“Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because
he trustiest in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord
Jehovah is everlasting strength.” -Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV)
Perhaps
many readers of this devotional, as I, memorized Bible verses using
the King James Version. I often use this version still when I want
to call other’s attention to verses we should commit to memory. To
my mind, that version is stately and majestic. But this is not to
say that we should not also use the more modern versions to help us
see more clearly in the language of today the depth of meaning of the
scriptures. Here are the same two verses in more modern
translations:
“You
keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he
trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an
everlasting rock.” (ESV)
Eugene
Peterson’s The Message Bible reads: “People with their minds set
on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they
keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in
the Lord God you have a sure thing.”
The
verses fall into a memorable four-point outline:
1.
God gives perfect peace. In the Hebrew language, the word for
peace is repeated: “shalom, shalom.” The repetition indicates
intensity of meaning: cessation of conflict, but also conveys the
idea of safety, blessings, wholeness of mind and heart.
2.
Minds are stayed on God. From New Testament scriptures, having
our mind stayed on God is also emphasized strongly. Colossians 3:2
teaches us the importance of our minds being stayed, or fastened,
constantly on God and His will for us: “Set your minds on what is
above, not on what is on earth. And Romans 8:6 teaches us that to
set the mind on the things of the Spirit is “life and peace.”
3.
Trust in the Lord should be ongoing, forever. We are not to be
wishy-washy about our trust in God. Our faith helps us to be
dependent upon God and to know that “He is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
4.
God continually strengthens the believer. God’s strength is
everlasting. I like the hymn, “Like a River Glorious” with words
by Frances Ridley Havergal. Her lines express well how God
strengthens the believer: “Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully
blest / finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest.” Another
line from her beautiful hymn describes God’s continuing,
everlasting strength: “Perfect yet it floweth fuller every day /
Perfect, yet it growth, deeper all the way.”
Prayer:
Lord, with conditions in such turmoil in this age in which we live,
help us to cling to the “shalom, shalom” (perfect peace) You
give. May our minds be stayed on You so that we can receive Your
peace. May our trust in you grow day by day as You give Your peace
to us. Lord, we thank You for your peace that passes understanding
and strengthens us day by day to face the challenges of life. In
Jesus’ name. Amen. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 01.22.2017
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