Peace, Perfect Peace

 

"You will guard them and keep them in perfect and constant peace,
whose mind, both its inclination and its character, is stayed on You,
because they commit themselves to You, lean on You, and 
confidently hope in You."
Isaiah 26:3

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, within sorrows surging round?

On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, 'mid suffering's sharpest throes?

The sympathy of Jesus breaths repose.

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 calls us to Heaven's perfect peace.

Amen

"Peace, Perfect Peace"
(1875)
Edward Henry Bickersteth Jr.
(1825-1906)

The Story Behind The Song

In 1875,  English born clergyman Edward Bickersteth was
vacationing in Harrogate, England where he listened to a sermon
by Canon Gibbon based on Isaiah 26:3. 
 Pastor Gibbon explained that in the original Hebrew text,
 the word, "peace" is used twice, indicating absolute perfection.
That same afternoon, Mr. Bickersteth was still thinking about the sermon
when he visited a dying relative.  To comfort the man, he opened his Bible
and read to him the words of Isaiah 26:3. He was then inspired to write down
 the lyrics to this  song, which he read to his relative.
 The  words of this beautiful hymn are perhaps the last 
the man ever heard before the Lord called him
 home to "Heaven's perfect peace".