Ingredients of Peace

“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165).  This is one of my favorite verses, which I go back to again and again.  I have mentioned it several times in the past, and probably will have cause to do so in the future.  Thomas Manton devoted two sermons to this verse in his three volume study of Psalm 119.  He never fails to stimulate my thinking and my desire to experience as fully as possible the great reality given expression in this verse.  Manton carefully delineates the ingredients that are necessary for peace of heart.  First, the Christian has peace by justification, which reconciles God to the forgiven sinner and makes Him a friend.  Second, peace comes by sanctification, as the daily life of the believer is increasingly conformed to God’s law.  Peace also arises from contentment with God’s will, when our affections and desires are calmed and rightly ordered, and set upon worthy and noble objects.  One prominent effect of this satisfaction is that we are no longer troubled at the loss of outward things.