Isaiah 26:3

Isaiah 26:3

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

a. ASV: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.

b. YLT: An imagination supported Thou fortifiest peace -- peace! For in Thee it is confident.

c. Amplified Bible Classic: 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.

d. Septuagint: Supporting truth, and keeping peace: for on thee, O Lord,

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: The being that relied [on You], protect him with peace, peace; for in You did he trust.

1. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace…”

a. [Thou wilt] keep [him] [5341 * natsar][Strong: to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.):-- besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).

b. perfect peace [7965 * shalom][Strong: safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.]

c. peace [7965 * shalom] [Strong: safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.]

1). Perhaps the reason this is translated “perfect peace” is because the Hebrew word for peace is used twice, emphasizing the peace.

2). This exhortation to keep our minds on the LORD which promises peace is also in the New Testament.

a). Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

2. “…whose mind is stayed on thee…”

a. [whose] mind [3336 * yester][Strong: figuratively, conception (i.e. purpose):--frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work.]

b. [is] stayed [on you] [5564 * camak][Strong: to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense):--bear up, establish, (up-)hold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain.

The promises in Scripture exhorting us to keep our minds of the Lord are encouraging and rich in promises.

a). Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

b). Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

3.  “…because he trusteth in thee.”

a. because [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

b. [he] trusteth [in thee] [Strong: 982 bâṭach, baw-takh'; a primitive root; properly, to hide for refuge (but not so precipitately as H2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure:—be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.]

1). A necessary component of trusting in God surely is keeping our minds on him, meditating on his word. Meditating and believing the promises in his word are our answer. Notice the contrast in the following passage concerning those who trust in man and those who trust in the Lord.

a). Jeremiah 17:5-8 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

2). Those who trust in man are looking for man for the answer, they make flesh their arm and their heart is departing from God. When we trust in the LORD we don’t lean to our own understanding.

a). Proverbs 3:5, 6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.