1
At that time this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
“We have a strong city;
for our salvation the LORD has set up walls and ramparts.
2
Open the gates,
that the righteous nation may enter in,
one that keeps faith!
3
You keep in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
4
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
5
For He has brought low those who dwell on high;
the lofty city He has humbled,
He has humbled it to the ground,
and cast it down to the dust.
6
The feet of the poor,
the steps of the needy
will trample it down.”
7
The path of the righteous is level;
You make smooth the way of the righteous.
8
Yes, LORD, we also wait for the time when You will act in judgment;
our delight is to call on Your name and to remember You.
9
With my whole soul I long for You in the night,
yes, with my whole heart I seek You in the morning;
for when You come to judge the earth,
the inhabitants of the world will learn what is right.
10
Though the wicked is shown favor, he does not learn what is right;
in the land of uprightness he deals unjustly,
and does not behold the majesty of the LORD.
11
LORD, Your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it.
Let them see Your zeal for Your people,
and let them be put to shame!
Let the fire prepared for Your enemies consume them.
12
LORD, You will establish peace for us,
for all that we have done, You have done for us.
13
LORD our God,
other lords have ruled over us,
but Your name alone do we honor.
14
They are dead, they will not live again;
they are shades, they will not rise again.
Indeed, You have punished and destroyed them,
and wiped out all memory of them.
15
LORD, You have increased the nation;
yes, You have increased the nation;
You have extended all the borders of the land.
16
LORD, in distress they sought You;
when Your discipline was upon them, they poured out a prayer.
17
Like a woman with child,
who is near the time of giving birth,
writhing and crying out in her pains,
so were we before You, O LORD:
18
We were with child, we writhed in pain,
but it seemed as though we had given birth to wind:
we could not bring about salvation in the earth,
and no inhabitants of the world were born.
19
Your dead shall live;
their bodies shall rise.
You who dwell in the dust,
awake and sing for joy!
For Your dew is a dew of light,
and the earth will give birth to the shades again.
20
My people, come, enter your chambers,
shut your doors after you have gone in,
hide yourselves for a little while,
until the wrath has passed.
21
For behold, the LORD is about to come out from his place
to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity,
and the earth will no longer conceal the blood shed upon it,
no longer cover those slain in it.
🏰🕊️💡 Summary of Isaiah 26 – A Song of Trust in God in the Midst of Waiting
Isaiah 26 is a song of praise from the people who have been saved, describing a strong city, inhabited by the righteous who are faithful to God. This chapter reflects the trust of a people who endure in hard times, while waiting for God’s justice. In the midst of the world’s injustice, the righteous live with peace and faith, though they must still patiently await complete restoration.
📌 1. The City of Righteousness and Peace (verses 1–6)
“We have a strong city; salvation is its walls and its ramparts.”
- This is not a physical city, but the community of people living in righteousness
- “You keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”
- Pride is brought low, and the Lord lifts up the humble
🎯 True security does not come from worldly strength, but from trust in the Lord.
📌 2. The Way of the Righteous and Faithful Waiting (verses 7–11)
“In the path of Your judgments, we wait for You, O LORD.”
- God’s people wait for His justice, even when it seems delayed
- The wicked may live as though there were no punishment, but the Lord sees and will repay
“Your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it…”
🎯 Faith is continuing to trust even when we do not yet see judgment or justice now.
📌 3. Restoration, New Life, and Hope for Resurrection (verses 12–21)
“You will give peace to us, for it is You also who accomplish all our works…”
- Only the Lord can restore His people
- There is a prophetic cry that portrays the resurrection of the dead (verse 19)
“Your dead people will live again…”
- The people are commanded to hide for a little while until the Lord’s wrath passes by (verse 20)
🎯 The hope of the righteous is not only present restoration, but resurrection and eternal life.
📖 Main Teaching
- The city of God is a picture of a community of the righteous living in faith and truth
- True peace comes from trust in the Lord, not in circumstances
- True faith endures even when the world seems dark and unjust
- The Lord restores and raises up His people — there is life after death
- When the Lord’s judgment comes, the people are saved by His protection
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“The peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds…”
“All these people died in faith, without receiving what was promised…”
“I am the resurrection and the life…”
➡️ Fulfilled from Isaiah 26:19: “Your dead people will live again.”
“The dead in Christ will rise first…”
🎯 Isaiah 26 shows the root of the hope of resurrection that is fully fulfilled in Christ.
🕊️ “You will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” – Isaiah 26:3
🕊️ “Your dead will live; their bodies will rise!” – Isaiah 26:19
🕊️ “Go into your rooms… until the anger has passed.” – Isaiah 26:20
