Isaiah Chapter 26
1 In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.
3 You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the LORD forever; for in the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting Rock.
5 For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city. He lays it low. He lays it low even to the ground. He brings it even to the dust.
6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy."
7 The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.
8 Yes, in the way of your judgements, the LORD, we have waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.
9 With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
10 Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see the LORD's majesty.
11 The LORD, your hand is lifted up, yet they don't see; but they will see your zeal for the people, and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.
12 The LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.
13 The LORD our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but we will only acknowledge your name.
14 The dead shall not live. The departed spirits shall not rise. Therefore you have visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish.
15 You have increased the nation, O LORD. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.
16 LORD, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.
17 Just as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs, so we have been before you, LORD.
18 We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19 Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the departed spirits.
20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
21 For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.
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Isaiah Chapter 26 Guide
Naturally following this prophecy of praise for the activity of Jehovah is the great song which will be sung in the day of Jehovah's ultimate victory. It is praise for the establishment of the city, and for deliverance. The deep secret of the new condition is the secret of the mind stayed on Jehovah. In Him is the Rock of Ages. He has overcome enemies and established the just.
The song merges into one of praise for this Jehovah. Other lords have had dominion, but it is Jehovah who has increased the nation and enlarged the borders of the land. Again the song becomes one of praise for deliverance. The prophet refers to the pain and travail of the past. The new condition is as resurrection out of such death, and praise is therefore fitting. Remembering that he is still speaking in the midst of judgment, the processes of which must proceed to consummation, the prophet utters a final call to the people of God, urging them to quietness and patience until the indignation be past.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Isaiah Chapter 26 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The Divine mercies encourage to confidence in God. -- (1-4)
- His judgments. -- (5-11)
- His people exhorted to wait upon Him. -- (12-19)
- Deliverance promised. -- (20,21)
Verses 1-4
"That day," seems to mean when the New Testament Babylon shall be levelled with the ground. The unchangeable promise and covenant of the Lord are the walls of the church of God. The gates of this city shall be open. Let sinners then be encouraged to join to the Lord. Thou wilt keep him in peace; in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, in all events. Trust in the Lord for that peace, that portion, which will be for ever. Whatever we trust to the world for, it will last only for a moment; but those who trust in God shall not only find in him, but shall receive from him, strength that will carry them to that blessedness which is for ever. Let us then acknowledge him in all our ways, and rely on him in all trials.
Verses 5-11
The way of the just is evenness, a steady course of obedience and holy conversation. And it is their happiness that God makes their way plain and easy. It is our duty, and will be our comfort, to wait for God, to keep up holy desires toward him in the darkest and most discouraging times. Our troubles must never turn us from God; and in the darkest, longest night of affliction, with our souls must we desire him; and this we must wait and pray to him for. We make nothing of our religion, whatever our profession may be, if we do not make heart-work of it. Though we come ever so early, we shall find God ready to receive us. The intention of afflictions is to teach righteousness: blessed is the man whom the Lord thus teaches. But sinners walk contrary to him. They will go on in their evil ways, because they will not consider what a God he is whose laws they persist in despising. Scorners and the secure will shortly feel, what now they will not believe, that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. They will not see the evil of sin; but they shall see. Oh that they would abandon their sins, and turn to the Lord, that he may have mercy upon them.
Verses 12-19
Every creature, every business, any way serviceable to our comfort, God makes to be so; he makes that work for us which seemed to make against us. They had been slaves of sin and Satan; but by the Divine grace they were taught to look to be set free from all former masters. The cause opposed to God and his kingdom will sink at last. See our need of afflictions. Before, prayer came drop by drop; now they pour it out, it comes now like water from a fountain. Afflictions bring us to secret prayer. Consider Christ as the Speaker addressing his church. His resurrection from the dead was an earnest of all the deliverance foretold. The power of his grace, like the dew or rain, which causes the herbs that seem dead to revive, would raise his church from the lowest state. But we may refer to the resurrection of the dead, especially of those united to Christ.
Verses 26:20,21
When dangers threaten, it is good to retire and lie hid; when we commend ourselves to God to hide us, he will hide us either under heaven or in heaven. Thus we shall be safe and happy in the midst of tribulations. It is but for a short time, as it were for a little moment; when over, it will seem as nothing. God's place is the mercy-seat; there he delights to be: when he punishes, he comes out of his place, for he has no pleasure in the death of sinners. But there is hardly any truth more frequently repeated in Scripture, than God's determined purpose to punish the workers of iniquity. Let us keep close to the Lord, and separate from the world; and let us seek comfort in secret prayer. A day of vengeance is coming on the world, and before it comes we are to expect tribulation and suffering. But because the Christian looks for these things, shall he be restless and dismayed? No, let him repose himself in his God. Abiding in him, the believer is safe. And let us wait patiently the fulfilling of God's promises.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.