Chapter 26 is part of a larger section (Isaiah 24—27) centered around celebrating the Lord's ultimate judgment of wickedness during the end times. These chapters also mention His reign over the earth from His throne in Jerusalem. The judgment and devastation of the earth has been told. The great feast of the ordination of the Lord as King has been described. Now, Isaiah presents a song that will be sung in Judah on that day.

The prophet's song moves back and forth between that future celebration and the realities of his current day. This song gives praise to God for the victory over His enemies. At the same it also calls the Lord to bring judgment upon enemies. It acknowledges Israel's faithlessness and their suffering under the Lord's discipline, while also looking forward to the resurrection of God's people.

Isaiah begins in celebration mode, pointing to the strong city of the Lord's salvation. He calls for the gates to open for the nation which honors God. In ancient cities, gates were the primary means of entry and a key part of defenses. The "walls and bulwarks" imply that this city is indeed strong; only if the gates are deliberately opened can anyone hope to enter. Isaiah reminds the people that God keeps in "perfect peace" all who keep their minds focused on Him. He calls believers to trust in the Lord forever because He is secure, referring to God as an "everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26:1–4).

In contrast with the city of the righteous, Isaiah mentions another which sums up the world system and its people. This is a lofty city—implying one set on a high, safe place such as a mountainside—which the Lord has judged. The prophet Obadiah similarly noted that the Edomites thought they were secure in their mountain fortresses (Obadiah 1:3–4); but God would still defeat them (Obadiah 1:19–21). Isaiah speaks of what he sees in prophecy using the past tense. He shows that even the poor and powerless now trample over that once imposing "city" of worldliness and those who used it to rule over others (Isaiah 26:5–6).

The Lord takes away obstacles and dangers which come to those who ignore Him. The natural consequences of sin are not shallow punishment. They are warnings pointing sinners towards the truth (Proverbs 19:25; Romans 2:4). The life of God-believers is not easier than that of non-believers (John 16:33), but it is not filled with spiritual dangers. God's people wait on those prepared paths, for the Lord to act. That's what Isaiah desires the most. His soul longs for the Lord. He knows that the world will not learn righteousness until the Lord bring judgment on wickedness. He also knows that the wicked will not change their ways in response to only the threat of the Lord's justice. Isaiah prays for the Lord to show the world that He supports His people by consuming His enemies (Isaiah 26:7–11).

In the end, the Lord will bring peace to Israel and Judah. After all, God is the source of every good thing they have ever accomplished. They no longer acknowledge the other human tyrants who have ruled over them. Those other rulers are all dead and gone and not worth talking about. The Lord alone has increased their nation, both in population and size, for His own glory (Isaiah 26:12–15).

Near the end of the chapter, Isaiah acknowledges the distress in Israel and Judah brought on by the Lord's discipline. God's response to their sin is, again, meant to bring them back to Him. The people responded by seeking Him and whispering prayers to God. Their suffering was intense. It only increased; the prophet compares their suffering to a woman in labor. In the end, though, their pain resulted in no victory. They failed to provide deliverance to the earth from the suffering caused by other nations. This failure was brought on because they did not remain faithful to the Lord their God (Isaiah 26:16–18).

Still, those who have died, belonging to the Lord, will be raised from the dead. Those who have been raised will rejoice aloud to their Lord. For now, they will remain safe and hidden while God pours out His fury to punish evildoing. All death and bloodshed will be exposed by the Lord's judgment (Isaiah 26:19–21).

Isaiah 26:1–15 celebrates the Lord's future victory over wickedness on the earth and looks forward to the coming of God's judgment. Isaiah longs for that judgment to come. But the prophet knows the Lord gives perfect peace to all who stay focused on trusting Him. Only the Lord God remains of all those who attempted to rule over Israel.

Isaiah 26:16–21 recalls the distress of the Lord's discipline. When Israel sinned, God sent them consequences to inspire repentance. Despite the struggles and trials of life on earth, human effort eventually comes to nothing. And yet, for those who trust in God, there will be a resurrection of the dead. Isaiah calls for the people of the Lord to take shelter while the fury of God's judgment passes over the earth.

Chapter 26 is a song to be sung in the land of Judah during the time of the Lord's reign as king over the earth. The towering city of wickedness has been replaced by the strong city of salvation. Isaiah waits, longing for the Lord to come and judge the sinfulness of the world. The Lord will bring peace to Israel for good. Their other rulers are dead and not worthy of remembering. The Lord's discipline has caused His people to turn back to Him. The dead among them will be resurrected after the fury of His judgment.

Chapter 26 is part of a larger section that includes chapters 24–27. The section of the book follows the descriptions of the Lord's judgment on the earth and the beginning of His kingdom through a song to be sung in Judah during that time. The wicked city of the world has been replaced with the city of salvation. Isaiah longs for the Lord to come and judge the earth. The prophet wants all to see the Lord's zeal for His own people by destroying His enemies. Isaiah remembers God's discipline and looks forward to the resurrection of the dead among His people.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 11/21/2024 4:59:55 AM

© Copyright 2002-2024 Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved.

Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.

www.BibleRef.com