An You Keep Him in Perfect Peace

An You Keep Him in Perfect Peace

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. Isa. 26:1

In that day... The Millennium—Judah will sing this song of triumph (Isa. 26:1-21).

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Isa. 26:2

Open ye... There will be twelve gates in the walls of the rebuilt city of earthly Jerusalem, three on each side with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on them (Isa. 26:2; Eze. 48:30-35). This will be a miniature of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem of Rev. 21:9-27.

that the... Israel will be the righteous nation, having been redeemed to the last man (Isa. 66:7-8; Jer. 31:34; 41:1, 41:8; Rom. 11:25-29; Heb. 8:11).

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isa. 26:3

Thou wilt... This is a promise for all men of all ages who meet the condition of keeping the mind stayed on God, and who trust in Him at all times, in all things, and in all places (Psm. 91:1-16). It is just the opposite of Isa. 57:20-21.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isa. 26:4

Trust ye in... Obedience to this command to the letter will produce the wonderful result of perfect peace of Isa. 26:3.

for in the... One of four times the original word is retained—Jehovah is not translated here (Isa. 26:4; 12:2; Exo. 6:3; Psm. 83:18).

is... Jehovah is the Rock of Ages; the Undefeatable One; the Eternal Strong One.

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. Isa. 26:5

For He bringeth... Four acts of Jehovah:

1. He brings the proud down (Isa. 26:5).

2. He lays the lofty city to the ground.

3. He causes the poor and helpless to tread upon the mighty (Isa. 26:6).

4. He weighs the path of the just (Isa. 26:7).

The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy. Isa. 26:6

The foot shall... In contrast with the righteous who enter this special city of God, people who try to dwell in the lofty city (i.e., who persist in their pride) will be abased (cf. Isa. 25:12) because they did not trust in Him (Isa. 26:3-4).

even the... The oppressed and the poor will trample those wicked people (Isa_26:6). This was a reversal of fortunes, an act of God’s justice against the proud who had taken advantage of the poor.

and the... Isaiah was not implying that some special merit was given the poor. He was reflecting the scriptural principle that God has special concern for the poor who seek Him (Isa_25:4).

The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Isa. 26:7

way of the... The way of the just can be described with one word—uprightness. The song continues by expressing the certainty that deliverance has come to the remnant, not because of their own efforts, but because of God’s work on their behalf. Therefore they will continue to trust in Him.

Thou most... God is more upright than the upright.

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. Isa. 26:8

in the way... Seven things that constitute uprightness:

1. Walking in the way of God’s judgments (Isa. 26:8)

2. Waiting for the Lord to lead

3. Desiring the name of God

4. Remembering the Lord

5. Desiring God with the whole soul (Isa. 26:9)

6. Seeking God early with the spirit

7. Learning righteousness by chastening (Isa. 26:9; Heb. 12:5-13)

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. Isa. 26:9

With my soul... In a confession of trust the prophet affirmed that it is good for people to live righteously, because God smooths out their path. That does not mean righteous people never have any problems.

For when Thy... Isaiah is reflecting the truth that certain consequences follow one’s actions so that if a person lives according to God’s rules he will have favorable consequences, but if he disregards God’s Word he will experience dire consequences. The remnant walk according to Scripture (God’s laws, Isa. 26:8) and yearn for God (Isa. 26:8-9). Those who refuse to heed God’s ways learn of God’s righteousness when they are eventually judged.

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. Isa. 26:10

Let favour be shewed... Three characteristics of the wicked:

1. He will not learn righteousness when favor is from him.

2. He will deal unjustly with neighbors.

3. He will refuse to recognize God in all His merciful dealings with him.

LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. Isa. 26:11

they will not see... Although the wicked will not recognize all the goodness of God which is about him, he will yet be made to see and be ashamed that he did not see the hand of God sooner, and that he envied the righteous.

the fire of... God’s vengeance shall devour His enemies.

LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Isa. 26:12

Lord Thou wilt... Arrange peace for those who keep their minds stayed on Jehovah (Isa. 26:3, 26:12).

O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. Isa. 26:13

O Lord our... The other lords were the oppressors of the past. Those who will seek to dominate the remnant will be dead, under God’s judgment.

but by Thee... They will affirm that they remained true to God (Your name [character] alone do we honor) even though they will have been under the domination of others (Isa. 26:13).

They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. Isa. 26:14

They are... The kings and oppressors of Isa. 26:13 are dead and will not be permitted to live again to oppress Israel.

