“In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city; He sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock.'” Is. 26:1-4
Devotional Thought For The Day
The description of “that day” begins in the previous chapter, and shows that Isaiah is looking at the whole of God’s actions and plans, His gift of redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus, the establishment of His church, and the justice God provides for the impenitent, the ruthless, those who insist upon remaining “foreigners” to God and His kingdom. He begins by writing: “O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You; I will praise Your Name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” [Is. 25:1] He then relates God’s destruction of the wicked, the proud and arrogant of the earth who oppress and abuse others, and the establishment of the church, the feast of His salvation, the removal of the veil of ignorance that covers people [ignorance of His gracious mercy and love and proud delusion that we can please Him with our good works, that we do not need His help] and the veil of His curse upon human sin, forgiving sin and wiping away all tears so that His people of faith are glad and rejoice in His salvation. [Is. 25:2-9] The result is the vindication of humble people of faith who confess their sins and rejoice only in His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love – and who by faith thus participate in His renewal of their hearts and minds in love. [Is. 25:8] All of this is based in His Word and established and brought into existence by His Word, as Isaiah notes: “For the Lord has spoken.” [Is. 25:8]
So within the church [the land of Judah] “this song will be sung” – about the strong city that God has made for us with His salvation as our “walls and bulwarks.” The invitation is made to the “righteous,” all those who believe in God and to whom God accounts such faith as righteousness – like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, John, James – all of the prophets and apostles, and all who receive God’s Word from their pens [Holy Scripture, the Bible] and believe and trust in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness, His wondrous love and power. Oh that everyone would enter those gates, would embrace Jesus by faith, and rejoice in the salvation of God – taking every opportunity to drink this fine wine of His rich love and goodness and sing the song of His praise! It is the saddest reality that to this day the ruthless, violent, proud, ignorant, and oppressive still far outnumber those with faith and reverence for God – but the day is coming when their judgment and demise will be complete. Lord, have mercy.
Note the blessing of faith that is granted to those who trust in God: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.” It is not just the assurances of God’s grace and mercy which does this, the mere words, for we struggle with unbelief and doubt. Rather it is the actual mercy and power of God which accompanies His Word that strengthens our faith and trust in Him, and ultimately keeps us in perfect peace, His Word which creates and blesses and brings reality into being – as our minds are “stayed” on God – focused on Him, fixated on Him, and enraptured by the glory of His love in Christ Jesus. [2 Cor. 4:6] It is the LORD GOD Who keeps us in perfect peace, and this is part of the blessings of His salvation and His kingdom. So we are encouraged to keep faith and trust in Him, to trust in Him forever, for He is an “everlasting Rock,” the only God, the True and Living God, full of grace, mercy, love and compassion. These are His “plans formed of old, faithful and sure,” which He brings to pass and accomplishes in the formation of the church – and it is all absolutely sure and certain “for the Lord has spoken.”
So let us continue to sing this song, and enter in, and rejoice, and to have perfect peace, to have our minds fixed on Christ, trusting Him. His plans include our deliverance, our vindication, the destruction and removal of all evil, and the glory of His eternal heavenly kingdom. This is His plan – what He has spoken and produced – and we are included. Thanks and praise be to God.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, our everlasting Rock, thank You for revealing and establishing Your wondrous plans for our redemption and salvation. Thank You for bringing us into Your strong city with walls and bulwarks of salvation, and for feeding us with the richness of Your gracious love. Increase our faith and trust in You, and keep us in perfect peace. Bring many others to the contemplation of Your love that they also may enjoy the blessing of fixing their minds on You. Give us joy even now in Your salvation, and bring us to the perfect joy of the culmination of Your gracious and loving plans for us. Amen.