Before the restoration of Israel, however, God’s people would experience hard times (in the Tribulation, cf. Revelation 12). Before God opened the gates of the new city to the redeemed (Isaiah 26:2), they would need to shut their doors against their foes (cf. Genesis 7:1; Genesis 7:16; Exodus 12:22-23). Shutting the doors suggests both safety from danger and separation from others, in this case, pagans. read more
A warning 26:20-21The prophet now addressed his people rather than God. read more
Yahweh would come out of His heavenly place of quiet to punish earth-dwellers during the Tribulation for their secret sins. The earth itself, with the forces of nature, would assist the Lord, metaphorically, by exposing sins that lay hidden (cf. Isaiah 26:12). read more
1. Salvation, etc.] the assurance of divine protection takes the place of material bulwarks.4. Everlasting strength] RM ’a rock of ages.’ Rock is applied as a title to God (Isaiah 30:29; Deuteronomy 32:4). 5. Lofty city] the power hostile to God’s people (Isaiah 24:10).7. Uprightness] ’straightness,’ implying freedom from impediment. Weigh] RV ’direct.’8. In the way of thy judgments] i.e. in the way which God, by His judgments or decrees, set out for His people to walk in. The context (Isaiah... read more
(20) Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers.—The vision of the judgments and the glory of the future leads the prophet to his work as a preacher of repentance in the present. His people also need the preparation of silent and solitary prayer (Matthew 6:6; Psalms 27:5; Psalms 31:21). As men seek the innermost recesses of their homes while the thunderstorm sweeps over the city, so should they seek God in that solitude till the great tempest of His indignation has passed by. read more
(21) The earth also shall disclose her blood.—Literally, her bloods (plural of intensity). The prophet has in his thoughts the reckless destruction of life which characterised the great world-powers of Assyria and Babylon. As in the case of Abel’s blood that cried from the ground (Genesis 4:16), so here the earth first brings to light the blood of those that have been slain, and then the forms of the murdered ones themselves. read more
The Mark for Recognizing God's Peace Isaiah 26:3 I. It is not said, 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed'. There is nothing in mere movelessness which is suggestive of peace. A mind may be motionless without being rested; nay, it may be motionless by reason of its unrest. What, for example, is the numbness of despair, but just a mind which has been deprived of movement by its own unrest. Grief by its excess lifts stopped the pulses of feeling; fear has paralysed energy;... read more
CHAPTER XXIXGOD’S POORDATE UNCERTAINIsaiah 25:1-12; Isaiah 26:1-21; Isaiah 27:1-13WE have seen that no more than the faintest gleam of historical reflection brightens the obscurity of chapter 24, and that the disaster which lowers there is upon too world-wide a scale to be forced within the conditions of any single period in the fortunes of Israel. In chapters 25-27, which may naturally be held to be a continuation of chapter 24, the historical allusions are more numerous. Indeed, it might be... read more
CHAPTER 26 Judah’s Glory Song 1. Praise for Jehovah’s faithfulness and mercies (Isaiah 26:1-6 ) 2. The experiences of waiting during the night (Isaiah 26:7-11 ) 3. The assurance of peace and deliverance (Isaiah 26:12-18 ) 4. Assurance of restoration and preservation (Isaiah 26:19-21 ) We call attention to verses 12-21. Annihilationists base upon these words the evil doctrine that the wicked are not raised, but destroyed. The fact, however, is that Isaiah 26:13 and Isaiah 26:14 do not... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 26:21
21. (Micah 1:3; Judges 1:14). disclose . . . blood— (Genesis 4:10; Genesis 4:11; Job 16:18; Ezekiel 24:7; Ezekiel 24:8). All the innocent blood shed, and all other wrongs done, so long seemingly with impunity, shall then be avenged (Revelation 16:6). read more