“The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:26).

The beautiful benediction of Numbers 24–26 is climaxed by this prayer for God-given peace. The word for “give” is a very strong word, implying a gift which is permanent and secure—that is, the blessing says: “The LORD establish peace for you!”

Men have longed for peace all through history, but always there are those who want war. “I am for peace,” the psalmist said; “but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalm 120:7). Even today, in our “enlightened” age of science and education, there are perhaps forty local wars raging in the world, and seemingly nothing can be done to stop them.

Those in the “over 60” generation remember how our modern Veterans’ Day was once called Armistice Day, established to commemorate the ending of the World War, the “war to end all wars,” as we were assured. But when World War II came along, then the Korean War and the Viet Nam War, as well as various little wars (Grenada, Panama, Iraq, etc., only to mention those directly involving our own country), the term “Armistice Day” soon became obsolete.

It is good and right to remember and honor our military veterans, of course, especially those who gave their lives in such wars, but the world seems further away from true world peace than ever. It will always be so, until the Lord Himself lifts up His countenance on His creation and establishes peace. Then—but not until then—“of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, . . . The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7), when Christ returns. Nevertheless, the believer can, right now, know true and lasting peace of soul, for the Lord Jesus will “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (Him): because He trusteth in (Him)” (Isaiah 26:3). HMM