–Kenneth Pratt  (The Wolves of Windsor Ridge)

       “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”

                    –Isaiah 32:17 (NIV)
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          “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  –Luke 2:14 (KJV)  Bah, humbug!  Where is the promised peace?  Look at the world, look at the inhumanity to humanity.  Look at the terror, the wars, the pestilence, the disasters, the crime, the racism — hmpf, where is the peace?
     Perhaps you have heard some state that or something similar.  Perhaps you have thought the same.  The first thing that will help is to look at another translation.  The King James is a good translation, but in some places it misses the point or is confusing.
          “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”  (NASB)
          “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  (NIV)
          “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!”  (HCSB)
          “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  (ESV)
Not all will have peace.  It comes only to those who have a relationship with the heavenly Father.  If you’ve ever been to a symphony and one instrument is out of tune, or one string is broken there is discord.  The instruments must all be in tune for harmony–for peace.  John Henry Jowett says, “Peace is the outcome of certain relationships, and when those relationships are secured then peace is assured.”  
     A proper relationship is required.  Jesus came to bring man back into proper relationship with God.  “Peace is to spread everywhere this child is received.” (John Piper)  Accept Jesus and you will experience the peace He brings.  Paul states, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, NASB).  Where there is faith, there is peace.  True peace, then, is born out of faith in Christ.  The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah assured us, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV)  God’s peace is offered to the world, but only those who accept Jesus receive it.   To receive this peace that is offered we must go to Jesus the Peacemaker.  He must be the “most glorious Person in your life” (Piper).   We read in Ephesians 2:14, “He Himself is our peace…”  Therefore we see that we cannot separate this peace from Christ.
     Peace, the real peace that Christ offers, cannot be manufactured.  It does not come through global institutions or organizations.  Laws, policies, and politics cannot bring the peace that is “to rule in our hearts.” (Colossians 3:15)  See, peace is not foundational; it is not a root.  Peace is the “Fruit of personal rightness with God.” (Jowett)  Peace can be the absence of conflict and animosity, but it is also the presence of joyful tranquility. (Piper)  It is personal; it is an experience and a relationship with Jesus Christ that brings peace.
     One more thought, notice the beginning of verse in Luke 2–“Glory to God…”  That’s where peace begins.  When the heart has accepted Christ and we begin to give glory to God then we have true, inner peace, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, NKJV)  Jowett states, “If only we would give glory to God in the highest, peace on earth is sure, and goodwill among men is secured.”
     Let peace rule in your heart, begin now in these early days of the Christmas season.  Keep your mind stayed upon Him, for then, and only then will you have peace.  Live for Him, let your life bring Him glory.  Realize that peace comes only through faith in Jesus and that “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.” (Psalm 85:10, NKJV)

                    –Psalm 141:9 (NKJV)
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“More, more, more — give me more!” the people cry.  “I want my fill, I have my rights!  Why shouldn’t I be given higher wages?  Why shouldn’t the government pay off my loans?  Why, why why?  More, more, more!”  Let’s look closely at Proverbs chapter 1:

          (NKJV)
          17 — Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird;
          18 — But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives.
          19 — So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.
          (ESV)
          17 — For vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
          18 — but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
          19 — Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of it possessors.
The NIV puts that last phrase of verse 18, “they waylay only themselves!”
     Bob Beasley gives us a warning, “Establish this principle early on in life:  ‘You can never, ever get away with sin.'”  That’s one reason the prisons are full.  Don’t be deceived but heed what the Bible says:
           “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”   –Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)
           “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind…”   –Hosea 8:7 (NKJV)
Men set a trap, but do not realize that they will step into their own snares.  Man hungers for more, he covets what others have, he lusts to please his own greedy desires.  “This greed, when full grown, is coarse and cruel.  It has no bowls.  It marches right to its mark, treading on everything that lies in the way.” (William Arnot)  So is the way of wickedness.  
     I recall the Prophet Elijah confronting the royal couple because of their greed that led to murder.  “And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says:  ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’  (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.  He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols…” (1 Kings 21:23,25-26, NIV)  Or what about Haman, who built gallows for Mordecai?  He was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.  (Esther 7:9-10)  Remember the old saying, “If you play with matches you’ll burn your fingers.”
     It would do us well to examine the path we are on.  Don’t just plod along, but take care where you place your foot.  One way to stay away from the trap that is set is to stay on the straight path.  That path is always upward, heading towards glory.  “The way of sin is down hill; men only cannot stop themselves, but, the longer they continue in it, the faster they run and make haste in it, as if they were afraid they should not do mischief enough, and were resolved to lose no time.” (Matthew Henry)  
     Life is serious, but too many think of it only to fit their needs.  More, more, more, or as from “Finding Nemo — ‘Mine, mine, mine!'”  Listen, as Warren Wiersbe points out, “You’re free to take what you want from life, but eventually you’ll have to pay for it, and the price you pay is higher than the value you gain.  You end up sacrificing the permanent for the immediate, and that’s a bad investment.”  Dare a person sacrifice honor and integrity for selfish gain?  Shame to say, many have done so, and will continue to do so.  
     Notice that “these men are plotting with their eyes wide open.” (Samuel Miller)  They are laying the trap, and soon they will step in the ways of their own making. (Hmm, is this what will happen to those in high seats of government in our country?  Time will tell.)  But no matter if they are not caught up in this life there is a righteous God before whom all men and women will one day stand.  Yes indeed, to sell one’s soul to gratify fleshly and earthly desires is a bad investment in the light of eternity.
     No matter how much morality is diluted; how much wokeism and relative truth is thrown at us–God’s Word still stands true and man will be judged by it.  It is not man’s opinions that count, but the eternal Word of God.  Man is fussy, flexible, and fickle, but the Bible is a sure foundation–tried, tested, true, and stable.  Yes, my friend, “the study of wisdom is a matter of life and death.”

