Isaiah26

This chapter presents a song of praise for God's strong city, where salvation serves as walls for the righteous nation. It declares that perfect peace is found in trusting the LORD JEHOVAH, who brings down the proud and exalts the humble. The chapter also anticipates divine judgment upon the wicked, while promising resurrection for God's dead. Finally, it exhorts God's people to hide themselves for a moment before His final wrath upon the earth.
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A Song of Trust in the Strong City

1
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. ​
2
Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. ​
3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. ​
4
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: ​
5
For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. ​
6
The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy. ​

Waiting for God's Righteous Judgment

7
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
8
Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. ​
9
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. ​
10
Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. ​
11
LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. ​

Confession and Prayer for Peace

12
LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. ​
13
O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. ​
14
They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. ​
15
Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth. ​
16
LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
17
Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. ​
18
We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. ​

The Hope of Resurrection and Final Judgment

19
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. ​
20
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. ​
21
For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. ​

Study Notes for Isaiah 26

Verse 1

This song belongs to the promised 'day' of final restoration (25:9). The 'strong city' is the redeemed Jerusalem, whose defense is not military might but the divine presence ('salvation... for walls and bulwarks').

Verse 2

The gates are opened not simply to the inhabitants of Judah, but specifically to the 'righteous nation,' emphasizing that moral character is the prerequisite for entering the restored community.

Verse 3

The phrase 'perfect peace' (Hebrew: *shalom shalom*) signifies complete, total well-being. This state is conditioned upon a mind 'stayed' (firmly fixed or supported) on God through trust.

Verse 4

The name 'LORD JEHOVAH' (*Yah Yahweh*) is a rare intensified form emphasizing God’s eternal, self-existent nature and reliability. It encourages perpetual trust.

Verse 5

This contrasts the security of God's city (v. 1) with the destruction of the 'lofty city'—a symbol of human pride, arrogance, and the worldly power structure (often associated with Babylon).

Verse 6

The reversal of fortunes is complete: the oppressed poor and needy will literally walk over the ruins of their former oppressors.

Verse 8

The faithful acknowledge that they have waited patiently for God's 'judgments' (acts of justice). Their deepest spiritual longing is for God's revealed name and renown.

Verse 9

The prophet states the dual purpose of divine judgment: it is punitive for the wicked, but instructional for the inhabitants of the world, leading them to 'learn righteousness.'

Verse 10

This is a tragic observation: even divine grace ('favour') does not lead the persistently wicked to repentance. Their refusal to 'behold the majesty of the LORD' seals their fate.

Verse 11

The wicked willfully ignore God’s impending judgment ('hand is lifted up') but will eventually be forced to see it and be shamed when God defends His people.

Verse 12

The community recognizes that true peace (*shalom*) is a divine ordination, not a human achievement. God is the active agent who 'wrought all our works in us.'

Verse 13

This is a confession of the people’s history, acknowledging that they were subjected to foreign powers ('other lords') who claimed worship and allegiance. They now reaffirm exclusive loyalty to Yahweh.

Verse 14

The 'other lords' and oppressors are utterly destroyed and permanently excluded from the future resurrection, signifying the finality of their judgment and the end of their memory.

Verse 15

Despite the oppression and scattering (implied by 'removed it far'), the people praise God for His faithfulness in preserving and increasing the nation, demonstrating His glory.

Verse 17

This intense metaphor describes the severe distress and anguish experienced by the people while waiting for deliverance.

Verse 18

The 'bringing forth wind' means their suffering and efforts were fruitless; they could not achieve their own deliverance or subdue their enemies. Human efforts alone are empty.

Verse 19

This is one of the clearest Old Testament declarations of bodily resurrection, affirming that God will bring the dead of His people back to life in the age of restoration, symbolized by life-giving dew.

Verse 20

The prophet commands the faithful to take refuge (enter their 'chambers') during the brief but intense period of God’s final judgment on the earth ('the indignation').

Verse 21

This verse describes the terrifying manifestation of God leaving His heavenly dwelling to execute judgment. The earth itself will reveal the innocent blood (murdered victims) that it previously covered.

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