No peace for the wicked

The phrase "no peace for the wicked" is one that has passed into common use. It occurs twice in Isaiah, in chapter 48 and in chapter 57, and is part of the explanation of why things have gone so wrong for God's people. In chapter 48, God tells the people that if only they had kept His commands, peace and well-being would have flowed like a river, as unending as the waves of the sea; in chapter 57 God promises to bring peace and healing to people far and near. Chapter 57 includes descriptions of the kind of things that wicked people are doing. They are described as tiring themselves out, rushing from one useless idol to another and from one sexual partner to the next, unwilling to admit that none of these things are actually helping.

Although there is less child sacrifice nowadays, the search for a goal, an aim, a sexual partner, an idol that satisfies is still a feature of modern life. Should we condemn the world as wicked? Certainly there is wickedness. But this description of life from Isaiah's time is also useful as an explanation of why it's so difficult for people in the world today to find peace.


God makes it clear that peace comes from Him, not from people's actions. He is all-powerful; what happens in the world and in our lives is up to Him. He teaches people what is best for them; He gives them direction, not so that He can punish or reward them, but because the consequence of following His plan is peace and well-being. We don't achieve our own peace; we find His. In fact, God goes further. He knows how sinful we are, but He makes the decision to heal us. Peace is a consequence of God intervening in our lives; continuing in that peace, healing and well-being is a consequence of following God's direction.

How often to we think of peace as something that we can achieve? Adverts promise us peace of mind if we buy insurance or have savings or invest in a reliable product. We think of peace as the opposite of stress, and so we try to remove stress through lifestyle changes or holidays or alcohol or drugs or changing relationships. But as long as we think that peace is something we create for ourselves, we're running around, wearing ourselves out without ever finding rest and clarity. If we stop chasing after peace, and allow God to find us and guide us, then He will give us the peace we need.