Text: Isaiah 26:1-4
Theme: Trust in the Lord
Introduction:
The Lord is good; His love endures forever. God willing, we will meditate on the theme, HOPE AMIDST DESPAIR, throughout August. Almost all of us are going through tough situations, hopelessness despite resources and people around us. Our ordinary life is disturbed and more pressure mounted upon all of us. All sectors of life challenge us to cope up. The Lord brings us, hope, amidst Despair. For meditation of this day, the revelation has come from Isaiah 26:1-5 to TRUST in the LORD. From this text, let me share with you four spiritual lessons: Spiritual Song, Strong City, stable faith and steadfast mind.
26:1 Spiritual Song
The spiritual songs have sung with experience and reality. Songs are not composed just with tunes and attractions. Songs are expressions of our emotions and devotions to God. They are languages of our gratitude to God. Few songs are dear to our soul and heart because they reflect and demonstrate our selves through the stanzas. Music is secondary to devotion. If God can accept only the talented singers singing, then there is no congregational singing. God honoured through congregational singing during the exodus community, during the time of David and Solomon, in eternity the heaven would fill with songs. Jesus sang with his disciples after the last supper.
The song is to celebrate God’s victory over sin and injustice, of Bad City, the City of chaos (Isa 24:10), and though they had fortified cities, had luxuries of the palace, better, the castle of the profane, insolent, or irreverent (Isa 25:2,) it refers to the fortress of Moab (Isa 25:11-12). This singing contrasts with the mourning and lack of joy resulted from the judgement of God (Isa 24:7-9; 25:5), turned their merriment to cries (Isa 24:12). But the sorrow will turn into joy. People of Israel has sung this song, both in repentance, and return to the Lord for perfect peace. The people of Judah had abandoned the way of faith in God for dependence on foreign powers, on collective strength in each other, and self-reliance. So they lost their political and personal peace. Perfect peace only found in relying on God.
26:1 Strong City
The nomadic people had only tents as their shelter. The moving tents had turned into shelters with buildings. But, if buildings have built on the Rocky ground or the top of the hills, could become well-built cities. People of ancient times lived in cities. Here the prophet expresses the confidence in the Strong City. Today, we have bombarded with statistics of the world-class cities are being infected with deadly pestilence. There is a fear of entry, and exit to the cities have increased the Cities are closed. Cities live with cries of death. Hopelessness has seen around everywhere. Despite these circumstances, we have a strong city.
The Strong City is nothing but Christ, the Words of Christ (Matthew 7:24-25). Psalm 18:2 - The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my shield, my horn and my stronghold (Deuteronomy 32:4), He is our sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16, 1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus is our firm foundation (1 Timothy 6:19). He is our solid foundation (2 Timothy 2:19). Jesus promised Peter you are rock so, I will build my church upon you nothing shall prevail against you, and the gates of hell cannot overcome (Matthew 16:18).
Jesus is the rock and arms me with his strength, and he makes my feet like the feet of deer, trains my hands for a battle. He sustains me (Psalm 18:31-36). The City of God flows with rivers of streams. God is within her, and she will not fall (Psalm 46:4-5, 87:3). City of the great King (Psalm 48:2) City of truth (Zechariah 8:3). It was a Jebusite city became a holy city (Nehemiah 1:1, Daniel 9:16). God can change our desolate dwelling into a Strong City, and he can cleanse our hearts and make it a healthy, wealthy as the Strong City of God. The robbers' dens have converted into the place of worship and prayer. The architect and builder of our faith home are God (Hebrews 11:10). He is our everlasting strength, not he has, but he is.
26:2 Stable Faith
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). God looks for the unwavering and stable faith. The best example is Abraham: He hoped against all hope. Abram faced the fact that he had dead cells, and Sarah had a dead womb. He had hope without weakening his faith. Abram did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God. He has strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:18-21). Caleb and Joshua said: If God has pleased with us, he will lead us into the land of milk and honey (Numbers 14:8). David says some trust in Chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Lord our God, so we rise and stand firm (Psalm 20:7). Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil (Psalm 23:4). Though an army besieges me, and though a war breaks out against me, even then, I will be confident in God (Psalm 27:3). Though the earth gives way, though the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, I will be confident in God because he is my refuge (Psalm 46:2-3).
