Isaiah26
English Standard Version
1In that will be in the of : We have a ; he as and .
2 the , that the that may enter .
3You him in whose is on you, he in you.
4 in the Lord , the Lord God is an .
5 he has the of the , the . He lays it , lays it to the , it to the .
6The it, the of the , the of the .
7The of the is ; you the of the .
8In the of your , O Lord, we for you; your and are the of our .
9My yearns for in the ; me you. when your are in the , the of the .
10If favor is to the , he does ; in the of he and does the of the Lord.
11O Lord, your is , but they do it. Let them your for your , and be . the for your them.
12O Lord, you will for us, you have for us our .
13O Lord our , other you have over us, but your we bring to .
14They are , they will ; they are , they will ; to that you have them with and of them.
15But you have the , O Lord, you have the ; you are ; you have the of the .
16O Lord, in they you; they a when your was upon them.
17 a who and cries in her when she is to giving , were we of you, O Lord;
18we were , we , we have given to . We have in the , and the of the have .
19Your shall ; their shall . You who in the , and ! your is a of , and the will to the .
20 , my , your , and your you; yourselves for a the has .
21 , the Lord is his to the of the for their , and the will the shed on it, and will its .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 26.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Divine mercies encourage to confidence in God. (1-4). His judgments. (5-11). His people exhorted to wait upon Him. (12-19). Deliverance promised. (20,21).
vv1-4
"That day," seems to mean when the New Testament Babylon shall be levelled with the ground. The unchangeable promise and covenant of the Lord are the walls of the church of God. The gates of this city shall be open. Let sinners then be encouraged to join to the Lord. Thou wilt keep him in peace; in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, in all events. Trust in the Lord for that peace, that portion, which will be for ever. Whatever we trust to the world for, it will last only for a moment; but those who trust in God shall not only find in him, but shall receive from him, strength that will carry them to that blessedness which is for ever. Let us then acknowledge him in all our ways, and rely on him in all trials.
vv5-11
The way of the just is evenness, a steady course of obedience and holy conversation. And it is their happiness that God makes their way plain and easy. It is our duty, and will be our comfort, to wait for God, to keep up holy desires toward him in the darkest and most discouraging times. Our troubles must never turn us from God; and in the darkest, longest night of affliction, with our souls must we desire him; and this we must wait and pray to him for. We make nothing of our religion, whatever our profession may be, if we do not make heart-work of it. Though we come ever so early, we shall find God ready to receive us. The intention of afflictions is to teach righteousness: blessed is the man whom the Lord thus teaches. But sinners walk contrary to him. They will go on in their evil ways, because they will not consider what a God he is whose laws they persist in despising. Scorners and the secure will shortly feel, what now they will not believe, that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. They will not see the evil of sin; but they shall see. Oh that they would abandon their sins, and turn to the Lord, that he may have mercy upon them.
vv12-19
Every creature, every business, any way serviceable to our comfort, God makes to be so; he makes that work for us which seemed to make against us. They had been slaves of sin and Satan; but by the Divine grace they were taught to look to be set free from all former masters. The cause opposed to God and his kingdom will sink at last. See our need of afflictions. Before, prayer came drop by drop; now they pour it out, it comes now like water from a fountain. Afflictions bring us to secret prayer. Consider Christ as the Speaker addressing his church. His resurrection from the dead was an earnest of all the deliverance foretold. The power of his grace, like the dew or rain, which causes the herbs that seem dead to revive, would raise his church from the lowest state. But we may refer to the resurrection of the dead, especially of those united to Christ.
Key Words
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
שִׁיר: to sing
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
עֹז: strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
עִיר: a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
שִׁית: to place (in a very wide application)
יְשׁוּעָה: something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity
Cross References
Isaiah 26Salvation appointed as walls and bulwarks; Isa 60:18 similarly equates salvation with walls.
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JFB links the righteous as God's 'workmanship' (Hebrew structure) to believers created in Christ.
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The gate of the Lord into which the righteous nation shall enter.
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The righteous man's heart is established (stayed), trusting in the Lord.
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Jehovah as the 'Rock of ages' (everlasting strength) echoes Deuteronomy's Rock.
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God weighs the path of the just; 1Sa 2:3 notes actions are weighed by Him.
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Seeking/desiring God in the night matches David's meditation on his bed.
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Other lords ruling over Israel, reflecting the consequence of subjection to foreign kings.
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Inhabitants of the world learning righteousness through manifest divine judgments.
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God working all things for us: 'The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.'
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Poole links God working our works in us to deeds 'wrought in God'.
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The corporate resurrection and restoration of Israel's dead national body.
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The remembrance/memorial of God's name throughout all generations.
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The earth disclosing her blood, echoed by Abel's blood crying from the ground.
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Indignation lasting only 'for a little moment' mirrors God's anger being for a moment.
Supported by Matthew Henry