ISAIAH, CHAPTER 26, VS 1-11
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 26, VS 1-4
” In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:”
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 26, VS 1-4
v. 1-4– These are some of the most beautiful words God has given us! In them we can see the power and love He gives to His Children! Notice, in verse 2, he asks for the righteous nation (people) to be allowed in the protection and Love of God —specifically those who keep the Truth. Again, we see that God MUST be worshiped in Spirit and Truth.
Verse 3 repeats what is the theme all throughout God’s Word—Our minds must be stayed on Him, and we must trust in Him alone. That is the depths and simplicity of Christianity.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 26, VS 5-6
5″ For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.6. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.”
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 26, VS 5-6
- 5-6″—Those of the world, the powerful rulers, and those individuals with a haughty attitude, will be trod upon by those who rely on the Lord for their strength.”
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 26, VS 7
7 “The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.”
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 26, VS 7
v. 7– Uprightness is judged only by God. Therefore, those who are most upright are only those who devote themselves, and give themselves totally to Him. As Jesus said in John 20:21-23, His people have the power to forgive sins through the counsel of the Holy Spirit. For, as Jesus said Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or stand up and walk? (Mark 2:9) We, of ourselves, of course, are totally useless, but working in total conjunction with the Spirit of God, we will do greater things than these . (John 14:12). So we, through the Holy Spirit, will weigh the path of the just”. (Matthew 18:
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 26, VS 8-9
“Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 26, VS 8-9
v.8-9– We desire God’s presence especially in the “nights” of our lives. How dark it seems when we feel so alone! We know we are constantly in His presence, but we’ve all experienced those times when we don’t feel so close and need to feel His Presence again. But when we constantly walk in His presence, we will always be ready for HisComing. And that will be when “Thy judgments are in the earth”
–When the Gospel is spread throughout the world, and the Great Tribulation is past, then the time for His return and judgment will come.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 26, VS 10-11
10″ Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. 11. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yeah, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.”
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 26, VS 10-11
v. 10-11– God gives everyone more than their share of chances to come to Him. In this verse, the word for “wicked” means really wicked–those who won’t turn to God when they know both sides, and know of God’s love for them. They choose wickedness over Godliness –even these, God will be willing to forgive if they’ll come to Him and repent, but (v. 11) they won’ t repent, even though they know they are going against Him and that He will forgive them if they do repent. Verse 11 goes on to say that they will see, after they have been judged, and they will be sorry and ashamed that they did not take advantage of His Grace when it was available. This is true of every one of us. God has a time of Grace for Mankind in general, in the whole plan of salvation, and He has a time of Grace for each of us in our own lives. In both instances, when the time is up, there is no more chance to obtain Grace and Forgiveness. He knows how much time we need, and the decision is ours to take advantage of it or not. We don’t know how long the offer of Grace will stand, because the human heart hardens a little more each time we reject His Voice, and turning to Him becomes more and more difficult as we stop listening. He knows when the time has come when each of us would not turn to Him anymore because of the hardness of our hearts. The word for “wicked 11 also means great confusion, and turbulence of mind.