Isaiah 26:1-9 A deep longing satisfied Seeking peace in Him

From the beginning God offered peace and rest to His people. He created in them a need for this peace and rest.

People were looking for peace in the first chapters of Genesis. On one hand, Eve, Cain, Lamak, the nephalim, Nimrod, the people of Babel, and even Satan and the fallen angels. All sought peace, but they sought it by personal effort, personal intervention, personal exaltation. All sought peace in all types of ways, but all sought peace apart from God.

On the other hand, there was Abel, Seth, Noah, Shem, and their ancestors of faith. These recognized that only the peace that God gives is real peace. Only in a relationship with God, does peace come.

We see lessons learned.

Yet today we stand in the same place. We all want peace.

However, people search for peace in a thousand places. The only commonality is that they are seeking peace apart from God.

But some come to realize that the only place of real peace comes from a relationship with Him – walking with Him – listening to and responding to Him

(ESV) Isaiah 26 1 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. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

7 The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous. 8 In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. 9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

May we recognize this deep longing for peace

And

Seek peace in Him

Isaiah 26:1-9

I. Seeking Peace in Him: Real Peace

A. Genuine peace

(ESV) Isaiah 26 3 You keep him in perfect peacewhose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

1. Setting

(ESV) Isaiah 26 1 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. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

a) Suffering people

b) Millenium time of reversal - justice on the earth / a peace on earth

c) Already though not yet – reap spiritual though not yet physical – question where place trust

2. Shalom

a) Ceasing from war

b) More than physical battle

(1) Wholeness

(2) Completeness

(3) Quietness of soul

(4) Cessation of struggle

3. Inner quietness and confidence

(ESV) Isaiah 32 17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

1. Peace peace

a) A peace that really is peace,

b) Genuine peace

c) Complete peace

B. Sourced in the Lord

(ESV) Isaiah 26 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

1. Found in God’s city – in the place of salvation

a) A secure place of peace

(ESV) Isaiah 26 1 … “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.

(1) Only in the walled city is safety

b) Entrance qualifications – righteousness

(ESV) Isaiah 26 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enterin.

(1) But how?

(2) Who is righteous?

(ESV) Isaiah 26 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

c) Keeps faith (s) – faith in its fullness – every aspect of life

d) A faith that is real – impacting of life

(ESV) Romans 5 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Peace maintained by Him

a) Found in “YOU”

b) Peace guarded and kept by Him

c) Understand if fully now – in Jesus

(ESV) Matthew 11 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

3. Aspects of this peace

a) Peace from have a relationship with God

b) Peace from knowing who has control

c) Peace from knowing where strength resides

d) Peace of conscience from all that we have done wrong

C. Given to a mind trusting Him

(ESV) Isaiah 26 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

1. Mind

a) – the tendency of the mind –mindset – way of looking at life is trusting God – your outlook resting on Him

2. Steadied

a) – made to be undeviating – rests

b) (stayed upon Jehovah hearts are fully blessed, finding as He promised perfect peace and rest

3. Object – Him (stayed on you)

4. Focus one’s mind back to Him when peace is disrupted

a) Meditate in the mind on scripture

b) Fill mind thoughts of His character and previous works

c) Occupy mind with prayer

II. Seeking Peace in Him: Based on who He is

A. The one seeking a relationship

(ESV) Isaiah 26 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God (for in Yah, the Lord) is an everlasting rock.

1. The covenant god – seeking out man – never let you go

B. Eternally active

(ESV) Isaiah 26 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord Godis an everlasting rock.

1. The I AM – eternal

2. Everlasting

C. The intimate God

(ESV) Isaiah 26 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord Godis an everlasting rock. (in Yah, the Lord)

1. Yah – diminutive name of endearment

D. The everlasting rock

(ESV) Isaiah 26 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord Godis an everlasting rock. (Rock of ages)

1. Rock for the ages - Augustus Toplady’s song “Rock of Ages”

2. Changeless

3. Foundation

4. Protection

5. Perspective

III. Seeking Peace in Him: Continual peace

A. Keep trusting

(ESV) Isaiah 26 4 Trust in the Lord forever, …

1. Not a one time deal

2. A continued demand

B. Give Him control

(ESV) Isaiah 26 7 The path of the righteous is level; you make level (smooth out) the way of the righteous.

1. Straight – clear (not necessarily easy)

2. Double meaning – morally right – naturally smoother vs. sin

3. The just one – clearing the way

4. Implies walking down the path He chooses

C. Walk in His ways

(ESV) Isaiah 26 8 (Walking) In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you;

1. Life style of godliness

2. Righteousness

(NIV) Psalm 85 8I will listen to what God the Lordwill say; he promises peace to his people, his saints— but let them not return to folly. … 10Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

(ESV) Isaiah 32 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever

IV. Seeking Peace in Him: Peace resulting in a refocused life

A. With expectation on Him

(ESV) Isaiah 26 8 In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance (fame and reputation)are the desire of our soul.

Isaiah 26 8Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;

a) Waiting Patiently (tough – admit there is nothing that we can do to achieve results - ?believe HE can)

b) Anticipate

B. Giving Him glory

(ESV) Isaiah 26 8 In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance (fame and reputation) are the desire of our soul.

1. Make Him look good

2. Desire for what you know of His character to shape your world

C. Longing for Him

9My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.

(ESV) Isaiah 26 9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. …

1. Good and bad times

2. All the time

3. Passion is for You – not what you do for me – beyond that

4. Focus on Him not circumstances

D. Serving as an example of God’s gracious love

(ESV) Isaiah 26 9 … For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 11 … Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.

1. In seeing God bless his people

2. Or in His devastating judgment on sin