~Peace, Perfect Peace

       One morning in 1875 Canon Gibbon of Harrogate preached from the text: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)

       The Hebrew word is “peace, peace” instead of perfect peace.

       Bishop Bickersteth wrote the hymn, putting each first line in the form of a question and giving the answer in each second line: “Peace, perfect peace—in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.”

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Peace, Perfect Peace[1]

1           Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin:

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

2           Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed:

To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

3           Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round:

On Jesus’ bosom nought but calm is found.

4           Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away:

In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.

5           Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown:

Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

6           Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours:

Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

7           It is enough; earth’s struggles soon shall cease,

And Jesus call us to Heaven’s perfect peace.