Simple Words from a Simple Preacher

DL Moody was a tremendous preacher in his day and many flocked to hear him preach. Yet what was often noted about this man of God was not his eloquent speech but his simplicity. In today’s post, Moody examines an obscure but sweet passage from the Old Testament and shows how it applied to our lives today.

In the 6th chapter of Numbers and 22d verse we read:

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

I think these are about as sweet verses as we find in the Old Testament. I marked them years ago in my Bible, and many times I have turned over and read them. “The Lord life up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” They remind us of the loving words of Jesus to his troubled disciples. “Peace be still.” The Jewish salutation used to be, as a man went into a house, “Peace be upon this house,” and as he left the house the host would say, “Go in Peace.”

Then again, in the 14th chapter of John and the 27th verse, Jesus said:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This is the precious legacy of Jesus to all His followers. Every man, every woman, every child, who believes in Him, may share in this portion. Christ has willed it to them and His peace is theirs.

This then is our Lord’s purpose and promise. My peace I give unto you. I give it, and I am not going to take it away again; I am going to leave it to you. “Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” But you know, when some men make their wills and deed away their property, there are some sharp, shrewd lawyers who will get hold of that will and break it all to pieces; they will go into court and break the will, and the jury will set the will aside, and the money goes into another channel. Now this will that Christ has made, neither the devil nor man can break it. He has promised to give us peace, and there are thousands of witnesses who can say: “I have my part of that legacy. I have peace; I came to Him for peace, and I got it; I came to Him in darkness; I came to Him in trouble and sorrow; I was passing under a deep cloud of affliction, and I came to Him and He said, ‘Peace, be still.’ And from that hour peace reigned in my soul.” Yes, many have proved the invitation true, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” They found rest when they came. He is the author of rest, He is the author of peace, and no power can break that will; yea, unbelief may question it, but Jesus Christ rose to execute His own will, and it is in vain for man to contest it.

[Unbelievers] and skeptics may tell us that it is all a myth, and that there isn’t anything in it, and yet the glorious tidings is ever repeated. “Peace on earth, good will to man,” and the poor and needy, the sad and sorrowful, are made partakers of it.

So, my reader, you need not wait for peace any longer. All you have to do is to enter into it today. you need not try to make peace. It is a false idea; you can not make it. Peace is already made by Jesus Christ, and is now declared unto you.