By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH CHAPTER 26

A SONG OF PRAISE FOR REDEMPTION

   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. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

    1. "In that day", an expression used repeatedly in this section, is "the day of the Lord" wherein His mighty purpose is brought to its glorious climax, (24:21; 25:9; 26:1; 27:1-2, 12-13).
    2. It is, preeminently, a day of salvation, (12:2; 49:26; 35:4; Jer. 23: 6; 30:7; Ezek. 37:23).
    3. Jerusalem, the strong, righteous, faithful "city of habitation", and "city of the Great King" (1:26; Psa. 107:7; 101:8; 48:1-3), is set in contrast to "the city of the nations" (25:3); the saving strength of Jehovah will be the only "wall and bulwark" that she needs.
    4. A redeemed Israel, whose heart is now truly devoted to Jehovah in loving loyalty, is "the righteous nation" - though it will later be seen that a multitude "from every kindred, tongue, tribe and nation" will be engrafted, by faith, into this sphere and blessedness of covenant fellowship, (I Peter 2:7-12; Acts 15:14-18; Rom. 9:22-27; Rev. 5:9-10; 7:9-10).
    5. "Perfect peace" describes the blessedness of the trusting soul:

"Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blest -
Finding, as He promised, Perfect peace and rest", (vs. 12; 27:5; 48:18; 57:19; 66:12; Psa, 72:3, 7; Jn. 14:27).

    6. Thus, the admonition of verse 4: "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting (Rock of Ages) strength", (12:2; 50:10; Psa. 18:1-2; Isa. 17:10, 30:29; 44:6-8; Deut. 32:4, 15).

   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. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy. The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, 0 LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 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. Let favour be showed 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. 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 detour them.

    1. Divine judgment upon the oppressors of His people is adequate reason for trusting in the Lord; positive proof of His mighty strength, (vs. 5; Acts 17:30-31).
    2. The poor and needy are permitted to share in the judgment and humiliation of "them that dwell on high" - "the lofty city" being a reference to Babylon, (vs. 5-6; 28:3; comp. 3:14-15; 11:4; 29:19).
    3. In the way of uprightness the Lord directs the path of the just - imparting to them His own character, (vs. 7; Prov. 3:3-5; Isa. 57:1-2; 42:16; 52:12; Psa. 25:4-5; Rom. 3:23-28; 5:1-2).
    4. God always honors the patience of those who, recognizing His wise counsels and holy purposes, and concerned for the honor of His name (12:4; 24:15; 25:1; Ex. 3:15), await His time for acting in their behalf, (vs. 8; 51:4-6; 54:1; Isa. 40:31; 49:23; Lam. 3:25-26).
    5. In the night of her trouble and distress Israel has desired the protecting arm of her estranged lover, (Psa. 77:2-3; 78:34); in the coming morning (as the "day of the Lord" begins to dawn), she will seek Him early, (vs. 9a; Psa. 59:16; 63:1; Hos. 5:15; 6:3; Matt. 6:33).
    6. When the Lord's judgments are made manifest, the nation will come to worship Jehovah, (Rev. 15:4; Zeph. 3:8-20; Zech. 14:16).
    7. Some, even in face of the overwhelming display of God's judgments against sin and rebellion, will refuse to honor His majesty - dealing wrongfully with His elect, (vs. 10; 32:6-7; Jn. 5:37-38).
    8. Though they do not want to see (5:12; 44:9, 18), they will recognize the uplifted hand of Jehovah, in the zealous defence of His people, to their own shame and eternal ruin, (59:17-19; comp. 5:25; 9:18-19; 10:17; 66:15, 24).

   LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also heat wrought all our works in us. 0 LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by this only will we make mention of thy name. 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. Thou hast increased the nation, 0 LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth. LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. 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, 0 LORD. 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. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 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. 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. In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

    1. As the consummation of His great mercy, the Lord will ordain lasting peace for all who have abandoned themselves to Him - that He may accomplish His own perfect will through them, (vs. 12; see on vs. 3; 29:23; 60:21; 64:8 Phil. 2:12-13; I Cor. 12:6; 15:10; Heb. 13:20-21).
    2. Throughout "the times of the Gentiles" the people of God have been oppressed by various tyrants, but the Lord has always intervened in their behalf so as to win their eternal loyalty, love and praise, (vs. 13).
    3. Their former tormenters are overthrown, perished and forgotten (vs. 14); but, the righteous nation has been increased, and her borders extended, to the glory of God, (vs. 15; 9:3; 33:17, 20-22; 54:2-3).
    4. Verses 16-18 describe the agony of the nation, under the tyrannical hand of the Man of Sin, as they recognize their utter helplessness to save themselves; they have failed.
    5. Pictured as dead, verse 19 views their resurrection to a new and vibrant life (restored to fellowship with her Maker) in which they will be a blessing to others, (Ezek. 37:1-4).
      a. This resurrection is represented as the coming of a bright, sparkling and refreshing dew.
      b. Here is fulfilled the assurance of God's covenant - both to Abraham and to David - of triumph over death, (Gen. 15; 2 Sam. 7).
      c. Resurrection is clearly associated with the coming of our Lord to establish His kingdom and rule the earth in righteousness, (Rev. 20:3, 5-6; 11:15-18; Matt. 24:29; I Cor. 15:23, 51-52; I Thess. 4:16).
    6. A place of refuge will be provided for a godly remnant, who will form the nucleus of the restored nation, (vs. 20).
    7. The full enjoyment of this purposed blessedness must wait "for a little moment" while divine wrath is poured upon the workers of iniquity, (vs. 21; Rev. 19:11-21).
    8. Without attempting to define or describe "leviathan", which the Lord will punish with His sword, it is sufficient to recognize it as symbolizing: Assyrian Sennacheib (the piercing serpent of the swift-flowing Tigris), Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar (the coiling serpent of the Euphrates), and the Egyptian Pharaoh - all of those whose evil characteristics will be concentrated in the anti-christ, (27:la; Psa. 74:14).
    9. The Lord will put an end to the old dragon who has been the perpetual serpent and enemy of His people, (27:lb; comp. Rev. 12-13; 20:1-3, 7-10).