A KEY SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 26:4 "Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is 'everlasting strength'. (Or 'Rock of ages' - margin)." (NKJV)

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

A clear invitation is given to continually, actively trust in the Lord in the sense of a constant reliance on the LORD as the unchanging provider of security and stability. Trust is to be placed in "YAH" (Hebrew: YAH is a shortened form of YHWH). "The LORD" (Hebrew: YAHWEH). What is being said is that trust in YAHWEH is never misplaced because YAHWEH is "everlasting strength", even the "Rock of ages," unchanging in His strength. character and might.

A writer describes many of the ancient buildings of Oxford University as being "leprous with age," meaning that many of them are seriously crumbling away. But the Lord, as our Rock, is unchanged by age. He cannot crumble or decay, but is ever new and whole." Herbert Lockyear. All the Promises - Zondervan

Real peace is given to the one whose "mind" (will) is stayed "on the immutable YAHWEH (Isaiah 26:3 ) and is experienced by the action of faith that persistently relies on the Lord (Isaiah 26:4 ). This results in steadfast peace because of being steadied by the immutability of His strength.

This truth is enforced by the repeated name of God's self-revelation "in YAHWEH, YAHWEH is the rock of ages." He is the absolute, underived, unlimited, unchanging God, the eternal Rock. Obedient trust in the Lord brings peace "which surpasses all understanding." (Philippians 4:7 ).

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Psalms 33:11 "The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations." (NKJV)

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

Nothing that the nations can device or scheme can change the intentions of God (Psalm 33:10 ). The plans of the evil one using wicked nations through his deception of them (Revelation 20:3 ), are foiled by God. The effort to defeat God and His purposes by the lawless one, whose coming is according to the working of Satan, the Lord will consume (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 ). All because of the unchanging purposes and plans of YAHWEH.

God cannot be manipulated or bribed, as Balak and Balaam tried to do by their sevenfold sacrifices (Numbers 23:13-14 ). God declared through Balaam that He did not change His mind or His promises.

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (NKJV)

God's plans will be carried out - nothing can or will thwart His purposes. His Word is His bond and will stand.

Isaiah 14:24 "The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, 'Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:" (NKJV)

It is comforting to know that the eternal cannot be turned from or changed in what He has purposed. In our human relationships we have all known what it is like to have someone promise something and then let us down. But this cannot happen to God's purposes nor His plans because like Him they are totally unchanging. Every commitment to us in Christ is sure of fulfilment. Our salvation is sure - our calling and gifting are sure - so is His declared purpose for His Church. All of our hopes in Christ will be fully realised, because of the given word of our immutable God.

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Psalms 100:5 "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations." (NKJV)

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

The word "good" sums up the unchanging character of God. He was good, He is good, He will always be good. He is lovely, delightful, kind, correct, right, the fountain of all that is good. As the righteous God He is the joy of His trusting people, and the terror of the wicked who refuse His salvation.

"His mercy" (Psalm 100:5 ). The Hebrew word here is 'hesed', translated "mercy" in the New King James Version, and "love" in the New International Version. The Hebrew word can be rendered,

"Loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion." Vines Complete Expository Dictionary Old and New Testament Words. Vine, Unger, White - Thomas Nelson Publishers

God is to be worshipped because He is loyal in His love and favour towards His people, and this is because God in essence is faithful, and is love and is gracious. Because of who He is He bows in love to see and meet our need. He is the unchanging God, therefore His favour and His steadfast love and devotion are everlasting. What tremendous assurance to those who have by faith entered into His grace covenant.

His Word is "truth", He is truth and cannot be other than faithful to His Word. The Hebrew word for "truth" (Psalm 100:5 ) is 'emunah' - the basic meaning is "certainty" and "faithfulness" (as in the N.I.V.). There is no uncertainty, changeableness or unreliability in the nature of God.

As C.H. Spurgeon said "As our fathers found Him faithful, so will our sons and their seed forever. A changeable God would be a terror to the righteous. They would have no sure anchorage, and amid a changing world they would be driven to and fro in perpetual fear of shipwreck." The Treasury of David. Hendrickson Publishers

The eternal God is unchanging. God's self revelation in the Scriptures asserts it. His majestic immutability is manifest in His glorious, distinctive attributes. Active faith in YAHWEH the unchanging God, brings steadfast peace - the immutable God cannot fail in His plans and purposes. Because He is the unchanging, faithful God our proper response should be thankfulness, praise and happy service.