He Will Keep You in Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4

³You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
⁴ Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26 is a psalm of trust, praise, and meditation.  God is revealing the future of Judah.  The first verse starts with “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:” (NIV) Judah would one day open its gates to all who love the Lord. He also tells us that if you keep your mind steadfast on the Lord, He will give you “perfect” peace as you trust in Him.  Have you ever wondered what “perfect” peace is?

Webster defines perfect as:  (a.) Brought to consummation or completeness; completed; not defective nor redundant; having all the properties or qualities requisite to its nature and kind; without flaw, fault, or blemish; without error; mature; whole; pure; sound; right; correct. There is not anything missing. In the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, perfect - (shalem, tamim):"Perfect" in the Old Testament is the translation of shalem, "finished," "whole," "complete," of persons, e.g. a "perfect heart," i.e. wholly or completely devoted to Yahweh; tamim, "complete," "perfect," "sound or unblemished," is also used of persons and of God, His way, and law.

Peace is defined as 1. (n.) A state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose.  In the Old Testament (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia), peace is pes (shalom; eirene): Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God.

To have perfect peace must mean that you have complete, whole, calm freedom from disturbance; tranquility.  It does not mean that there will not be turmoil or conflict in the world. No!  Isaiah was telling us that if we fix our minds (thoughts) on God and His unfailing love for us, we can have complete peace even in a time of troubles.  The trouble may be on the outside (situations) but it doesn’t have to be on the inside. 

The Life Application Bible (you know it’s one of my favorites) states that “as we focus our mind on God and His Word, we become steady and stable.  Supported by God’s unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos.” 

Do you want peace?  I don’t know about you but the older I get, the more I seek peace.  If we keep our minds and thoughts on God and trust in Him, we can have just that – God’s perfect peace. Be blessed.