"Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have." -
I Samuel 25:6
I have a confession to make: I am tired of praying for peace. Week in and week out, we pray for the end of war, a stand-down of aggression, just a drop of freaking sanity from our leaders. It's not wrong to pray, nor wrong to continue. Buddhists, Mennonites and Quakers will tell you of the road's length, and of the importance of travelling it. But everyone gets weary at some point or another, especially when they are confronted with a Divine Strake and continued evidence of insanity.
At times like this, I've found it best to go back to basics. So below the fold, a portion of the 300+ Biblical references to "peace." Listen with me, and pray* if you will, for peace or for any need.
`I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said, "These have no master; let each one go home in peace." ' -
I Kings 22:17
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. - Psalm 4:8
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbours,
while mischief is in their hearts. - Psalm 28:3
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace! - Psalm 29:11
Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it. - Psalm 34:14
For they do not speak peace,
but they conceive deceitful words
against those who are quiet in the land. - Psalm 35:20
I was silent and still;
I held my peace to no avail;
my distress grew worse - Psalm 39:2
`Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
do not hold your peace at my tears.
For I am your passing guest,
an alien, like all my forebears. - Psalm 39:12
In his days may righteousness flourish
and peace abound, until the moon is no more. - Psalm 72:7
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other. - Psalm 85:10
Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
I am for peace;
but when I speak,
they are for war. - Psalm 120:6-7
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
`May they prosper who love you.
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, `Peace be within you.' - Psalm 122:6 & 8
He grants peace within your borders;
he fills you with the finest of wheat. - Psalm 147:14
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace. - Proverbs 3.17
Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace. - Proverbs 10.10
Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,
but those who counsel peace have joy. - Proverbs 12.20
I was a wall,
and my breasts were like towers;
then I was in his eyes
as one who brings peace. - Song of Songs 8.10
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. - Isaiah 9:6-7
Let it cling to me for protection,
let it make peace with me,
let it make peace with me. - Isaiah 27:5
The effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever. - Isaiah 32.17
Listen! the valiant cry in the streets;
the envoys of peace weep bitterly. - Isaiah 33.7
`There is no peace', says the Lord, `for the wicked.' - Isaiah 48.22
For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
says the Lord, who has compassion on you. - Isaiah 54.10
For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. - Isaiah 55.12
Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord;
and I will heal them. - Isaiah 57.19