This Hymn helps brings the truth to our hearts that God himself, is a safe place in this dark world of sin.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Songs of the Kingdom #374
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they.
Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.
It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to Heaven's perfect peace.
Edward Henry Bickersteth 1825-1906
This hymn began as lyrics published in 1875 in a small collection called "Songs in the House of Pilgrimage." Below is an account of the composer's daughter reflecting on how the hymn was inspired.
"On a Sunday morning in August, the Vicar of Harrogate, Canon Gibbon, happened to preach from the text, 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee," Isaiah 26:3 and alluded to the fact that in the Hebrew the words are "Peace, peace," twice repeated, and happily translated in the 1611 translation by the phrase, "Perfect peace."
This sermon set my father's mind working on the subject. He always found it easiest to express in verse whatever subject was uppermost in his mind, so that when on the afternoon of that Sunday he visited an aged and dying relative, Archdeacon Hill of Liverpool, and found him somewhat troubled in mind, it was natural to him to express in verse the spiritual comfort which he desired to convey. Taking up a sheet of paper he then and there wrote down the hymn just exactly as it stands, and read it to this dying Christian."
Certainly, these seven short verses capture and answer some of the most troubling questions we face in life.
Jerry Maday