Isaiah

Chapter 26

A Song of Salvation

Isaiah 26 is a song sung in Judah that celebrates God's strong city, calls the righteous to trust Him with steady minds, and reflects on how His judgments teach the world righteousness. The chapter then moves through confession, remembered oppression, painful waiting, and the startling promise that God's dead will rise, before closing with a call for His people to hide briefly while He comes out to punish the earth.

This chapter matters because it holds together peace, judgment, longing, and resurrection hope in one sustained act of worship. Isaiah 26 teaches that God's people do not sing because history is easy, but because the LORD levels the path of the righteous, defeats false masters, and preserves a people who wait for Him even through distress and divine indignation.

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Isaiah 26

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vv. 1-21

A Song of Salvation

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I¹n that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ²Open the gates so a righteous nation may enter— ³You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, ⁴Trust in the LORD forever, ⁵For He has humbled those who dwell on high; ⁶Feet trample it down —

⁷The path of the righteous is level; ⁸Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; ⁹My soul longs for You in the night; ¹⁰Though grace is shown to the wicked man, ¹¹O LORD, Your hand is upraised,

¹²O LORD, You will establish peace for us. ¹³O LORD our God, other lords besides You have ruled over us, ¹⁴The dead will not live; ¹⁵You have enlarged the nation, O LORD;

¹⁶O LORD, they sought You in their distress; ¹⁷As a woman with child about to give birth ¹⁸We were with child; we writhed in pain; ¹⁹Your dead will live; their bodies will rise.

²⁰Go, my people, enter your rooms ²¹For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling

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01vv. 1-21A Song of SalvationThe chapter's only section begins by praising the LORD for a secure city and for the peace He gives to those who trust Him, then reflects on the way His judgments expose wickedness and vindicate righteousness. From there the song remembers former oppressors, voices the anguish of a people who seemed unable to bring deliverance, and then breaks into resurrection hope before ending with the LORD's people sheltering under His care while He rises to judge the earth.