November 2021
“Make peace with me" Isaiah 27.5 (NRSV and others)
”......or else let it cling to me for protection, let it make peace with me”
In the Good News
Bible the Saying reads: “But if the enemies of my people want my protection,
let them make peace with me.”
The author of these words wanted those who had rebelled against I AM, those who
ignored calls to repentance, to make their peace with Him.
Before we die we are all encouraged to make our peace with I AM, by turning to
Him in penitence and to trust in His love for us and in His forgiveness of all
our sin. We are encouraged to be prepared for our journey through “the gate of
death”. It is not good to die unprepared: “From dying unprepared, Good Lord
deliver us.”
From what we know about the Israelites in the 8th Century B.C., they
needed to make their peace with God. Isaiah did his utmost to convince his
contemporaries that God was not pleased with their unholy living. Therefore
they needed to repent and make peace with Him and live holy lives which are pleasing
to Him.
In Isaiah 36.16-17, the words of the King of Assyria are recorded:
‘Do not listen to (King) Hezekiah; for thus says the King of Assyria: “Make
your peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from your
own vine and your own fig tree and drink water from your own cistern; until I
come and take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and wine, a land of
bread and vineyards”. The Israelites were being offered a choice between
putting their trust in the King of Assyria or in The Lord, I AM.
In Chapter 26, verses 3 & 4, the prophet says to those who will listen:
“You Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put
their trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever, he will always protect us.“ (GNB)
Peace is one of the consequences of
Faith in I AM.
During intercession we pray for all who are looking for deep peace in uncertain
times, and for those suffering in conflicts. Also, for all who do not trust in
The Lord, I AM, the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the source of
peace.