Passage Read: Isaiah 23-26
Meditation Verses: 26:1-3
Thought
Verse 3 is a well-known verse of encouragement, reminding us to trust in the Lord and He will keep us at peace. But the context is more specific than that. The promise is that the Lord will save Israel and destroy all her enemies. He will protect her with His power and might, and the city will welcome all who do righteousness; the people who live there and those who visit will be righteous people. Then comes the promise that those whose minds are steadfast to trust the Lord will dwell in perfect peace. This is not necessarily a promise that they will experience peace right now, but those who hold fast to righteousness will enjoy eternal peace when God comes to save His people. There is a peace for this moment, that of trusting fully in the Lord to fulfill His promise of salvation and righteousness. But there is a greater peace yet to come. Now we need to fully trust, then we will know full peace.
Application
It is true that if I fully trust in the Lord now, trust that He will indeed fulfill His promise here, then I will have a measure of internal peace. But when He fulfills His promise I will have internal and external peace. There will be no more wicked who live out their days or practice their wickedness. All will walk in righteousness and truth. The world will be a place of true goodness and love! That is God's promise. Do I trust Him to bring it about? That is the challenge, to trust in what He has planned and to have a measure of peace even while this world is still filled with wickedness, but to look forward to a greater peace when wickedness is quelled.