Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s brilliant poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” encapsulates the heartbreaking gravity of a peaceless world of human enmity when he says, “And in despair I bowed my head, "There is no peace on Earth," I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.” Longfellow’s wife Frances had passed away the previous year, and he penned this poem in the height of the American Civil War just months after his oldest son Charles was seriously wounded at the Battle of Mine Run. Hearing the cheery bells and carols while surrounded by such human carnage and rage seemed to Longfellow a mockery.
Longfellow’s suffering gives me pause before God who says, “There is no peace for the wicked.” All human experience this side of Genesis 3 is a hopelessly peaceless existence of pain, death, and enmity, enough to cause great despair which cannot be overcome. A restlessness accompanies the human heart in slavery to sin and death. Despair, in the most profoundly ugly way, mingles with the human drive for earthly pleasure and any sense of happiness. The wicked crave and pursue such peace, but the Lord promises, “there is no peace for the wicked.”
Jeremiah’s prophecy makes mention of shepherds claiming “peace, peace,” where there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14). Humanity pursues a false peace, seeking and searching then giving a listening ear to false shepherds offering any sense of the peace and joy we so deeply crave as if such peace and goodwill can be found in the things God hates. Yet, generation after generation of humanity caves to despair of such mocking cheerfulness in this place of sin and death like wave after wave crashing into a rocky shore.
Yet, Longfellow followed up his despair with the final stanza:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
Such gracious redeeming of such worthless people in such a dark world is a wonder of wonders that our God would be so loving. Isaiah, upon being confronted by the mighty and fearful God, did not claim himself above the wicked people and wicked world around him; rather, he said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). You are not above the despairing futility of a hopeless pursuit of peace. You and I are not foreigners to this fallen world. You and I need rescue.
Perhaps Longfellow’s hope of God’s right prevailing was invested in a Union victory. Perhaps we can look to our governing powers and judges for some minor victories of justice. From the carnage of war to street crimes to the modern Herodian slaughter of the innocents at Planned Parenthood, true and everlasting peace is despairingly out of reach. Dear reader, such peace from God on earth and His goodwill are only reserved for those “whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).
To be pleased by God requires God’s perfect righteousness. As we enter Advent, we look back to the manger with wonder that God would step His holy feet upon Adam’s cursed ground of thorns only to wear those thorns as a crown in such a violent display on the cross. Our wrong of sin and the embrace of death in our dark world is defeated by the resurrected and soon appearing of the rightful King.
There is plenty to bring despair in this world. Advent reminds us we are not to find peace and joy in the world or the world’s kingdoms. We long for the King’s return to right every wrong. Beloved, your faith means no condemnation. Take comfort, o downcast soul, in your promised eternal worship of God and rejoice. For the King has conquered sin and death to bring peace on earth in His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Dear Christian take heart, lift your head to God’s holy mountain of hope and rejoice.
Heavenly Father, our fallen world and abiding sin gives plenty of evidence to despair. Deliver us from evil, Lord. Guide us by Your Word to be a lamp unto our feet on this dark, dangerous, and narrow path. Speak, dear Good Shepherd, that Your sheep may hear and follow as we long for You to right every wrong. Bless Your church with Your mercies of peace and joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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