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Isaiah 26

1

In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.

2

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

3

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

4

Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

5

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth 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: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

8

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

9

With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

10

Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.

11

Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

12

Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

13

O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

14

They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

15

Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

16

Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

1
17

Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord.

18

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

19

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

20

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

21

For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

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Isaiah 26

This song of faith celebrates the salvation of the Lord and the preservation of the righteous remnant, emphasizing trust in God's purposes even amid uncertainty and change. The passage promises that the Lord will perfect peace for those whose minds are fixed on Him, establishing that authentic faith produces deep spiritual tranquility despite outward circumstances. The oracle calls the faithful to enter the chambers and shut the doors, riding out the indignation of the Lord in a posture of faithful waiting and trust. The prophecy promises the resurrection of the dead and exhorts the dwellers in the dust to awake and sing, a remarkable vision of eschatological hope that points toward the ultimate renewal of all creation. The song celebrates that the Lord will strengthen the faithful remnant and will establish their works, promising that the purposes of God will be accomplished through those who trust in Him. The passage establishes that authentic faith persists through judgment and uncertainty, waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises despite delay and suffering. The vision of resurrection within an Old Testament context (verse 19) constitutes a remarkable development of eschatological hope, suggesting that divine salvation extends beyond historical restoration to encompass transformation of the dead. Isaiah 26 demonstrates that the ultimate resource of the faithful is not external circumstances but rather trust in God's character and confidence in His purposes. This hymn establishes that joy, peace, and strength flow from covenantal relationship with God and commitment to His purposes, regardless of external circumstances.

Isaiah 26:1

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts as protection, establishing that salvation culminates in the fortification and protection of Judah, with the city becoming a place of security grounded in God's defense. The singing of the song in the land represents the communal joy and thanksgiving that accompanies salvation. The contrast with the preceding oracles against cities destroyed establishes that Zion alone stands secure, protected not by human military achievement but by God's presence. The strong city represents the vindicated and restored community, the remnant that has endured judgment and been gathered into salvation. This verse begins the hymn of trust and confidence that characterizes chapter 26, establishing the perspective of the saved community praising God.

Isaiah 26:2

Open the gates that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in, establishing that entry into the saved city is mediated by righteousness and faithfulness, covenantal virtues rather than human military strength. The opening of gates invokes the imagery of entry into sanctuary, the gathering of the faithful into the presence of God. The emphasis on the righteous nation and those who keep faith suggests that the remnant that enters the city consists of those who have maintained covenant commitment despite trial and judgment. The directive to open gates emphasizes that salvation is inclusive, that the gates are open to all who conform their lives to covenant righteousness. This verse establishes the ethical condition for participation in salvation.

Isaiah 26:3

The mind steadfast in You He keeps in perfect peace, because it trusts in You, establishing that peace—the ultimate fruit of salvation—is grounded in unwavering trust and devotion to God, maintained through the constant turning of the mind toward God. The steadfastness required represents not a single moment of decision but an ongoing orientation toward God that preserves the believer in peace. The perfect peace represents the deepest form of shalom—wholeness, harmony, right relationship—that flows from union with God. The verse establishes that peace is not the absence of external threat but the internal state of one whose trust is wholly placed in God. This verse represents one of Isaiah's most beloved and quoted affirmations of the relationship between faith and peace.

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the LORD forever; for the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting rock, emphasizing the trustworthiness of God as the foundation of faith and the permanence of God as an everlasting rock upon which believers can build their lives with confidence. The repetition of "the LORD"—Yah, YHWH—suggests the full invocation of God's name and character, establishing that the basis for trust is the divine nature itself. The rock imagery suggests stability, immovability, and the provision of secure foundation. The word "forever" establishes the timelessness of God and the permanence of trust in God as opposed to the transience of human institutions and powers. This verse distills the central affirmation of faith that undergirds Isaiah's entire prophecy.

Isaiah 26:5

For He has brought down those who dwell on high; the lofty city He lays low, He lays it low to the ground, He casts it to the dust, establishing that the descent of the exalted and the humiliation of the proud are essential components of God's justice and salvation. The bringing down of those on high parallels the judgment oracles throughout Isaiah, establishing that what will be fully accomplished in eschatology is already operative in history. The threefold repetition of the laying low and casting down emphasizes the totality and finality of the humiliation. The verse suggests that the exaltation of the remnant community depends on the corresponding humiliation of those who were exalted in pride. The logic of reversal—the high made low, the low exalted—is fundamental to Isaiah's vision of salvation.

