26:1ffPeople will praise God on the day of the LORD when Christ establishes his Kingdom (see chapter 12). Chapter 26 is a psalm of trust, praise, and meditation. Once more, God revealed the future to Isaiah.
Life Application Study BibleIsaiahChapter 26
Isaiah 26
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1129, 1130
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26Isaiah 26
A Song of Praise to the LorRD
126 In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song:Our city is strong!Weare surrounded by the walls of God's salvation.
2Open the gates to all who are righteous;allow the faithful to enter.
3You will keep in perfect peaceall who trust in you,all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4Trust in the LORD always,for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.
5He humbles the proudand brings down the arrogant city.He brings it down to the dust.
6The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,and the needy walk all over it.
7But for those who are righteous,the way is not steep and rough.You are a God who does what is right,and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
8LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;our heart's desire is to glorify your name.
9All night long I search for you;in the morning I earnestly seek for God.For only when you come to judge the earthwill people learn what is right.
10Your kindness to the wickeddoes not make them do good.Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrongand take no notice of the LORD’s majesty.
11O LORD, they pay no attention to your upraised fist.Show them your eagerness to defend your people.Then they will be ashamed.Let your fire consume your enemies.
12LORD, you will grant us peace;all we have accomplished is really from you.
13O LORD our God, others have ruled us,but you alone are the one we worship.
14Those we served before are dead and gone.Their departed spirits will never return!You attacked them and destroyed them,and they are long forgotten.
15O LORD, you have made our nation great;yes, you have made us great.
You have extended our borders,and we give you the glory!
16Lor, in distress we searched for you.We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline.
17Just as a pregnant womanwrithes and cries out in pain as she gives birth,so were we in your presence, LORD.
18We, too, writhe in agony,but nothing comes of our suffering.We have not given salvation to the earth,nor brought life into the world.
19But those who die in the LORD will live;their bodies will rise again!Those who sleep in the earthwill rise up and sing for joy!For your life-giving light will fall like dewon your people in the place of the dead!Restoration for Israel
20Go home, my people,and lock your doors!Hide yourselves for a little whileuntil the LORD’s anger has passed.
21Look! The LORD is coming from heavento punish the people of the earth for their sins.The earth will no longer hide those who have been killed.They will be brought out for all to see.
Life Application Notes 7 notes
26:3We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but when we fix our thoughts on God, we can know perfect peace even in turmoil. As we focus our mind on God and his Word, we become steady and stable. Supported by God's unchanging love and Mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos (see Philippians 4:7). Do you want peace? Keep your thoughts on God and your trust in him.
26:7,8At times the “path” of the righteous doesn’t seem smooth, and it isn’t easy to do God’s will, but we are never alone when we face tough times. God is there to help us, to comfort us, and to lead us. God does this by giving us a purpose (keeping our mind centered on him, 26:3) and giving us provisions as we travel. God provides us with relationships of family. friends, and mentors. God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith to trust him. Don’t despair; stay on God's path.
26:10Even wicked people receive God's benefits, but that doesn't teach them to do what is right. Sometimes God’s judgment teaches us more than God's good gifts. If you have been enriched by God’s goodness and grace, respond to him with your grateful devotion.
26:16-19The people realized the pain of being away from God’s presence, and yet they were assured that they would live again. God turned his back on his people when they disobeyed, but a small number never lost hope and continued to seek him. No Matter how difficult times may be, we have hope when we keep our trust in him. Can you wait patiently for God to act?
26:19Some people say there is no life after death. Others believe that there is, but it is not physical life. But tsaiah tells us that our bodies shall rise again. According to 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, all the dead believers will arise with new imperishable bodies—bodies like the one Jesus had when he was resurrected (see Philippians 3:21). Isaiah 26:19 is not the only Old Testament verse to speak about the resurrection; see also Job 19:26; Psalm 16:10; Daniel 12:2, 13.
26:20,21When God comes to judge the earth, the guilty will find no place to hide. Jesus said that the hidden will be made known because his truth, like a light shining in a dark corner, will reveal it (Matthew 10:26). Instead of trying to hide your shameful thoughts and actions from God, confess them to him and receive his forgiveness. ‘
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punish Leviathan,* will kill the dragon