Today let’s look at the first part of Isaiah 26. Today’s title is “perfect peace”. In verse 3 it says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast.”
Everyone seeks peace. It is the base for feeling that we are very happy. There is no happiness without peace. No one says, “I’m very happy, but I’m full of anxieties.” A person who is full of happiness is also full of peace. Everyone seeks peace. How we can have peace is written here. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast.” (3) To “those whose minds are steadfast” (3) a perfect peace that lacks nothing, that can’t be taken away by anyone is promised. Today I would like to talk about three aspects of this “perfect peace”. (3)

I. We have a strong city (vs. 1,2)
The first point is that we have a strong city. Please look at verses 1 and 2.
“In that day” (1) is one of the key words of Isaiah. It refers to the end of the world. The end of the world will bring the Millennium and the glorious kingdom that will continue after that and the new heaven and earth。 “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.” (1) In other words, this is God’s city, the new Jerusalem. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Rev. 21:1, 2) This is the New Jerusalem. Jesus said, “I am going to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) He said that when he had prepared a place, he would come back and take us to be with him. In this passage this place has now been finished. The New Jerusalem is “coming down out of heaven”. (Rev. 21:2)
Here this city is “a strong city.” (1) The reason it is strong is because “God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.” (1) God’s salvation is its walls, its fortress. We have been invited within the walls built by God’s salvation. It is a strong wall where the enemy cannot touch even one of our fingers. We have entered inside such a city.
Here it says, “Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.” (2) The word used for “righteous” (2) is sometimes translated as”faithful”. Only the “righteous” (2), the faithful can enter in. Rev. 3:8 says, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” These are words that were sent to the church in Philadelphia. What the Lord desires of us is not how great of things we have done, but how faithful we are. God has given each of us different jobs. Peter had Peter’s job to do. James had James job to do. Paul

had Paul’s job to do. No matter what kind of job it is, everything depends on how faithful you have been to the Lord. Even if “you have little strength,” (2) if you have kept God’s word and have followed the faith, the Lord will allow you to enter this city.

II. Kept in perfect peace (vs. 3,4)
The second point is about the blessings for those who have opened the wall gate and have been put inside. Please look at verse 3. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (3)
God “will keep in perfect peace” (3) those whose minds are steadfast. The word that is translated as “perfect peace” (3) is in Hebrew “Shalom, Shalom”. “Shalom” is repeated. “Shalom” means to be kept in peace.” Shalom” is repeated so it was translated at “perfect peace”. (3) It is like English when we repeat a word to emphasize its greatness. (You should have seen the very, very big fish I caught!) Therefore, this peace isn’t just peace. This peace lacks nothing and no one can take this peace away from you. Even when we think our world is safe, we still have anxieties not knowing when it might fall apart. Now we are happy, but we are anxious because we don’t know when misfortune will come. Therefore, there are times when we are happy, but we are still anxious. We are afraid because we don’t know when misfortune will come. However, the peace that God gives is “Shalom, Shalom”. It is perfect peace.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
The peace that Jesus gives is different from what the world gives. It is God’s peace. It is “Shalom, Shalom”. It is different from being happy, and at the same time being uncertain about what tomorrow will bring. It is a perfect peace so no matter what happens it can’t be destroyed.
It is commonly thought that peace or security is the condition of no struggles or fighting. This word, “shalom”, is more dynamic and energetic. It is related to man’s life. Blood full of life circulates through our bodies. If we cut it blood will spurt out. This word refers to our insides being in the condition of being completely full of blood with no bleeding.
Therefore, when this word is used as a business word, it is translated as “flourish”. This “shalom” can continue to flourish no matter the situation. When it is used in a physical sense it means energy is overflowing in the body and is translated as “healthy”. This word has many meanings, but its basic meaning is “filled to the brim and overflowing”. Many theologians understand “shalom” to means “to be saved”. When we are saved by God’s grace we are filled and overflowing with life.

A famous Catholic linguist Daahoud translated “shalom” as “victory”. A victorious life is “shalom”. In our life we experience failure, and there are things we cry about, and many things happen, but in the midst of these things the peace that we are given is “shalom”. This is a victorious life. This peace takes care of us.
When we think about it this world hopes for a peaceful society without war. However, in reality contrary to what the world asks for, war never ends. Man’s history is a history of war. According to the historian, Arnold Joseph Toynbee, when you look at the last 4000 years, the eras without war was only 8 %. Also over 8,000 peace treaties have been formed, but almost all of them were only temporary and soon were broken. In man’s history there has hardly been an era without war. How can we have peace?
Here it says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast.” (3) The Lord will give “him whose mind is steadfast” (3) perfect peace. “Him whose mind is steadfast” (3) is a person who has his thoughts firmly directed towards God. He is focusing on God, He is concentrating on God. When his heart is looking in other directions, he doesn’t have peace. When our thoughts are firmly directed towards God we can have perfect peace. That is because “shalom” is inherently God’s nature. The Japanese image of god is that if you do good, then you will prosper. On the other hand, if you are bad, then you will be punished. However, the God of the Bible isn’t like this. The God of the Bible is “shalom”. He is full and overflowing with the love of God. God is full and overflowing. Those who come to him at the same time can be filled. Not only that, but not only is that person filled, but next he can fill others. He can receive that much overflowing grace. That is because God Himself is Shalom.
In Isaiah 9 we are introduced to the Messiah that will come in the course of time and told what he will be like. That is “for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (9:6) God is the “Prince of Peace”,(9:6) Shalom. The Kingdom that he rules has peace. We have no peace. However, we can receive God’s peace by depending upon God, and by concentrating on God’s heart and mind. That is because the God we believe in is the God of peace. No matter how rough the sea is, God is with you. He will calm the storm saying, “Have peace” and give you peace. Therefore, Paul says in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
For us to obtain perfect peace, first of all we must have peace with God. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1) The original cause for fighting is within our insides. The cause is the desires that are within us. As it builds up in our hearts, peace disappears, and in the course of time it appears on our outside. When it extends to our relationships with other people, it becomes a quarrel. When it becomes a quarrel

between nations then it becomes a war. However, in the beginning it was a problem of individual people’s hearts. Just as you can’t get rid of a smell unless you take care of the original cause, we have to solve the original cause of fighting and quarreling among
ourselves. That is sin. That is being separated from God. Our hearts and thoughts aren’t directed at God, but are directed at ourselves is the problem. In the Bible this is called sin. We have to solve this problem of sin.
Mother Theresa said, “What you can do for world peace is to go home and love your family.” It is thought that world peace is a huge thing and an individual person can’t do anything. However, in reality individual persons can start it. First of all you must have peace in your own heart. You must believe in Jesus Christ and have the peace of God. You must begin there. That is why Jesus came to this world. Jesus died on the cross in our place so that our sins will be forgiven. That is so “that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Therefore, if you believe in Jesus, your sins will not be brought to account. This is the work of salvation. If anyone believes in Jesus as their Savior, all of their sin is forgiven, and they are purified from all evil. They can have God’s peace.
Isaiah 53:4-6 says, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (53:5) The cross of Jesus brought us peace. This is the grace that only God has. We have to receive it. Then this shalom as if a dam had broken will flow within us.

III. Trust in the Lord forever (Vs. 4-6)
The third point is to trust in the Lord forever. Please look at verse 4. Here it says, “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” Even if you believe in Jesus, but you still don’t have peace, where is the problem? You aren’t trusting in the Lord. How can we have perfect peace? By trusting in the Lord from out heart. In other words, trusting is a problem of will. Faith is a problem of our will inside us. Emotions make no difference. Emotions are the result. Therefore, if we seek faith by emotions, when something happens we are soon sunken. We think that the reason that today we are depressed is because we don’t have faith. However, the faith that the Bible talks about is not like that. It is a problem of will. It depends how you decided in your will.
Please open your Bibles to Phil. 4:6,7. Let’s read.

“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 hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
How can we receive “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding”?(Phil.4:7) Here it says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6) We must “not be anxious about anything”. (Phil. 4:6) This is God’s command. This is a problem of our will. “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 hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6,7) I hear people say, “You say that because you don’t know the situation I’m in. It’s really bad!” It’s really bad! If I was in such a situation I’m sure I’d become negative. However, what the Bible is saying is “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6) We must “not be anxious about anything”. (Phil. 4:6) The problem is whether by your own decision by your will whether you are going to follow the Word of God or not.
Man’s mind is not always steadfast. However, at least when you believe in God, a decision of your will is needed. If we want to have a relationship with God, we have to make a decision by our will. Those of you who are Christians have all done this. “I believe Jesus is my Savior.” From such a decision of the will your faith began. There are times when we can’t continue with a steadfast mind. However, when you meet various happenings and if you want to overcome them, you need to concentrate on making a decision by your will. That is prayer. In prayer you can give even what you thought was unsolvable to God, and confess that you believe God will answer.
After that trust in God. Leave everything in God’s hands. It is like a fish on the cutting board. The fish doesn’t ask to be broiled or fried or boiled. He leaves it up to the cook. We need to leave our whole life up to God, but we must be careful not to flip off the cutting board because we don’t want to be cleaned. To such a person who leaves everything in God’s hands, God’s shalom is given.
In our lives there are times when we are disappointed or can hardly have faith, but at such times that we must indeed exercise our faith and shine brightly. However, at such times we are apt to separate ourselves from God. We look at what has happened and think it’s all over and like a sinking ship we sink into the depths. Even though the situation is not hopeless, we assume “I’m done for! I’m done for!” This does not make God happy. If we don’t cut the vicious cycle of unbelief, we will fall deeper, deeper into the depths of depression and unbelief. At such times even if you

think God isn’t there, the important thing to do is pray, “God, I put everything into your hands.” If we do that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)
Jesus’ disciples after Jesus’ resurrection were afraid that they would be arrested, be put in prison and then executed so they hid in a locked room talking under their breath. However, Jesus appeared in their midst saying, “Shalom”. The locked and the fear that surrounded them were taken away and Jesus said, “God’s Shalom be with you!” “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20) We too like the disciples can receive peace, perfect peace in Jesus Christ. When we have a steadfast mind and “trust in the LORD forever,” (4) we can obtain peace. To those who seek after faith, God responds to their trust.