Peace as a river

I read in Isaiah 48:18 "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."

What does that phrase 'peace as a river' bring to mind? Interesting to say the least. In the past the thought of 'peace' seemed to be more like a pastoral location with perhaps green trees, green grass, a quiet breeze rustling through the leaves and some fluffy clouds floating by in the sky.

A river, on the other hand, has a lot of different 'faces'. When we were in western Wisconsin we saw the Mississippi river. Even there it was 'big' (I know it is lots bigger farther south.) Another picture of a river in my memory was in Ottawa, Illinois. I think it was the Fox River and/or the Illinois river. (They come together in that area.) Anyway, the year we lived in Ottawa I was 9-10. I remember walking across a bridge and looking down at what looked to be a 'small ' amount of water at the bottom of what seemed like a canyon of ice. The ice had gotten so high it had raised the bridge so it could no longer be used for car traffic (until repaired). Another river in my life experience was actually more of a creek (baby river) not far from our house in Georgia. In the summer time it might practically dry up. But in the winter and/or spring when there was a lot of rain I have seen the water flowing over (or following) the road for some distance.

In the text above God is saying that those who 'hearken' (To listen; to lend the ear; to attend to what is uttered, with eagerness or curiosity; to grant or comply with.) will have His peace like a 'river'.

Is this river of peace denoting a continuing supply? an abundance? a cleansing? a refreshing?

Humm, any of those sound interesting. Think about it.
More later,

Bringer of Peace