Isaiah 26:2,3

"Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

In the chapters prior to this verse Isaiah describes the judgment that will fall on the nations. This judgment is yet to come even in our time. But at the end of this description Isaiah speaks of the LORD making a feast unto all people. After judgment will come joy in God's presence. As is the case with judgment, there are some that receive it, and there are others that are spared it. Those who are spared this coming judgment will be those who will enjoy the feast. Who will be the ones that are spared? These two verse tell us; the righteous nation, also known as those that trust in the LORD.

Who is this righteous nation? Speaking of the human race, Paul told the Romans that "... There is none righteous, no, not one. there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." What condemnation! The sad truth is it appears that in all of the human race there is no such thing as a righteous nation. We all prefer our own ways to His. This is nothing but rebellion. Later in the same chapter Paul tells the Romans, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Compounding the problem is, as Paul here tells his readers, that following the law will not gain us any favor with God. We cannot be justified, made righteous, before God by the deeds of the law. All the law does is to show us that we are sinners, working against God. Is there nobody that can be saved from God's judgment? Who is the righteous nation?

Wonderfully, by God's grace, there is more to tell. Even further in Romans 3 Paul says, "But now the righteousness of God without (apart from) the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace... " It is righteousness that is supplied by God that makes a person righteous, and a member of the righteous nation. And how is that righteousness applied? Through faith in Jesus Christ. Trusting Him to make us righteous, trusting that His death satisfied the justice of God, moves us from the group that is judged to the group that is spared. It is all because of Christ. The passage in Isaiah agrees. Isn't it wonderful how scripture explains itself? The Hebrew word that is translated "stayed" in Isaiah 26:3 means, to lean or lay upon, to rest upon, or to lean against. This is an intimate place of trust, and it is the only place of security in this world. Those who have placed themselves in Christ, and are depending on, leaning on, Him against the day of judgment, are the ones that are made righteous, and are part of the righteous nation. Isaiah says that they are kept in peace. They are the ones who will enjoy the feast that God will bring. Notice, too, that these ones are characterized by trust. Simple trust in the living almighty God, also called faith, is what makes the difference between being judged and being spared. Those who are spared the judgment are those that have placed their trust in the LORD Jesus Christ. God judged Him in their place, and so they are spared.

The greatest fear every person should have is that of falling into the hands of the living God. Looking for peace before Him? Lean on Him. Trust in Him. He is faithful. The day of feasting in His presence is coming!

HJK