SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1342

“A Secure Peg”

And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house. – Isaiah 22:23

I recall helping my Dad with projects where he would build shelves or tie something down. When completed, he would always put the full weight of his frame on it or pull on the securing strap and state, ‘That’s not going anywhere’ to signify how secure it was.

I thought of these memories of my Dad as I read in Isaiah about a secure peg. The Hebrew word is ‘yathed’ meaning a peg, pin, or stake. These were used to securely fasten the tents and to hang valuables on an interior support beam.

Our reference Scripture from Isaiah 22:20-25 deals with two men, Shebna and Eliakim, both servants in the house of King Hezekiah. Shebna was a proud, vain man who heart was not right before God and the Lord states that the false security that Shebna relied upon was going to be cut down.

In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken. – Isaiah 22:25

Eliakim’s heart, however, was right before God and the Lord states that He will establish Eliakim as the new, secure peg that could be relied upon.

In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. – Isaiah 22:20-22

Eliakim here is a type of Christ who has the key of the house of David, the keys of Hades and Death and all authority.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens; I am the living one, I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. – Revelation 3:7; 1:18; Matthew 28:18

Where is your security? What ‘peg’ are you hanging on to?  Is your secure peg yourself? Finances and investments? Your home and possessions? Someone else? Your career?

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord! – Isaiah 31:1

Everything that is of this world is insecure. As recent events can attest, even the most secure structures will burn and fall before strong winds and tornados. The very earth we stand on, Terra Firma is being shaken violently. Are these the ‘beginning of birth pains’ Jesus speaks of in Matthew 24?

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. – Matthew 24:5-8

Do you hang on every Word of God? Do you hold on to His promises? Jesus is our steadfast anchor. He is the firstfruits of our resurrection to eternal life. Upon this Truth we can hang our faith and hope for forgiveness of sin and eternal life with Him.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain; And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. – Hebrews 6:19; John 14:3

May the Lord remove all the false security ‘pegs’ from your life. May the Lord Jesus be your only safe and secure peg. Take hold of Him. Trust Him. Without delay, set all your hope in Him and only Him. Come to Him and He will give you salvation and eternal life.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe; The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. – Matthew 11:28; Proverbs 18:10; Nahum 1:7