Giants Have No Resurrection

Hebrew: rapha’, translated dead (Isa. 26:19; 14:9; Job. 26:5; Psm. 88:10-11; Pro. 2:18; 9:18; 21:16); deceased (Isa. 26:14); giants (Deut. 2:11, 2:20; 3:11, 3:13; Jos. 12:4; 13:12; 15:8; 17:15; 18:16; 2Sa. 21:16-22; 1Ch. 20:4-8); and Rephaim (Isa. 17:5; Gen. 14:5; 15:20; 2Sa. 5:18, 5:22; 23:13; 1Ch_. 1:15; 14:9). In the eight places where it is translated dead and deceased it should have been retained as a proper name—Rephaim, as follows:

1. Rephaim under waters.

2. Shall the Rephaim arise and praise You? (Psm.. 88:10-11)

3. Her paths unto the Rephaim (Pro. 2:18)

4. The Rephaim are there (Pro. 9:18).

5. Congregation to the Rephaim (Pro. 21:16)

6. It stirreth up the Rephaim for you (Isa. 14:9).

7. They are Rephaim (Isa. 26:14).

8. The earth shall cast out the Rephaim (Isa. 26:19).

The Rephaim were the other lords of Isa. 26:13; they shall not rise because God visited and destroyed them (Isa. 26:14). This plainly teaches that the giants or Rephaim have no resurrection like the dead of Israel referred to in Isa. 26:19. They were the offspring of fallen angels, not ordinary men who do have a resurrection.

Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth. Isa. 26:15

Thou hast increased... In contrast the remnant will endure in the land God promised the patriarchs and their descendants (Isa. 26:15).

Thou hast removed... The nation of Judah has been removed to all the ends of the earth. This was uttered about 133 years before Judah was scattered by Nebuchadnezzar and 819 years before Rome led the people captive among all nations (Luke 21:20-24).

LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. Isa. 26:16

trouble have they... This predicts that Judah, while scattered among the nations, would seek God travailing like a woman (Isa. 26:16-18; 66:7-8; Jer. 20:1-9; Dan. 12:1; Rev. 12:1-17). The Lord’s discipline on His people will not be easy to bear; it will be a time of great distress, a time when they will barely whisper a prayer either because of thirst or because of terror.

Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. Isa. 26:17

Like as a... Five facts about Judah’s travail:

1. We have been in pain (Isa. 26:17-18).

2. We have cried out in travail (Isa. 26:17).

3. We have brought forth wind (Isa. 26:18).

4. We have not wrought any deliverance in the earth.

5. Gentiles have not been subdued.

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. Isa. 26:18

We have been... Isaiah then compared their distress to the painful experience of childbirth (cf. Isa. 13:8).

we have as... We have produced nothing in all our troubles among the nations. Childbirth, once it begins, must continue until it is finished. However, the nation of Israel will seem to give birth to wind, that is, her travail will continue but will avail nothing.

we have not... We have not converted the Gentiles or made God known to other nations, it will not result in deliverance.

neither have the... Neither have the Gentiles been subdued, unbelievers in Israel will be judged and will not enter the Millennium.

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isa. 26:19

Thy dead men... The dead men of Israel will be resurrected; together with Isaiah they shall rise.

Awake and sing... Awake, continuing the doctrine of the resurrection of ordinary men and no resurrection for giants or Rephaim (Isa. 26:14, 26:19; Dan. 12:2).

for thy dew... Dew pictures that which revives and refreshes. Here it illustrates the reviving of the dead bodies of men.

and the earth... This means that the earth will cast the Rephaim away from it, or not yield them up in resurrection. The Peshitta reads, "the land of the giants thou shalt overthrow"; Septuagint, "the land of the ungodly shall perish"; Young, "the land of Rephaim thou causest to fall."

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. Isa 26:20

Come, my people... This verse refers to the flight of the sun-clothed woman of Rev. 12:1-17 (national Israel) from Judah into the wilderness of Edom and Moab for protection from Antichrist "until the indignation (tribulation) be overpast."

until the indignation... Hebrew: za‛am, to froth at the mouth; be furious; angry; indignation (Isa. 26:20; 10:5, 10:25; 13:5; Psm. 69:24; 78:49; 102:10; Jer. 10:10; 15:7; 50:25; Lam. 2:6; Eze. 21:31; 22:24, 22:31; Dan. 8:19; 11:36; Nah. 1:6; Hab. 3:12; Zeph. 3:8; Mat. 24:15-29; Rev. 6-19).

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isa. 26:21

For, behold... This verse proves that Isa. 26:20 refers to the future tribulation and Israel’s flight from Judah, for it predicts the coming of God to punish earth’s inhabitants for their iniquity. This will only happen at the second coming of Christ and the coming of the Father to the earth to destroy enemies and set up a literal kingdom (Isa. 4:1-6; 9:6-7; 11:3-16; 63:1-5; Eze. 38-39; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:14-27; Zec. 14:1-21; Mat. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; Luke 1:32, 1:33; 17:26-31; 2Th. 1:7-10; Jude 1:14-15; Rev. 1:7; 11:15; 19:11-20:10).

out of his place... The Lord’s place is heaven. He comes out of heaven to punish the earth’s inhabitants.

the earth also... Just as Abel’s blood cried from the ground (Gen. 4:10), the guilt of the earth will be disclosed and it will no longer be able to cover its slain; that is, the earth won’t be able to hide crimes effectively. All sin committed in the Millennium will be fully exposed, because the resurrected saints will be rulers and judges throughout the earth, and in their glorified, immortal, state of knowing as they were also known (1Co. 13:12), they will be able to read the thoughts of men and know of any transgression.