“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
⁴ “Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock, (26:3-4).

Another song of praise is recorded in anticipation of “that day.”

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah… (26:1).

Once again, Isaiah reminds the children of God of what is coming, of what was planned from long ago, of what will surely come to pass. And behind the what of this praise, is more importantly, the Who. For it is God Alone Who determines what is coming; it is God Alone Who planned it long ago; it is God Alone Who will surely bring it to pass. And Isaiah reminds the nation that God is trustworthy for He is able. Why? He is Our Everlasting Rock.

Consider Him, Our Everlasting Rock

Isaiah calls the people to trust in the Lord forever, because of Who He Is. He Is Our Everlasting Rock.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Everlasting: “5769. עוֹלָם ʿôlām: A masculine noun meaning a very long time. The word usually refers to looking forward but many times expresses the idea of looking backward; …time beyond this temporal sphere, especially when used regarding God…”

Rock: “6697. צוּר ṣûr: A masculine noun meaning a rock. It refers to a large rock, a boulder… a cliff or wall of rock… a symbol of stability… of God as the Rock to look to and depend on…”

Trust: “982. בָּטַח bāṭaḥ: A verb indicating to trust, to be confident. It expresses the feeling of safety and security that is felt when one can rely on someone or something else. In addition, this expression can also relate to the state of being confident, secure, without fear…”

Because He Is Everlasting, He Is enduring, He Is unchanging… He Is Immutable.

“For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed,” (Malachi 3:6).

Because He Is the Rock, He Is steadfast, He Is constant… He Is Immovable

Those who trust in the Lord
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever, (Psalm 125:1-2).

Our Rock will stand when the storms of life assail. Because He Is Immutable and Immovable, we can rest without fear, confident in the safety, stability and security we have in Him, Our Everlasting Rock

And as Isaiah calls the nation to look forward in faith, as they anticipate that day when praise will overflow the land, he looks ahead to Jesus, Immutable and Immovable, Our Everlasting Rock,

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah…  (26:1).

And because He Is Our Everlasting Rock, we can trust that…

• … He will grant us His strength, safety and security.
  • …“We have a strong city;
    He sets up walls and ramparts for security, (26:1).

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it,” (Matthew 16:18).

• … He will make the way level for all who would come.
  • The way of the righteous is smooth;
    O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level. (26:7).

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6).

• … He will instruct us in the way of righteousness through His judgment on sin.
  • …For when the earth experiences Your judgments
    The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness, (26:9).

 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed, (1 Peter 2:23-24).

• … He will establish us in His peace
  • Lord, You will establish peace for us,
    Since You have also performed for us all our works, (26:12).

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).

• … He will display His Name above all names as our only Master, King, and Lord.
  • O Lord our God, other masters besides You have ruled us;
    But through You alone we confess Your name, (26:13).

And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” (Revelation 19:16).

• … He will receive the glory as He adds the increase.
  • You have increased the nation, O Lord,
    You have increased the nation, You are glorified;
    You have extended all the borders of the land, (26:15).

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness… ¹³ Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, (2 Corinthians 9:10, 13).

• … He will raise the dead to life.
  • Your dead will live;
    Their corpses will rise.
    You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy,
    For your dew is as the dew of the dawn,
    And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits, (26:19).

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,” (John 11:25).

How do we respond to Him, Our Everlasting Rock?

Isaiah wrote to a nation facing unimaginable suffering as a consequence of their rejection of Holy God. But the reality is, sometimes suffering comes to the most faithful of His followers, merely as a result of living in a fallen world. Remaining steadfast, unwavering and constant, is essential to having peace in the midst of the tragedies and adversities of life. But how? When our world is rocked, how can we remain steadfast in our faith?

 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
⁴ “Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock, (26:3-4).

Isaiah clearly answers this question. The one who has trained her mind to depend on only Him Who Is Immutable and Immovable, will have His perfect peace. The one who stands in faith, solely on Him, Our Everlasting Rock will be kept in perfect peace, even in the most catastrophic, the most unthinkable, the most horrific of circumstances.

The day before I found myself in this chapter, I witnessed exactly this kind of trust; well actually I held it in my arms. I share the following with permission to do so:

A precious godly mother who lost her 28 year-old son to a tragic accident; the son who was an admirable young husband and father to his beautiful wife and precious baby boy; the son who was instrumental in his entire family coming to faith in Christ after attending Vacation Bible School as a five-year-old and excitedly insisting his unsaved parents attend church to hear him sing at the closing night festivities; the son who loved Jesus, his family and people, and lived life big; the son who had a successful and promising future in his career and was loved by everyone who had ever been privileged to work with him, for him, or know him; this son, so unthinkably gone.

At the family’s visitation, people waited in a line that seemed to extend two city blocks for more than two and half hours, just to be able to tell his parents, his wife, and his family of their love, respect, admiration, and appreciation for this one tragically taken far too soon.

After two and half hours of being hugged and consoled by the throng of visitors, she and I found ourselves wrapped in one another’s arms as tears of anguish flowed from us both. All I could do was silently pray as I expressed my sorrow. But then, from out of this place of torrential grief and guttural weeping, her words flowed as profusely as her tears. And what she spoke carried me along with her into the Presence of Him, Our Everlasting Rock, as she quoted God’s Word as though they were her own.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners; (Isaiah 61:1)

And from out of the depths of her pain rose her faith in the promise of God. Her sorrow was not diminished, oh, her grief ran deep; but she chose to look beyond the horrific nightmare which had been forced upon her as she fixed her mind on the past promise that had been fulfilled in Christ, and on the promise for her future when she will surely be reunited with her son. But she also chose to see the goodness of God in the promise for the present as she spoke, “My son’s life will not have been in vain.” And she began to share how the message of the gospel would be preached at the funeral.

On the following day, during a three-hour funeral like I have never before experienced, tribute was paid to the life of this young man through testimonies from his pastors, family and friends. During the time of worship expressed through song, I watched this mother, consumed by both grief and faith, raise her hands in worship to the One she chose to trust, even in this. And before the service concluded, holy tribute was given to the One Who had saved her son and his family as the gospel message of Jesus Christ was shared in Spanish and English. This family would make sure everyone heard the message of forgiveness, salvation and hope found only in Jesus Christ.

Is this really possible? Can we really have perfect peace in such a time? Peace does not mean absence of trouble. Jesus told us we should expect trouble and tribulation.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (John 1r6:33).

In Jesus we have His Peace. Jesus the Perfect One grants us His Perfect Peace. But His Peace is not meant to be poured over us as though we were standing beneath a waterfall. His Peace is meant to fill us to overflowing, the way it overflowed from my friend, as we drink from the Living Waters of His Word to keep our minds steadfast in the Truth of Who He Is. He Is Our Everlasting Rock, Immutable and Immovable.

Please pray for my friend and her family. The days and months ahead will present new awareness of grief and mourning. Please pray they are strengthened in their trust; that the Lord will keep them steadfast of mind. And let us pray for ourselves as well, that we would be so filled with His Truth, that if, or when, the unthinkable happens, we will be enabled to stand immutable and immovable, kept in His Perfect Peace as we trust in Him, Our Everlasting Rock.

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
⁴ “Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock, (26:3-4).

Let’s Grow Together!