The effect of righteousness

[JPalmer]

9. Isaiah 32
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Abridged definition from the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary:

Righteousness
1. Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law.
3. The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled.

Also, Rev. G. A. Kratzer gave a definition on page 5 of Dominion Within:

“right thinking and feeling, knowledge of the truth, and love devoid of fear”

This lesson brought out to me that the only way to have “quietness and assurance for ever” is to think rightly and to do as God directs, when He directs.

Abigail is an excellent model of this: Despite whatever trials came from being married to Nabal, whom she knew to be a “man of Belial,” she didn’t lapse into self-pity and fail to be ready when the call came to act. She was ready to move quickly to intercede with David. She was open to fall “before David on her face, and [bow] herself to the ground.” She was prepared to wait until Nabal was sober to tell him what happened. Through all of it, what gave her “the effect of righteousness” was not the end result of becoming married to David, but that relationship she had cultivated with God, the cause of righteousness. That “quietness and assurance” was with her the whole time, not awaiting her at the end.

I am so grateful to be a member of this church and to be learning all these lessons. Thank you!

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