Isaiah 26:6

The foot of the afflicted, the steps of the poor, will trample it down, establishing that the vindication of the poor and afflicted includes their elevation to positions of power and honor, where they trample upon the ruins of the proud. The contrast between the afflicted who had been trampled and now trample, between the poor and those of power, suggests a complete reversal of social hierarchy grounded in God's justice. The treading upon the lofty city suggests both the literal destruction of enemy fortifications and metaphorically the vindication of the humble. This verse emphasizes that salvation includes social and political transformation, not merely spiritual blessing. The poor and afflicted, having been vindicated and exalted by God, become the agents through whom God's justice is executed.

Isaiah 26:7

The way of the righteous is smooth; You level the path of the righteous, establishing that God's providence extends to making the way of those who walk in righteousness straight and accessible, removing obstacles and smoothing the terrain. The contrast with earlier prophecies of hardship for the righteous suggests that this verse addresses the future state of salvation, when the trials that beset the faithful will have given way to ease. Yet it may also suggest that even in the present, those who walk in righteousness are guided and sustained by God's hand. The leveling of the path suggests divine action that removes what would hinder the righteous, just as much as it thwarts the proud. This verse assures believers that God's care extends to the details of their journey.

Isaiah 26:8

In the path of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our soul, establishing that the community has awaited God's judgment with patience and longing, knowing that judgment serves the revelation of God's character and glory. The waiting in the path of judgments suggests that the faithful have maintained trust and hope even in the midst of God's judicial action against the wicked. The desire for God's name and renown—for God's reputation and glory—to be revealed establishes that the deepest longing of the faithful soul is for God's honor to be vindicated. This verse suggests that waiting for God's judgment is not passive but active, directed toward the revelation of God's glory. The community's soul—the totality of their being—is oriented toward God.

Isaiah 26:9

My soul yearns for You in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks You. When the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness, establishing that the prophet's personal yearning for God and the cosmic effects of judgment are inseparable, that God's judicial work is pedagogical, teaching the world righteousness. The nocturnal longing and spiritual seeking suggest the intensity and sincerity of the prophet's devotion, the way that intimacy with God characterizes the life of faith. The connection between earthly judgment and the learning of righteousness by the inhabitants of the world suggests that God's judgments serve an educative purpose, that they reveal to creation the standards of righteousness. This verse personalizes the prophecy, showing that the theological affirmations are grounded in the prophet's own experience of longing for and communion with God.

Isaiah 26:10

If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; even in the land of uprightness he deals unjustly and does not regard the majesty of the LORD, establishing that those who receive unwarranted leniency fail to learn the lessons that judgment teaches and persist in wickedness despite favorable conditions. The contrast between favor shown and failure to learn righteousness suggests that avoiding consequences can harden rather than soften the human heart. The land of uprightness refers to places where righteousness is exemplified and taught, yet the wicked, even in such environments, remain resistant to learning. The failure to regard God's majesty—God's greatness and power—suggests that the fundamental failure of the wicked is not moral weakness but spiritual blindness, an inability or unwillingness to perceive God's reality. This verse explains why judgment is sometimes necessary: without it, some are incapable of learning.

Isaiah 26:11

O LORD, Your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see Your zeal for Your people, and be ashamed; indeed, let the fire of Your enemies consume them, expressing the prophet's prayer that God's mighty hand—raised in judgment—be perceived by the wicked, and that they be brought to shame by the revelation of God's passion for God's people. The lifted hand imagery suggests both the preparatory gesture before striking and the assertion of sovereignty. The request that they see God's hand suggests that seeing and understanding are connected to salvation and judgment: the wicked who do not perceive God's hand remain blind and resistant. The prayer for shame and consumption by fire suggests an urgent plea for God's complete vindication and the destruction of opposition.

Isaiah 26:12

O LORD, You will establish peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, You have done for us, establishing that the peace granted to the faithful community is God's gift, and acknowledging that what appears to be human accomplishment is in fact God's work through human instruments. The recognition that God has done all that the community has done reveals a profound theological humility and a correct understanding of the relationship between divine action and human agency. The establishment of peace becomes an act of grace rather than a reward earned through human merit. This verse suggests that salvation's deepest grace is the recognition that all good flows from God, that human achievement is always and finally God's achievement through human cooperation.

Isaiah 26:13

O LORD our God, other lords besides You have ruled over us; but by You alone we confess Your name, establishing that the community acknowledges that it has been subject to foreign powers yet affirms that God's sovereignty transcends and ultimately overrules all earthly rulers. The confession of God's name in exclusion of other lords represents a covenantal commitment, a refusal to acknowledge the ultimacy of any power other than God. The acknowledgment of past domination by other lords reflects historical experience while maintaining that such domination does not alter God's sovereignty. This verse suggests that the spiritual triumph of maintaining faith in God despite political subjugation constitutes a kind of victory, a refusal to allow earthly power to determine ultimate allegiance.

