Isaiah 26:3,4
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD Jehovah is everlasting strength.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace”―inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, under all events; this peace shall he be put into, and kept in the possession of, whose mind is stayed upon God, because it trusts in Him.
WILLIAM JAY (1769-1853): It is true this peace rises and falls, but it is only because this confidence varies. All the disquietudes which a Christian feels, spring from the weakness or the want of faith in God. It is not from outward things. These are often blamed, and these may be very trying—but it is not the water without the vessel that sinks it, but that which gets in. The primitive Christians could say, we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. It is very possible therefore to have this peace within, while in the world we have tribulation: and Christians are so accessible to fear, so preyed upon by anxiety, so depressed by afflictions of various kinds, because they do not sufficiently rely on God.
WILLIAM GURNALL (1617-1679): Seeing faith is such a choice grace, be stirred up to a more ordinary care to preserve it. Keep that, and it will keep thee.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): Faith gets above circumstances and looks at God; unbelief loses sight of God, and looks only at circumstances.
MARY WINSLOW (1774-1854): Be not over-careful about earthly things; get above them as much as you can. Look to Jesus for help when they press upon you, and He will not fail you.
WILLIAM JAY: While others are struggling in their own strength and managing all their concerns themselves, fretful when they meet with untoward events, and always dissatisfied even when they succeed, the Christian casts his burden upon the Lord and He sustains him. He leaves his affairs with God, and goes on assured that He will order them aright. His concern is only to please and glorify God in the circumstances in which He is placed. He is careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving he makes his request known unto God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding keeps his heart and mind through Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6,7.
MARY WINSLOW: All power is His in heaven and on earth. Go to Him for little things, in little straits and difficulties, at home or abroad, in a crowd or when alone; raise your heart to your Father who heareth alway, and will never leave nor forsake His own child; for He will be with you even unto the end. Look at the scenes of a busy world, how they pass away; it is but as the buzzing of a summer fly, and all is gone.
WILLIAM JAY: Past afflictions should also teach us not to be too much dejected or dismayed in prospect of future ones. For how has it been with us? We feared as we entered the cloud, but the cloud was big with mercy, and poured down blessings. What terrified us in imagination, we bore with cheerfulness. When the day of trial came, we had grace to help, in time of need; and it was found sufficient for us. And our God is the same, and has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
WILLIAM GREENHILL (1591-1677): Though His people offend Him, yet He forsakes them not, for His great name’s sake.
WILLIAM JAY: What human patience could bear with our manners and provocations? What creature-conductor is there, but would throw up his charge long before the journey’s end? But He does not cast away His people. He never leaves, nor forsakes them. This is their comfort, this is their hope, this is their security; the long-suffering of our God is salvation. “I the Lord change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed,” Malachi 3:6.
ALEXANDER CARSON (1776-1844): In the removal of the doubts of reason, let us gain confidence that the Lord will not forsake us in the time of our need.
GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714-1770): Let us be faithful today, and our Lord will support us tomorrow.
WILLIAM JAY: If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established, Isaiah 7:9. It is therefore that in proportion as the mind is stayed on God, He keeps it in perfect peace.
MARY WINSLOW: Oh for stronger faith to give full credit to what the Lord says―and to act upon it!
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): Cast the burden of the present, along with the sin of the past and the fear of the future, upon the Lord, who forsaketh not His saints.
MATTHEW HENRY: Those that trust in God must have their minds stayed upon Him—must trust Him at all times, under all events, must firmly and faithfully adhere to Him, with an entire satisfaction in Him; and such as do so God will keep in perpetual peace, and that peace shall keep them. When evil tidings are abroad, those shall calmly expect the event, and not be disturbed by frightful apprehensions arising from them, whose hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord, Psalm 112:7.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): Oh, incomparable comfort! who is then amongst you that feareth the Lord, and yet walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
