaborate and cooperate with God’s will and the movement of the Spirit. If we are experiencing inner and congregational peace, and enjoying the fruit of our labors…God gets the credit! Praise God for divine peace and accomplishment among us!
In Christian love, Curtis
“Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”
The prophet articulates what Israel has been so reluctant to see and acknowledge. But only after Judah has experienced desolation and ruin is she as a people ready to see the hand of the Lord.
Isn’t it amazing that the same seems to still be true today! Often we have to hit our heads up against a brick wall, have no where else to turn, and only then are we ready to see the hand of the Lord. Two things particularly are mentioned by Isaiah here: peace and accomplishment.
True, lasting, inner peace is a work that only God can establish. During my lifetime I have heard about so many peace talks, peace movements, peace marches, peace accords, and the list goes on. But the reason that none of this ever has a lasting effect is because it is not peace that God has established. True, lasting, inner peace is the work and hand of God. God alone gets the credit.
Accomplishment…it tends to be the soil for the seeds of human pride to sprout and take root. Even when Israel and Judah rebuilt after the exile, it was only because God was in the project. It was not something that was dreamed up by some savvy leaders and ingeniously orchestrated. My, how this realization convicts all of us relative to the church, the kingdom of God! God’s kingdom is divine work, in which we choose to participate. There are no grounds whatsoever for boasting and pride in what we have done.
So, who gets the credit? The work of peace and the accomplishment of kingdom ventures are all divine work. We collaborate and cooperate with God’s will and the movement of the Spirit. If we are experiencing inner and congregational peace, and enjoying the fruit of our labors…God gets the credit! Praise God for divine peace and accomplishment among us!
In Christian love, Curtis
