What does Isaiah 26:16 mean?

The focus of this chapter moves back and forth between three subjects. Those are celebrating God's ultimate victory for and through Israel, looking forward to the Lord's judgment of the wicked nations of the earth, and remembering the Lord's response to Israel's rebellion against Him.

Isaiah recalls how the people of Israel looked to the Lord in their suffering. Isaiah acknowledges that discomfort was brought by the Lord in His discipline for their unfaithfulness to Him. Like discipline from a loving parent, it was intended to bring His children back to Him, not to drive them further away (Hebrews 12:9).

When the pain became too much, Israel finally turned back to God by pouring out a "whispered prayer." Isaiah may mean that the nation lacked the strength to do more than utter her prayer for help to the Lord. It is a picture of complete humility. Exhausted, the nation breathes out the simplest of all prayers: "Please help us."

Hebrews 12 is clear that the Lord still disciplines His children in Christ: "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? … For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:7, 11).

The discipline Isaiah talks about here is different than God's ultimate judgment against those who have rejected Him. The Lord intends to train His children to repent when they have chosen to go in their own way. He wants them to return to the path of life and blessing that He has provided for them. The Lord's discipline is a loving action, not a punishment to make His loved ones "pay" for their sin. The only true payment for sin is death, and Jesus has already made that payment on our behalf (John 3:16).