One way a person expresses love is through a song. If Jeremiah is the weeping prophet then Isaiah may be the singing prophet. