Kings of Righteousness and Peace

Kings of Righteousness and Peace

Jesus is our High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek; consequently He is first and foremost King of righteousness, then King of peace.

All those who belong to the priesthood of the New Covenant are priests according to the order of Melchizedek and become kings of righteousness and kings of peace.

At first we don’t understand much of what righteousness and peace are in a deeper sense, but we mature and confirm our kingdom through obedience and faithfulness. We become kings of righteousness and kings of peace, and that will be apparent and recognized wherever we are.

If we love Jesus’ commandments and observe them, our peace will be like a river and our righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isa. 48:18.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.” 2 Thess. 3:16.

Jesus was in control of every situation. He was always full of peace and rest. On the other hand, people are usually full of unrest and anxiety. If a person hears that someone has said something unfavorable about him, it can cause such unrest in his life that he loses his sleep over it; it can even affect his nerves. Such people are not free from their own ego and honor. Nevertheless, the Lord of peace is mighty to give us this blessed peace if we open our hearts to it. Jesus said to His disciples, “My peace I give to you.” It is an unshakable peace in tribulations and every kind of trial.

“And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Eph. 2:17-18.

All enmity was put to death on the cross. There we died with Him. All those who believe this in reality have true peace in their hearts and are at peace with each other. They are crucified to the flesh with its passions and desires and have fellowship in one Spirit. They receive a peace that will abide before God and His throne; every other peace will be shaken.

“But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.” Luke 10:5-6.

It is blessed to be able to leave peace behind in these houses one has visited. For example, perhaps a home is in the process of breaking up because of strife, and the small children are suffering under those conditions. How good it is then to be a peacemaker, so that when you leave that place, you have brought about reconciliation and peace. They wanted peace, but they didn’t know how to go about finding it. You had peace with you and knew the way to it. Your peaceful mind had the effect of “calming the waves,” and your peace filled the house.

The bride, together with Christ who is the Prince of Peace, will fill the entire earth with righteousness and peace for a thousand years. Then all of creation will experience this peace and goodness.

By way of contrast, instead of being a peacemaker and a blessing wherever one goes, a person can cause unrest that brings a curse and an uneasy atmosphere all around. Perhaps it is quite peaceful and good in a home, but when such a person comes to visit, he or she has so many unfavorable things to relate about other people and expresses his or her dissatisfaction with everything and everyone, so that they leave unrest and a terrible spirit behind.

True peace is always perfectly united with righteousness. The false prophets said, “Peace, peace” even though the people lived in their sins. Jesus came with a sword over sin and not with peace. Luke 12:51. He is a warrior and a consuming fire against all sin and impurity. As soon as we are radically separated from sin by the cross and the sword, peace will enter immediately.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’” Ps. 122:6-8.

It is vital to have peace and rest in the church of the living God for necessary edification and to prepare for Christ’s coming. There is always peace where the Spirit of wisdom rules. God can speak in this peace and reveal His glory.

Paul exhorts us to pursue the things that make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Rom. 14:19. Perhaps there are many things we want to say on a given occasion, but do they make for peace and necessary edification?

All of us should know how to conduct ourselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), so that we feel a responsibility for securing peace and edification.

Evil suspicion is a terrible fountain for all kinds of unrest. People think they see and hear something suspicious wherever they are, and they talk and talk about all these terrible things; yet there isn’t a shred of truth to it if you investigate the matter more closely. If you let even a little bit of these things into your heart, it will not take long before everything that is noble and good in your life is burned up, and you will end up living in a dry land in fellowship with “jackals” and “hyenas,” being restless and pursued by an evil conscience.

Let us flee from this sinister spirit, which is Satan personified, and pursue peace with all men, and sanctification, for without sanctification no one will see the Lord. Heb. 12:14.

“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Ps. 119:165. What a glorious life of peace and blessing we partake of if we love Jesus’ laws and commandments. Think of the bottomless pit of unrest, sin, and despair we are spared from, both now and for all eternity! God be praised for His saving power!

“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.” Prov. 12:20. May we abundantly partake of this joy by counseling peace.

“To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79. Blessed are all those who have managed to place their feet on this way, and who are occupied with guiding the others’ feet into this same way. Quite often there can be commotion among children—the parents can hear by the tone whether “bad weather” is brewing. Then they have an opportunity to get the children interested in something else, and thus lead them into the way of peace.

“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isa. 32:17-18.

This is how glorious it will be in the millennium, but we can have this peace now as fruit of a life of righteousness according to the laws of the Spirit of life. May we all partake of such a peaceful life.