I’m recalling that it’s not the first time I’ve felt this way . . . feeling like, at some point, I really need to get some help on how to read through Isaiah. The prophet’s writings seem to be all over the map. Speaking of impending judgment here . . . and of a distant future judgment there. Giving insight to the coming Messiah . . . sometimes as the suffering Servant . . . other times as the conquering, reigning King. I’m thinking that to read this prophecy with the help of a study guide or commentary might not be a bad idea. But for now, I read to glean. Trying to keep track of “who’s on first” . . . discerning as best I can, and I trust with the help of my “Resident Teacher”, what age the prophet is speaking of . . . trying to recognize my Savior in portraits of both His first and second coming . . . on the look out for what this prophecy reveals about my God . . . and sometimes finding a gem of a promise which I can claim as my own . . .

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.  
                                                                            (Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV)

There is a promise of perfect peace. Literally of “shalom shalom” . . . of peace peace . . . of peace inducing peace. There is a rest for the soul to be known . . . a well-being for the spirit to be realized . . . a confidence for doing life to be appropriated. It is not dependent on performance . . . in fact it’s shalom shalom from works because the work has already been done. It is not dependent on circumstance . . . for this perfect peace is drawn from the Sovereign over all circumstance. It is not dependent on our power to “gut out” peace . . . for this peace peace is infused through the power of Another who resides within us. Instead, shalom shalom is available to those who mind is stayed on Jehovah, Jehovah.

Apparently the name “LORD GOD” is the Hebrew for Jehovah and a Hebrew contraction for Jehovah . . . so Jehovah, Jehovah is an everlasting rock . . . and, as such, is the worthy of eternal trust . . . such a trust manifesting itself in minds stayed on Him.

Stayed on Him . . . frames of clay supporting themselves on the Everlasting Rock . . . pieces of broken pottery resting within and shored up by an unfailing, unending cleft in the Rock.

And such trust . . . such staying of the mind on Jehovah, Jehovah . . . results in shalom shalom . . . perfect peace.

Not a bad promise to glean. Amen?

Isaiah might be a bit confusing at times . . . but my God is a source of abiding peace all the time.

Got a few more minutes? Think on the Everlasting Rock with some classic GVB . . . Hide Thou Me ( click here )