August 27 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 72:1-14:

¹Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
²He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
³The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
⁴He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
⁵They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
⁶He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
⁷In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
⁸He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
⁹They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
¹⁰The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
¹¹Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
¹²For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
¹³He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
¹⁴He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

Devotional

When two people kiss each other (unless it be a traitorous kiss) they are in perfect harmony and stand in intimate relation. Thus it is with righteousness and peace. Peace is impossible without righteousness. "The work of righteousness shall be peace." Where iniquity abounds, peace flees. Before there could be peace between God and man, righteousness had to be established. God's justice had to be satisfied. Christ made full satisfaction for our sins. He fulfilled all righteousness. He "made peace through the blood of his cross." All who believe in Christ have peace with God. "Therefore being justified by faith (that is, being declared righteous), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

He who is our righteousness is also our peace. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other in him.

Without righteousness there can be no peace between man and man. As long as the nations are ruled by greed and are actuated by thoughts of revenge, there can be no peace. As long as the nations ignore the Prince of peace, there will be war and bloodshed. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." There will be peace, eternal peace, because righteousness dwells there.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." "Righteousness and peace have kissed each other."

Prayer

O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee; but unto us confusion of faces. Thy righteousness is very high; but all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Thou lovest righteous­ness, and hatest wickedness. But Thou hast made peace through the blood of the cross, and the work of righteousness shall be peace. We thank Thee that Christ is our righteousness and our peace. And now, O God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Isa. 32:17; Col. 1:20; Rom. 5:1; Jer. 23:6; Eph. 2:14; Ps. 85:10; 2 Pet. 3:13; Matt. 5:9; James 3:18.

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