Peace: perfect peace

The Verse of the Day for December 30, 2016, the last Wednesday of the year, brings to our attention words from Jesus Christ found in John 16:33 (AMP):

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

In John 14:27 (AMP) the Lord makes another reference to peace

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

The New Living Translation puts it this way:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

These words of peace come from the Prince of Peace, source of everlasting peace. Aside from the peace that Christ gives, there is no real peace. I recall the lyrics from an old song often sung acapella around a campfire:

Peace, I thank thee for O Father

Peace, peace, peace

When I learn to live serenely cares will cease.

From thy Word I gather courage, visions of the day to be

Strength to lead and faith to follow all are given unto me

Peace, I thank thee for O Father

Peace, peace, peace

The scriptures from John also bring to mind Isaiah 26:3 (NLT):

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

The verse is rendered this way in the Amplified Bible:

³ You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

The word “peace” in this verse is repeated in the Hebrew text and rendered “perfect peace.” This figure of repetition could be literally translated “peace, peace.” God provides a “double portion of peace” to those who trust in Him. A similar expression is used elsewhere in Isaiah

Isaiah 27: 5 (NLT):

unless they turn to me for help.
Let them make peace with me;
yes, let them make peace with me.”

Isaiah 57:19 (NKJV)

“I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord,
“And I will heal him.”

Finally Colossians 3:15 provides this reminder:

¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members 8of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

The Verse of the Day along with other scriptures related to the peace of God reinforce the comforting and reassuring message expressed in Isaiah 26:3 which promises that God will keep us in a state of perfect peace as we trust him. John Waller sings “Perfect Peace,” a musical composition blending words of the Gospel of John and Isaiah 26:3:

Keep in perfect peace

The verse for August 27, 2016, is taken from Isaiah 26:3 in the Message Bible where a particular statement describes the blessings extended to those who put their trust in the Lord:

People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.

To appreciate more fully what the verse reveals about trust, we need to examine the following verse as well, where a familiar reference also speaks about the individual who trusts in God:

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT):

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
⁴ Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

The two verses are rendered this way in the Amplified Bible:

³ You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

⁴ So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Bible scholar, E.W. Bullinger, notes that the figure of speech “epizeuxis” is used in Isaiah 26:3.  To emphasize the concept of peace, the phrase “perfect peace” indicates this figure of repetition where the word for peace is repeated in the Hebrew text, literally “peace, peace.” God provides a “double portion of peace” to those who trust in Him. A similar expression is used elsewhere in Isaiah

Isaiah 27: 5 (NLT):

unless they turn to me for help.
Let them make peace with me;
yes, let them make peace with me.”

Isaiah 57:19 (NKJV)

“I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord,
“And I will heal him.”

Philippians 4:6-7 also offers these words of encouragement and comfort regarding the peace that comes from God:

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

This passage, especially verse 7 reinforces the comforting and reassuring message expressed in Isaiah 26:3 which promises that God will keep us in a state of perfect peace as we trust him. Recently I posted a song that makes reference to Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:7. Listen as Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir featuring Eric McDaniel sing of God who is the ultimate “Keeper”:

Peace of God

The Verse of the Day for December 30, 2015, the last Wednesday of the year, brings to our attention words from Jesus Christ found in John 16:33 (NLT):

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

In John 14:27 (NLT) the Lord makes another reference to peace:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

These words of peace come from the Prince of Peace, the source of everlasting peace. Aside from the peace that Christ gives, there is no real peace. I recall the words printed on a bumper sticker that reinforce this reality:

Know Christ, know Peace
No Christ, no Peace

The scriptures from John also bring to mind Isaiah 26:3 (NLT):

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

The verse is rendered this way in the Amplified Bible:

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

Bible scholar, E.W. Bullinger, notes that the figure of speech “epizeuxis” is used in Isaiah 26:3. To emphasize the concept of peace, the phrase “perfect peace” indicates this figure of repetition where the word for peace is repeated in the Hebrew text, literally “peace, peace.” God provides a “double portion of peace” to those who trust in Him. A similar expression is used elsewhere in Isaiah

Isaiah 27: 5 (NLT):

unless they turn to me for help.
Let them make peace with me;
yes, let them make peace with me.”

Isaiah 57:19 (NKJV)

“I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the LORD,
“And I will heal him.”