Prophet Habakkuk sings: Though the fig tree does not bud, though there are no grapes on the vines. Still, the olive crop fails, though the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen, and though no cattle in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will have confidence in God (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Let us confidently declare though I lose my job, though my bank balances are depleting, though my children have not loved me, though my parents are not pleased with me. Still, my partner is annoyed with me, though my boss is plotting against me. Still, my colloquies are digging against me, though Coronavirus has come near to our street and next door. Still, I am infected by illness, though all my hopes are dashed against me, yet I will be confident in the Lord. Because he had formed me, created me fearfully and wonderfully, he had chosen me in Jesus Christ and redeemed me for his eternal purpose (Psalm 139:14-16).
Charles Blondin, famous rope walker, crossed the Niagara falls more than 300 times, for the first time he took his manager Harry with him to cross on the rope, He gave his manager the following instructions: “Look up, Harry.… you are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. Until I clear this place be a part of me, mind, body, and soul. If I sway, sway with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing yourself. If you do we will both go to our death.” (Adopted)
Our faith in Jesus Christ would be like this, we ought to become part of him, let him decide for me and my course of life.
26:3 Steadfast Mind
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee”
The perfect peace refers to the Shalom, Shalom. When we keep our minds stayed, settled, and established upon the LORD Himself, then we can enjoy this perfect peace. If our mind is stayed on ourselves, on our problems, on the trouble makers in our lives, or anything else, we can’t have this perfect peace. So love the LORD our God with all of our mind (Matthew 22:37). We are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). We must have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5). We are not to set our mind on earthly things (Philippians 3:19), but to set our mind on things above (Colossians 3:2) (Enduringword.com).
Perfect peace belongs to believers: They have justified by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ or in Christ (Romans 5:1, 8:1,16:7). “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). Personal, practical peace comes from the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to work up peace; it comes from Christ, directly, and is the fruit of the Spirit (Norman P. Spotts).
Billy Graham once said, “Many of you are filled with a thousand anxieties. Bring them to Jesus Christ by faith…I am learning in my own life, day by day, to keep my mind centred on Christ; the worries and anxieties and concerns of the world pass and nothing but ‘perfect peace’ is left in the human heart.” Regular Bible reading as per Psalm 119:165: “Perfect peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble”
Then prayer and praise: Through prayer, we enter God’s presence and experience a deeper fellowship with Him and praise allows us to express our adoration and thanks to God (allaboutseniors.org). Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Observe the words used by Paul: about anything, in everything and all understanding. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Thou wilt keep him in peace; in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, in all events (Matthew Henry).
We live in an age of Anxiety, all around us. There is a great discrepancy between what we believe and how we feel and think. Perfect peace must be found in mind, emotions, will, body, relationships, and circumstances. Perfect peace is a wholeness to mental health, emotional stability, volitional integration, and physical well-being. When this quality of peace reigns in us, it cannot be hampered by people or circumstances. Perfect peace cannot be broken by life’s storms, Untainted by care, untouched by the highest surges of sorrow, unstained by unforgiven sin, true peace is indefatigable and grows deeper with the challenges and trials of life. The quiet state of our heart depended on God and not on of circumstances. The Lord desires to give peace in the emotional part of us (the heart), and also in the intellectual part of us (the mind). He will keep, means, guard (military term) our hearts and minds.
Then obedience required of us: Leviticus 26:3-6 describes a condition in which God guarantees He will keep our hearts in perfect peace if we will walk in His statutes and keep His commandments. Simply knowing that we are accomplishing His will for our lives and following His direction often serves as a source of perfect peace no matter what challenges we may be facing (allaboutseniors.org)
“Do you have a deep, consistent, abiding sense of peace?” What is the indicator of perfect peace? If you have an undisturbed and sound sleep, then you are at perfect peace. I lie down and sleep (Psalm 3:6, 4:8).
