Isaiah Chapter 26

From The Open Bible Project

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.

• (a) This song was made to comfort the faithful when their captivity would come, assuring them also of their deliverance, for which they should sing this song.
• (b) God’s protection and defence will be sufficient for us.

26:2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.

• (c) He assures the godly to return after the captivity to Jerusalem.

26:3 You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.

• (d) You have decreed so, and your purpose cannot be changed.

26:4 Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.

26:5 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.

• (e) There is no power so high that it can hinder God, when he will deliver his.

26:6 The foot shall tread it down; Even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy."

• (f) God will set the poor afflicted over the power of the wicked.

26:7 The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.

26:8 Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.

• (g) We have constantly abode in the adversities with which you had afflicted us.

26:9 With my soul have I desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

• (h) Meaning that by afflictions men will learn to fear God.

26:10 Let 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 Yahweh's majesty.

• (i) The wicked though God show them evident signs of his grace, will not be any better off.

26:11 Yahweh, 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.

• (k) Through envy and indignation against your people.
• (l) The fire and vengeance with which you destroy your enemies.

26:12 Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also worked all our works for us.

26:13 Yahweh our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but by you only will we make mention of your name.

• (m) The Babylonians, who have not governed according to your word.

26:14 The dead shall not live. The deceased shall not rise. Therefore have you visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish.

• (n) Meaning that the reprobate even in this life will have the beginning of everlasting death.

26:15 You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.

• (o) That is, the company of the faithful by the calling of the Gentiles.

26:16 Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.

• (p) That is, the faithful by the rods were moved to pray to you for deliverance.

26:17 Like 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, Yahweh.

• (q) That is, in extreme sorrow.

26:18 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.

• (r) Our sorrows had no end, neither did we enjoy the comfort that we looked for.
• (s) The wicked and men without religion were not destroyed.

26:19 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 forth the dead.

• (t) He comforts the faithful in their afflictions, showing them that even in death they will have life and that they would certainly rise to glory, the contrary would come to the wicked, as in (Isaiah 26:14).
• (u) As herbs dead in winter flourish again by the rain in the springtime, so they who lie in the dust will rise up to joy, when they feel the dew of God’s grace.

26:20 Come, my people, enter into your chambers, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.

• (x) He exhorts the faithful to be patient in their afflictions and to wait on God’s work.

26:21 For, behold, Yahweh comes forth 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.

• (y) The earth will vomit and cast out the innocent blood, which it has drunk, that it may care for vengeance against the wicked.