Do We Have the Best?

My devotional time is mostly spent reading word studies (I know, GEEK!) But I cannot tell you the understanding I receive after the original intent is explained, the language translated and the cultural setting painted.  Isaiah breaks out in praise…

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

LOVE this verse. It gives direction; keep my mind focused on God. (see 2 Corinth. 10:5) It offers effect; my trust in God causes Him to keep me in His perfect peace.

Perfect peace. Interesting, perfect is not found in the Hebrew in this verse. Isaiah simply repeats shalom (peace) “You will keep him in shalom shalom…”  Hebrew grammar does not have comparative or superlative adjectives like good, better – best, to show degrees, often times the word is just repeated. An example would be if I were to say, “I love love chocolate than caramel.” Meaning, I love chocolate best. (Which I do)  So this peace, (meaning rest, healing, safety and security, even wholeness) is MORE.  God is our peace; He is our rest, healing, safety and security. He is. He is BEST.  His stuff is superior. Remember Jesus saying: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.“ (John 14:27, emphasis mine) Jesus stuff is best.

Trust. This ancient word (batach) conveys the idea of glue, or as we would say today, weld. Welding is the melting of two pieces into each other, where the two pipes (if you will) intermingle. The idea is firmness and solidity. A journeyman welder would testify if the pipe were to break, the break would indeed be elsewhere than the connecting welding spot. THIS is what trust is, the melting of myself, mixed with God. Solid.

My challenge: As I keep my mind set and fixed on Him, allowing myself to be welded into God, then I receive the BEST. The best rest, healing, safety and so stinkin secure! Isaiah continues in the very next verse: “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” (v 4) THAT is some pretty solid God stuff.

How is our welding? To whom and to what are we welded?  What holds our attention, our imaginations and where might our break be?  Do we have the best?  Point to ponder.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)

* Geeky resources: Biblical Hebrew Studies, Chaim Benorah, Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, Complete Word Study Dictionary of Hebrew, Theological Word Study of the Old Testament, Vines Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament, New American Standard Bible Dictionary of the Old Testament. Translations referenced: Hebrew Interlinear, NIV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, ESV, NET, NLT and MSG for visual.