Let's pray together.

Father, as we focus now for these minutes on the biblical reality of peace,

would you work the miracle that passes all understanding in this church and through us in this city

and by your redeeming will among the nations we pray through Christ. Amen.

So if you're old enough to remember it, sing with me these lines.

I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul.

I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul.

Why like a river? Not a lake, not a pond, not a notion, a river.

We're going to end this service in a little while with another song about peace like a river.

Not as many of you know this one, but we'll sing it anyway.

First verse, so join me, you know it.

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace over all victorious in its bright increase.

Perfect yet it floweth, fever every day, perfect yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed, finding as he promised perfect peace and rest.

So why do songwriters compare peace to a river at one level the answer is this, because the Bible does.

Isaiah 48, 18, oh that you had paid attention to my commandments, then your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Isaiah 60 verse 12, thus says the Lord behold, I will extend peace to Jerusalem like a river and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream.

And the refrain of that song stayed upon Jehovah comes from Isaiah 26, 26, 3.

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.

So that just moves the question back one step, why does the Bible compare peace to a river?

Now that's where we're going to end the service, my part of it.

But first, what is it? What is the biblical reality called peace?

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