Perfect Peace
5/1/26 Bible Thought (Isaiah 26-27)
Main Idea: One day, the Lord will rule over His people unrivaled.
A Look at the Text:
Today’s chapters wrap up the vision of the end that began back in chapter 24 with the same twin themes of future salvation and judgment. The text opens with praise to God for His wondrous works and a call to trust in Him. There will come a day when the dead will live again (Isa. 26:19). A day of hope.
Yet, once again, that day is also a day of judgment. No longer will the earth conceal bloodshed, but it will disclose it (Isa. 26:21). In effect, no one will get away with murder forever. God’s justice will take every sin and every sinner into account.
This is true even of Leviathan, the great serpent (Isa. 27:1). No one will be able to hide their rebellion on the day when the King’s rule is finally established. He will rule over His people, drawing them back from the ends of the earth (Isa. 27:12-13), and they will worship Him.
Bringing it Home:
We can take heart today that the day of restoration is coming. A day of justice for the wicked is coming. The day of Leviathan’s final and sure defeat is coming (see Rev. 20:10). Though in the present much of life can seem backwards, God will right every wrong.
It seems that people get away with murder both literally and figuratively all the time, but not in the sight of God. He sees all. He knows all. One day, an account will be given before the Lord who reigns on high.
In the meantime, we put our trust in the Lord, believing that He will do what is good in His eyes. As it is reflected so beautifully in that future song:
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Isa. 26:3).
God offers a peace that surpasses understanding (see Phil. 4:7). A perfect peace, in Hebrew the text says it is a shalom, shalom—perfect and unshakeable tranquility and wholeness. This is the portion of the one who puts their trust in their trustworthy God.
The world might seem to be unravelling, but if we fix our eyes on the King of Heaven, we can experience peace. He is on His throne. One day, the prayer “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10) will be finally answered.
In the meantime, we can place our trust in His faithful nature as the God who does not lie (see Titus 1:2). His promises are irrevocable. His Kingdom is unstoppable. His will will be done.
If our minds are stayed on earthly things, they will be as turmoil-laden as the news. But if our minds are stayed on Him, they will be at peace—perfect peace.
Challenge:
What typically hinders peace in my life?
If we put our trust in earthly things, peace will be elusive, but through trusting in our trustworthy God, we can always experience peace.