"And shall be the work of righteousness peace and the effect of righteousness, quite."1
It is the work of righteousness that produces peace and quietness in the "Land." Isaiah speaks that God will pour out his Spirit on this unfertile "land" and it would become fertile, "and shall dwell in the desert, justice and righteousness, in the field abides."2 Justice dwells in the "land" as righteousness produces justice and the work of such is peace and quite in the land.
"There can be no justice without peace and there can be no peace without justice."--- Martin Luther King
Justice and righteousness go hand in hand. Martin Luther King understood such a principle, he understood that passive peace doesn't bring real change. Until justice is served there can be no true peace as righteousness is not at work. The work of righteousness is peace. He was paraphrasing Amos the prophet of God.
"until justice rolls down like water, righteousness like a mighty river!"3
The Lord your God speaks "take away from me the noise of your songs, I will not even listen to the sound of your harps." "Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you."5 "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly..."6 "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits."7 "Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!."8
Though they offered sacrifices, peace offerings of fatted animals, God required justice. God gave Solomon great wisdom to judge God's people, he built a throne room and called it the "Hall of Justice."10 America was founded on such principles of justice; for the government of the people, for the people and by the people. It lived to principles that our founders fought hard to hold high. Our justice system lived to principles like the presumption of innocence as men lived by such rules like the Golden Rule and by such they influenced others. King understood that it is the work of righteousness that produces peace, and true righteousness includes justice.
This work is not an easy process and it doesn't respond in kind, to injustice with injustice, nor to hatred with hate. Peace is not enforced by beating people over the head with sticks but by the work of righteousness. America doesn't need more rules and regulations, we have enough heavy burdens being placed upon the shoulders of men, no, when justice rolls down like water and righteousness flows like a mighty river, then no man can stop it, and its work is peace and the effect is quietness in the land. It is how the gospel is delivered, by the sword of truth on the sandals of peace.
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."11
It is the work of righteousness that produces peace and quietness in the "Land." Isaiah speaks that God will pour out his Spirit on this unfertile "land" and it would become fertile, "and shall dwell in the desert, justice and righteousness, in the field abides."2 Justice dwells in the "land" as righteousness produces justice and the work of such is peace and quite in the land.
"There can be no justice without peace and there can be no peace without justice."--- Martin Luther King
Justice and righteousness go hand in hand. Martin Luther King understood such a principle, he understood that passive peace doesn't bring real change. Until justice is served there can be no true peace as righteousness is not at work. The work of righteousness is peace. He was paraphrasing Amos the prophet of God.
"until justice rolls down like water, righteousness like a mighty river!"3
The Lord your God speaks "take away from me the noise of your songs, I will not even listen to the sound of your harps." "Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you."5 "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly..."6 "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits."7 "Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!."8
Though they offered sacrifices, peace offerings of fatted animals, God required justice. God gave Solomon great wisdom to judge God's people, he built a throne room and called it the "Hall of Justice."10 America was founded on such principles of justice; for the government of the people, for the people and by the people. It lived to principles that our founders fought hard to hold high. Our justice system lived to principles like the presumption of innocence as men lived by such rules like the Golden Rule and by such they influenced others. King understood that it is the work of righteousness that produces peace, and true righteousness includes justice.
This work is not an easy process and it doesn't respond in kind, to injustice with injustice, nor to hatred with hate. Peace is not enforced by beating people over the head with sticks but by the work of righteousness. America doesn't need more rules and regulations, we have enough heavy burdens being placed upon the shoulders of men, no, when justice rolls down like water and righteousness flows like a mighty river, then no man can stop it, and its work is peace and the effect is quietness in the land. It is how the gospel is delivered, by the sword of truth on the sandals of peace.
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."11