A famous instance when a world leader said “Peace, peace, when there was no peace” was spoken in 1938 by the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.

Chamberlain was returning to Britain after meeting Hitler in Munich, Germany.

At Munich, Hitler hoodwinked Chamberlain.

To appease Hitler, Chamberlain agreed to let Germany take over portions of Czechoslovakia.

In return for this appeasement of Germany, Hitler promised that Germany would have no more territorial demands in Europe.

Chamberlain trusted Hitler. He told cheering crowds back in Britain: “I believe it means peace in our time!”

World War II began a year later—a year during which Hitler broke promise after promise. He swallowed the rest of Czechoslovakia. And he threatened to invade Poland.

This time Chamberlain did not trust him. Britain went to war in 1939 to stop him.

Such gullibility about trusting Hitler was not limited to Chamberlain and Britain.

Stalin and Russia trusted Hitler.

Stalin tried to appease Hitler and Germany. Stalin entered into a treaty that carved up Poland and Eastern Europe.

Nevertheless, about a year later, Hitler launched a sneak attack that destroyed most of Russia’s air force on the ground and most of its army, including its tanks.

No wonder the words “Munich” and “appeasement” became synonymous with foolishly making concessions to aggressors—synonymous with saying there is “peace, peace” when there is no peace.

Today we frequently hear “Munich” and “appeasement” referred to as warnings to oppose Putin’s imperialistic plans, including his invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, naive people in the United States are trying to appease Putin by carving up Ukraine with him. They are being hoodwinked by Putin.

Three Thousand Five Hundred years ago, the Prophet Isaiah denounced the false prophets of his time for saying “Peace, peace” when there was no peace.

The concern of the Prophet Isaiah was partly grounded in military and diplomatic considerations.

For example, Isaiah warned those who relied on Egypt:

Everyone will be put to shame
because of a people useless to them,
who bring neither help nor advantage,
but only shame and disgrace. (Jeremiah 30:5)

But the deeper problem was that the false prophets saying “Peace, peace” were putting their faith in the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World, instead of putting their faith in the LORD!

As Isaiah learned:

People heard, but didn’t understand.
People saw, but didn’t perceive.
Why?
Because people’s hearts were calloused.
Their hearts were so hardened that they wouldn’t change their ways and be healed.
(paraphrase of Isaiah 6:9-10).

And so, the LORD told the people through the Prophet Isaiah:

Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
(Isaiah 1:16-17)

The LORD told the people through the Prophet Micah:

Act justly and love mercy
and walk humbly with the LORD.
(paraphrasing Micah 6:8)

And Jesus told the people to put his words in the Sermon on the Mount into practice:

Why?

Because everyone who puts their faith in Jesus—everyone who follows the Way of Jesus by putting the words of Jesus into practice:

is like a wise [person] who built [their] house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matthew 7:24-25).

But everyone who does not put their faith in Jesus—everyone who does not follow the Way of Jesus by putting the words of Jesus into practice:

is like a foolish [person] who built [their] house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell like a great crash. (Matthew 7:26-27).

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you put your faith in the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World? Why? Why not? How? How not?

Which words of Jesus do you put into practice? Which words of Jesus do you not put into practice? Why? Why not? How? How not?

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For related thoughts, please read my blogs “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?”, “How Do We Build a Civilization That Is Good—That Is Very Good?” and “Jesus Climbs the Temple Mount”.