                    –Job 27:6 (NASB)
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Matthew Henry states, “Where God has a mouth to speak, we must have an ear to hear; it is our duty, it is our interest; yet so stupid are most men, that they to be again and again called upon to hear the word of the Lord; to give audience, to give attention; hear this word.”  He doesn’t mince words–men are stupid when they do not listen to the Word of the Lord.  
     Listen to the prophet:  Hear God’s Word!

5.1 — Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel:      5.1 — Hear this word which I am taking up for you as a song or mourning house of Israel:
5.2 — The virgin of Israel has fallen; she will rise no more.  She lies forsaken on           5.2 — She has fallen, she will not rise again–the virgin Israel.  She lies unnoticed on her
her land; there is no one to raise her up.                                                                         land; there is no one to raise her up.
5.3 — For thus says the Lord GOD:  “The city that goes out by a thousand shall            5.3 — For this is what the Lord GOD says:  “The city which goes forth a thousand strong
have a hundred left, and that which goes out by a hundred shall have ten left to           will have a hundred left, and the one which goes forth a hundred strong will have ten left
the house of Israel.”  (NKJV)                                                                                           to the house of Israel.”  (NASB)

Amos is mourning Israel; there is bad news.  These verses are a lament or dirge over Israel.  Note that lamenting is usually done after death.  What is the prophet doing?  It is a time of festivities at Bethel; Israel is prosperous, yet here this prophet is singing a dirge over its death.  He is preaching a funeral sermon to the nation of Israel, much like was told to John, “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1, NKJV)  Inside the nation was rotten.  As Warren W. Wiersbe says, “The way we treat God’s Word is the way we treat God.”  It would do the United States to take a deep, hearty look inside to see the rottenness and the wickedness as it has turned away from the morality of God’s Word.  Look inside, before the cancer eats away at the innards.
     Listen to the Word of God — America:  Hear God’s Word!
     Death is upon you.  Hope and dreams and aspirations are gone.  “The virgin has fallen; she will rise no more.”  The corpse will be left to rot.  A rotting body leaves a stench, and the prophet knows that it is already decaying inside.  The army and mighty men will not be able to help; they will not be able to withstand the might of the Assyrians.  
     Wiersbe points out, “There can be no victory when the Lord has abandoned you to your fate, because you have abandoned Him.”  Wake up!  Do not mock God!  Hear God’s Word–repent for now is the day of salvation.  Recall the blessing proclaimed in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…” (NKJV)
     Hear, O Israel, the Word of the Lord — Listen, O people of America and heed the Word of the Lord.  Perhaps there is still time.  “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?  Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation.  I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.  Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85:6-9, NKJV)  Only when we fear the Lord and obey His Word will He smile upon us.  Is the prophet beginning His death chant?  Let it not be Lord, but let us turn to You.

                    –Psalm 107:30 (RSV)
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Psalm 131, what a psalm and prayer to begin the month of December with!  It speaks of a quiet and calm spirit, a trusting soul, and a simple faith.

          1 — LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.
          2 — Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
          3 — O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever.  (NKJV)

What a simple pronouncement of faith.  It was John Bunyan who said, “Hope is never ill when faith is well.”  If our hope wavers or despairs it is because we are weak in our faith.  Perhaps our faith is weak because we hope and put our trust in the wrong things.  If that is so, it is idolatry.  Listen, there are things that you’re never going to have in life, places you’re never going to go, and dreams that are never going to be fulfilled.  The things once thought important are no longer attainable for one reason or another.  As David implies in this psalm, let go of things that do not matter, things that hold you down, things that are not really all that important.  In other words, get rid of self-centeredness and focus on God.
     Focus not on the things that you cannot control, but on God and the things that are under your control.  There is a great little prayer that AA use, but it is fitting for all of us.  “Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”  David purposes to be still and quiet before God.  He waits upon the Lord in calm expectation–He is there.  Like a child who has been weaned, he still must depend upon his parents to bring him proper nourishment.  He still must trust his parents for everything.  As Steven Lawson points out, “This is to be the position of the believer, quietly submissive and trusting in God.”
     Lawson writes, “Childlike trust always has an element of hope.  As a person trusts in God, a positive confidence in God regarding the future floods his soul.”  Our hope is in the Lord, that must also be where our faith rests.  The foundation of faith and hope is found in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (NKJV)  I recall the words of the grand old hymn:

          “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
          I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
                    –Edward Mote

     Our contentment is not in circumstances or material goods, or gain in our career.  Our contentment is to be in the Lord.  Our hope must be based in Him from this time forth and forever.  J. Oswald Sanders said, “There is no conceivable situation in which it is not safe to trust God.”  God is always worthy of our full trust.

          “He came down to earth from heaven
          Who is God and Lord of all,
          And his shelter was a stable,
          And his cradle was a stall:
          With the poor and mean and lowly
          Lived on earth, our Savior holy.”
                  –Cecil Frances Alexander