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PEACE LIKE A RIVER

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The phrase "peace like a river" occurs twice in the book of Isaiah:
    "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the seea" (48:18).
    Later we read,
    "I will extend peace like a river and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream" (66:12b).
    What's interesting is that these are, if we believe scholars, from two different Isaiahs: Second Isaiah (40-55) and Third Isaiah (56-66).
    Of course scholars have recognized this problem: despite strong evidence that  Isaiah is by three different authors, there is a unity of style and images. But this is true throughout the Bible: Matthew insures Jesus gives his sermon (the "New Law") on the mount, to echo Moses giving the old law on the mount(ain). And when Luke has his Jesus give his sermon on the plain, that too is a deliberate reference to Matthew (probably Luke wanted to make Jesus more human than Moses by having Jesus on the same level as his disciples).
    One of the joys of the Bible is in the vast quantities of music it has inspired, from spirituals to hymns to concert music to Broadway shows (Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc.).
    This is another song based on the two Isaiah verses quoted above. There are many versions on the Net available. One version is with a chorus, here. A wordless jazz version is here. A singing pantomime version (with a pun on soul/sole) is here. A little girl named Kayla sings the song here (or click on picture, right).
    The cosmic image of "peace like a river" was taken up by a later Jewish prophet, who said: "Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

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    I've got peace (joy, love) like a river (3) in my soul, I've got peace like a river (3) in my soul. I've got joy like a river (3) in my soul. I've got joy like a river (3) in my soul. I've got love like a river (3) in my soul. I've got love like a river (3) in my soul.

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