Isaiah 26
Isaiah 26 is called the 'Song of Judah' or the 'Song of Salvation,' and it sings about the restoration and deliverance of God's people who will be welcomed after judgment. The chapter begins by singing of the peace and justice of God's kingdom to come, hope in salvation, and then continues with trust in God, the Lord's sovereignty who judges, and the hope of resurrection that can be expected even in times of distress. In the final section, it advises people of faith to hide themselves in God, who is their refuge, during the time of suffering.
1verseIn that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
2verseOpen the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.
3verseYou will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
4verseTrust in the LORD forever; for in the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting Rock.
5verseFor 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.
6verseThe foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.”
7verseThe way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.
8verseYes, in the way of your judgments, LORD, we have waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.
9verseWith my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
10verseLet favor 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.
11verseLORD, 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.
12verseLORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.
13verseLORD our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but we will only acknowledge your name.
14verseThe 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.
15verseYou have increased the nation, O LORD. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.
16verseLORD, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.
17verseJust 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.
18verseWe 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.
19verseYour dead shall live. Their 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.
20verseCome, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
21verseFor, 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.
Structure and Key Content
- Verses 1-6: a song about the fortified city that has been saved, praising God's righteousness and peace. It mentions open gates where the righteous may enter, and a strong city.
- Verses 7-11: meditation on the lives of the righteous and God's just judgment. A life that trusts God is contrasted with the results of people's pride and evil.
- Verses 12-19: looking toward the past, the present, and the future, emphasizing the peace God gives and the restoration of the people. Isaiah sings of a new hope like the resurrection (verse 19).
- Verses 20-21: urges God's people to hide for a little while during the period of suffering, and declares that after judgment God will reveal evil.
The Whole Chapter's Message and Meaning
In Isaiah 26, even in an age of distress and judgment, God's people are encouraged to approach God with 'trust' and 'waiting.' The central hope is that God ultimately governs all history and rescues the righteous. Even amid suffering, the message that God truly grants peace runs throughout the entire chapter: when one walks in righteousness and relies only on God, God gives real peace.
Meditation Points
- Do I trust God and enjoy peace in every area of my life?
- Even in suffering and trials, do I remember not to forget to flee to God?
- How am I hoping in God's judgment—and in the restoration he will surely provide afterward?
Try Applying It to Me
- I will make a decision to live a life that is unshaken as I rely on God in any circumstance.
- I will entrust the anxieties and sufferings of life I experience to God and seek the peace he has promised.
- Among the choices of each day, I will practice an attitude of 'doing what is right,' and I will live a life that pleases God.
