- Peace to His people
Psalm 85:8
I will hear what God the Lord will speak:
For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints:
But let them not turn again to folly.
When the Lord speaks it is done; when He says something it comes to pass; God’s spoken word is a creative action. Therefore we know that when God would speak peace unto his people it happens, it comes to pass, it is done, peace is present. We want to hear what God the Lord will speak; He could speak many things, but what will He speak? What does He want to say, to create, to give? Peace.
God wants peace for His people, His saints, His blessed believers. Peace among, in, and for the people is a great desire of the Lord for He clearly sees what a lack of peace causes and what it looks like when peace is absent: it is ugly, mean, wicked, disheartening, cruel and troubling. The absence of peace does not immediately signal warfare, but turmoil, stress, disruption, fear, mistrust, strife and uncomfortable unpleasantness may continue boiling and bubbling until fighting becomes physical and war breaks out. It may be domestic disturbance in marriages and families, it could be strife among organizations and groups, or it might be tension between nations. At any level, war is hell and peace is heaven on earth.
Trouble and sorrow begins when peace with God is broken or lost. The human side of the relationship does not want to make peace with God and the flesh is continually hostile. Therefore God must step in and make peace with each individual, even if it is against the person’s initial will. God has done so: He spoke; He spoke peace; He gave His Son who made peace between God and man; He sent the Spirit to settle the human spirit with a peaceful faith in Christ. Romans 5:1: “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God spoke and it was done.
The promise of God speaking peace extends beyond the individual’s peace with God. God also speaks peace between husband and wife to prevent domestic disputes from getting out of hand and escalating. He speaks peace to fights between family and friends. God can speak peace, and He promises to do so, to any situation or relationship where peace does not rule. We can ask Him to intervene and speak peace.
War kills and takes lives and ruins many others; strife robs moments and hours of life from people; inner turmoil and unrest disturbs the joy of living for too many people. Sin, Self and Satan causes all of this and it bothers God to see his beloved children living a life that is less than life because of a lack of peace. Therefore, God speaks peace and His Word makes it so. Peace reigns and life is restored to its fullness. We can make use of this promise of God to speak into our lives.