Isaiah 26:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: O LORD, in distress they sought you; they poured out a whispered prayer when your discipline was upon them.

NIV: LORD, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer.

NASB: Lord, they sought You in distress; They could only whisper a prayer, Your discipline was upon them.

CSB: Lord, they went to you in their distress; they poured out whispered prayers because your discipline fell on them.

NLT: Lord, in distress we searched for you. We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline.

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

NKJV: Lord, in trouble they have visited You, They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.

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).

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).