3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Have you ever considered, “What is it that hinders peace in your heart?” Whenever man fails to be in communion with God, he is unplugged from the true and ultimate source of peace. For God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures as “the God of peace” (cf. Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:20). So, whatever hinders man’s communion with God also hinders his peace.
Because sin hinders man from enjoying God’s presence and communion (cf. Psalm 5:4; 1 John 1:6-7; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16), it also obstructs God’s peace from flowing unto him (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21; Romans 3:17). Besides sin, lack of faith in God disconnects one from peace. Isaiah the prophet foretold of great “woe” (not peace) that would come upon the Jews who would trust in wealth, human strength and idols instead of their God. He forewarned them in Isaiah 30:1, “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” Again in Isaiah 31:1, he said, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots … but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!” So Psalm 146:3 admonishes us, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”
Only genuine trust in God and His promises can secure peace. The mind that has confidence in God shall not be frantic or distraught when it is struck by severe trials like persecution, poverty, sickness, or bereavement. Isaiah was addressing the Jews who would in the near prophetic future be stripped of their possessions and be carried away to a far distant land as captives and slaves. Despite being humiliated and subjected to great reproaches and scorn, the remnant Jews’ confidence in God would not be shaken. They would still trust in Him and believe that He could and would make a way for them. Their mind would thus be kept in perfect peace. The phrase “perfect peace” in Hebrew is “peace, peace”; such a repetition of the word denotes emphasis, and here it evidently points to undisturbed, perfect peace. So it has been with thousands and thousands of the persecuted and afflicted people of God, including His martyrs. When they committed their cause to Him amidst the storms of persecution, in the prison and even at the stake, the Lord kept them all in perfect peace.