Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah 26:19
Key verse. 26:19: Shout for joy!
⇒ And what a wonder this is. Storms of judgment may sweep over our earth. Wars may devastate, and disease may ravage. Families may decimate the land, while starvation stalks our families. There are indeed dread fates that are to be feared. But these are not history’s last words! At the end of history – both the history of nations, and the personal history of each individual – the shout of God’s promise echoes. “Your dead will live; their bodies will rise!” What a truth to hold fast in troubled times.
Chapter Summary
The “Isaiah Apocalypse” which began at chapter 24 is continued. The prophet has announced God’s judgment on all mankind and described the blessings of salvation that follow. Now he records a song of praise, which features the hope of resurrection (26:1-9) and the promise that “in that day” destruction of Israel’s oppressors will result in deliverance for God’s ancient people (26:20-27:13).
Personal application. Every night of suffering gives way to a dawn of divine blessing, but only for God’s own.
Key concepts. Wait, Grace, Resurrection, Atonement, Peace
“In that day” (26:1) Here, “that day” is the eschatological Day of the Lord, but in its aspect of salvation’s bright joy, which follows the darkness of divine judgment. These chapters give us perspective. The punishment that God visits on the Earth purges the world of sin. His triumph is the vindication of His people and their release from oppression.
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
Inner peace (26:3). This is one of the most beautiful of Scripture’s “descriptive promises.” It’s descriptive in that it portrays the experience of the individual who trusts in God. It’s a promise in that each of us today can rely on the Lord and know that trust will bring peace to us as well. Here’s a verse all should memorize.
You will keep in perfect peace in him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
A Song of Trust in the LORD’s Protection
26 1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
5 For He brings down those who dwell on high, The lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down– The feet of the poor And the steps of the needy.” 7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. 8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name And for the remembrance of You. 9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 10 Let grace be shown to the wicked, Yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, And will not behold the majesty of the Lord. 11 Lord, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed For their envy of people; Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.
12 Lord, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us. 13 O Lord our God, masters besides You Have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your name. 14 They are dead, they will not live; They are deceased, they will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, And made all their memory to perish. 15 You have increased the nation, O Lord, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land. 16 Lord, in trouble they have visited You, They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. 17 As a woman with child Is in pain and cries out in her pangs, When she draws near the time of her delivery, So have we been in Your 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 accomplished any deliverance in the earth, Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen. 19 Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead.
20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. 21 For behold, the Lord comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain.