Finally Colossians 3:15 provides this reminder:

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

The Verse of the Day along with other scriptures related to the peace of God reinforce the comforting and reassuring message expressed in Isaiah 26:3 which promises that God will keep us in a state of perfect peace as we trust him. Hillsong express our deepest yearning to “Let the Peace of God Reign”:

Perfect peace: a double dose of peace

The Verse of the Day for October 6, 2015 comes from Isaiah 26:4 where the Prophet issues a command to trust in the Lord; however, to appreciate more fully what the verse reveals about trust, we need to examine the preceding verse as well, where a familiar reference also speaks about those individuals who trust in God:

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT):

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
⁴ Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

The two verses are rendered this way in the Amplified Bible:

³ You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

⁴ So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Bible scholar, E.W. Bullinger, notes that the figure of speech “epizeuxis” is used in Isaiah 26:3.  To emphasize the concept of peace, the phrase “perfect peace” acttually indicates this figure of repetition where the word for peace is repeated in the Hebrew text, literally “peace, peace.” God provides a “double portion of peace” to those who trust in Him. A similar expression is used elsewhere in Isaiah:

Isaiah 27: 5 (NLT):

    unless they turn to me for help.
Let them make peace with me;
yes, let them make peace with me.”

Isaiah 57:19 (NKJV)

“I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord,
“And I will heal him.”

A previous blog entry entitled “Learning to trust God: Five songs of trust” focused on Isaiah 26:3 and other related verses dealing with trust. The final song of trust was written and performed by Gary Oliver: “I will trust in you.” In actuality the lyrics refer to Isaiah 26:4, the Verse of the Day, which reinforces the comforting and reassuring message expressed in Isaiah 26:3 which promises that God will keep us in a state of perfect peace, as we trust him. As a result, we should trust in the Lord God forever, for He alone is the everlasting Rock of Ages.

Peace, peace: A double portion of peace

The verse for August 27, 2015, is taken from Isaiah 26:3; however, to  appreciate more fully what the verse reveals about trust, we need to examine the following verse as well, where a familiar reference also speaks about the individual who trusts in God:

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
⁴ Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

The two verses are rendered this way in the Amplified Bible:

³ You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

⁴ So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Bible scholar, E.W. Bullinger, notes that the figure of speech “epizeuxis” is used in Isaiah 26:3.  To emphasize the concept of peace, the phrase “perfect peace” indicates this figure of repetition where the word for peace is repeated in the Hebrew text, literally “peace, peace.” God provides a “double portion of peace” to those who trust in Him. A similar expression is used elsewhere in Isaiah:

Isaiah 27: 5

    unless they turn to me for help.
Let them make peace with me;
yes, let them make peace with me.”

Isaiah 59:17

 Or else [if all Israel would escape being burned up together there is but one alternative], let them take hold of My strength and make complete surrender to My protection, that they may make peace with Me! Yes, let them make peace with Me!

“Peace” has been described as a priceless commodity. Without question, the concept is vitally important in our war-torn world today. The definition of peace moves beyond the traditional definition that recognizes that this concept is far more than “the normal non-warring condition of a nation, a group of nations or the world. . . a state of harmony among people or groups; cessation or freedom from strife or dissension.” The biblical definition speaks of a state of untroubled, undisturbed well-being. It is an inner reality . . . the peace of God indicates being free from anxiety and care; it is not dependent upon outside conditions. The peace of God is only possible through the Prince of Peace, who reminds us of the priceless gift that he alone gives:

John 14:27

²⁷ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Whenever we find ourselves in distressful situations that attempt to disrupt and disturb our inner peace, we must recall the words of Moses to the Children of Israel as they were being pursued by the Egyptians when the monstrous Red Sea confronted them, as they moved from bondage to freedom; likewise, we must also “hold our peace” as this poem reminds us:

Hold Your Peace

So shall they fear the name of the Lord,

from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun.

When the enemy shall come in like a flood,

the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Isaiah 59:19

 

The LORD will fight for you,

and you shall hold your peace.”

Exodus 14:14

 

These days when the enemy enters as a flood

With distress and intense pressure on every side,

Despite signs of defeat, the Lord God is still good.

In the thick of battle in peace we will abide.

The Spirit of the Lord raises a bold standard:

Lord of Hosts bears His arm, as Jehovah Nissi

Covers us with His love; though foes may have slandered,

His royal banner is displayed for us to see:

Faithful Adonai has never slept nor slumbered.

He is not slack but hastens to perform His Word.

Despite outward signs, we are never outnumbered,

For we know that the battle belongs to the Lord.

On the battlefield, fierce attacks seem only to increase,

But as God told Moses, “Stand still and hold your peace!”

A year ago, the focal point of a blog entry posted at that time was Isaiah 26:3 and other related verses dealing with trust along with five accompanying songs. The final song of trust was written and performed by Gary Oliver: “I will trust in you.” In actuality the lyrics refer to Isaiah 26:4, the next verse after the Verse of the Day, that reinforces the comforting and reassuring message expressed in Isaiah 26:3 which promises that God will keep us in a state of perfect peace as we trust him. As a result, we should trust in the Lord God forever, for He is the everlasting Rock of Ages.