Isaiah 26:14

The dead do not live; the rephaim do not rise; therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all memory of them to perish, establishing that judgment against the wicked means their definitive removal from the world of the living, that there is no return or resurrection for those who have rejected God. The rephaim—the shades of the dead—represent those cut off from the living community and from God's presence, their memory erased. The finality of death and the destruction of memory suggest that judgment means not merely the ending of physical life but the severing of all continuity and remembrance. This verse, coming in the midst of affirmations of salvation for the righteous, creates stark contrast: for the wicked, judgment is final and total; for the righteous, it is the gateway to eternal communion with God.

Isaiah 26:15

You have increased the nation, O LORD; You have increased the nation; You have gained glory; You have extended all the borders of the land, establishing that God's purposes include the increase and expansion of God's people, the growth of the redeemed community and the extent of their land. The repetition of "You have increased the nation" emphasizes this central divine purpose and the glory that accrues to God through the growth of God's people. The extension of borders suggests both the literal occupation of promised land and metaphorically the expansion of God's dominion. This verse affirms that salvation is not merely spiritual or individual but includes the corporate expansion and flourishing of God's people. The growth of the nation becomes a sign of God's favor and the effectiveness of God's redemptive purposes.

Isaiah 26:16

O LORD, in distress they sought You; they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them, establishing that the path to God and the turning of hearts toward God comes through distress and divine discipline, that hardship becomes the occasion for seeking God and prayer. The pouring out of prayer suggests intense and earnest petition, the totality of the being oriented toward God in desperate need. The chastening and distress are framed not as punitive but as instrumental in bringing about this return to God. This verse suggests that divine discipline serves a pastoral purpose, that God's harshness toward the resistant is designed to bring them to repentance and renewed communion. The connection between chastening and prayer suggests that suffering, when rightly understood, opens the way to relationship with God.

Isaiah 26:17

Like a woman with child, who writhes and cries out in her pain when she is about to give birth, so were we in Your presence, O LORD, establishing that the community's distress and labor before God resembles the anguish of childbirth, a painful process that issues in new life. The childbirth imagery, used throughout Isaiah, suggests both the severity of labor and the joy that accompanies the birth of new life. The community's writhing and crying in God's presence represents authentic prayer and honest expression of suffering before God. The comparison suggests that the pain is purposeful, that it serves the bringing forth of something new. This verse personalizes the theological affirmations, showing that the community has experienced profound suffering yet recognizes its connection to divine purposes.

Isaiah 26:18

We have been with child, we have writhed, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world been born, establishing that despite the labor and suffering, the community's own efforts have proven futile, that without divine intervention no salvation can be accomplished. The bringing forth of wind—insubstantial air—represents the futility of human striving without God's power. The acknowledgment of failure to accomplish deliverance or to birth a new world establishes the community's dependence on God alone. This verse represents a profound statement of human limitation and the necessity of divine grace. The community recognizes that its suffering, while real and meaningful, cannot itself accomplish salvation; only God's power can effect true deliverance.

Isaiah 26:19

Your dead shall live; their corpses shall rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is a dew of lights, and the earth will give birth to the rephaim, introducing the theme of resurrection and establishing that salvation includes the raising of the dead and their participation in the new creation. The address to the dead dwelling in dust suggests their awakening from the sleep of death, the return to life and consciousness. The dew of lights—perhaps starlight or the dew that brings life—represents God's vivifying presence and power. The birth of rephaim—those who had been the shadowy dead—from the earth suggests their restoration to full life and participation in the covenanted community. This verse represents the clearest statement of resurrection hope in Isaiah and establishes that ultimate salvation includes the resurrection of the dead.

Isaiah 26:20

Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little moment until the indignation is past, establishing that the community is called to endure a period of judgment with faith and patience, awaiting the conclusion of God's wrath. The imagery of entering chambers and shutting doors suggests finding refuge in faith and in God's protection during a period of danger. The "little moment" suggests that while the period of indignation is extended, it is ultimately brief in relation to eternity. The call to hide suggests not escape but faithful waiting, a preservation through difficulty. This verse counsels the community to maintain faith and composure during the final judgment against the wicked, trusting that God's purpose will be fulfilled.

Isaiah 26:21

For behold, the LORD is coming 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, establishing that the ultimate judgment involves God's emergence from the heavenly sanctuary to execute final judgment against human wickedness, and that the earth itself will reveal the evidence of violence and bloodshed that has accumulated. The coming out of God's place suggests the movement from transcendence to engagement, from the heavens to earth. The disclosure of blood and the uncovering of slain suggest that all violence and crime will be exposed and accounted for, that nothing remains hidden from God's sight. The earth's inability to continue covering the slain suggests that justice demands revelation and acknowledgment. This verse emphasizes the totality and transparency of final judgment.