222. ISA 26:3, ISA 26:4. TRUSTING GOD
Isa_26:3, Isa_26:4. Trusting God
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."’97Isa_26:3, Isa_26:4.
The present world is emphatically a scene of anxiety and trouble. Well may it be likened to a valley of tears, and to a howling wilderness. No wonder that the people of God are often rendered unhappy and that they often require a refuge from the storms of life. True religion reveals a happy remedy, by which we may be soothed and cheered in the midst of our distresses. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace," &c.
Notice,
I. The peculiar State of Mind described
"Whose mind is stayed on thee."
Now this state of mind denotes,
1. Right and satisfactory views of the Divine character.
If we view God as a being of terror we shall endeavor to flee from him. But, if we think of him as the God and Father of he Lord Jesus Christ’97as the bountiful benefactor of the human family, and as the gracious source of all our enjoyments, then we shall be enabled to stay our souls upon him Proper views of Deity are essential to right feelings towards him.
It includes,
2. Believing confidence in his word.
Now his word is full of gracious statements and affectionate declarations. His good will towards us. These must be experimentally realized. We must cordially receive all the Lord’s words, and implicitly expect their fulfilment.
It includes,
3. Lively hope in his mercy and grace.
Faith has respect to his veracity and truth, hope to his goodness and mercy. To stay our mind upon him is to look to him for the enjoyment of all good. Hope is the anchor which stays the vessel in time of storm; the staff which is the stay of the weary traveller, &c.
It includes,
4. Satisfaction with the Divine dispensations.
A readiness of spirit to acquiesce in the Lord’s dealings, and cheerfully to receive the appointments of his divine hand. It is committing all our ways to him; casting all our care upon him; setting him always before us, &c.
Notice,
II. The Advantages arising from this State of Mind.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace."
Now the blessedness arising from staying our minds upon God is described,
1. In its nature.
"Peace." It is not ecstasy, rapture, or transport, but peace. The opposite of agitation, restlessness, confusion, or alarm. Understanding clear, passions quiet, conscience happy. The whole soul serene. Peace with God, with ourselves, and with all men.
Then observe,
2. The superlative character of this blessing.
"Perfect peace."
In the original it is "peace, peace."
(1) Perfect as to its author. Peace from God. All his gifts are perfect
(2) Perfect in its appropriateness. Just suited to our capacities, desires, and circumstances.
(3) Perfect in its fulness an abundance of peace. Peace upon peace’97peace like the gliding waves of the sea, one following and succeeding another.
Observe, also,
3. The permanence of this blessing.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace." Not only keep peace in him, but him in peace. So that he shall dwell in it; breathe its happy atmosphere; abide in it, as his fortress; not fleeting transient peace, but constant, durable, everlasting.
Then observe,
III. The Duty connected with it.
"Trust in the Lord forever."
Here we have,
1. The object of our trust.
"The Lord." Who possesses every attribute and quality deserving of our highest and most implicit confidence and reliance. An omnipotent arm. Omniscient eyes. Whose heart is full of essential love, boundless mercy, unchanging goodness, and eternal truth.
Observe,
2. The exercise itself.
And that is "trust." We are to depend, and wholly to rest upon him. Commit all we have to him; confide all we have it him. As the child trusts its parents, or the passengers of a vessel, the pilot. Trust in him for all things’97temporal, spiritual, and eternal.
3. The duration of this confidence.
"Trust in the Lord forever." In health and sickness; in prosperity and adversity; in life and death; in time and eternity. Our life must be one of unvarying trust in God.
Observe,
IV. The Motive suggested.
"For in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."
1. In the Lord there is all-sufficiency.
"Strength." Power for to effect all our necessities require. No want which he cannot supply; no misery which he cannot remove; no enemies which he cannot overpower; no danger from which he cannot extricate; no possible good which he cannot easily impart.
2. This all-sufficiency is everlasting.
"Everlasting strength." Same in all generations past’97antediluvians, patriarchs prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors &c., &c. Same now’97still infinite, and will be the same forever. His eternity will render him the source of unending blessedness to his people. Other sources of comfort, however suitable, are mutable; the fashion of this world passeth away, but Jehovah changes not. The same through the countless ages of eternity.
Application
The subject ought to excite those who profess to love God:’97
1. To careful examination. Are your souls stayed upon God? Can you say, "O God, our hearts are fixed?" &c. Do you enjoy this peace; the perfect peace of God which passeth all understanding? Are you trusting in the Lord? Is all your hope and confidence in God, and in him alone?
2. This subject is full of comfort to the people of God. Here is a fountain of consolation in trouble’97a hiding-place in storms’97joy in life’97life in death’97and feilicity forever. "For in the Lord Jehovah," &c.
3. All other objects of confidence will be found delusive and insufficient. Health, riches, friends, &c. A mere profession. Our own righteousness, &c. We would urge all men, who wish to secure certain blessedness, "to trust in the Lord forever," &c.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS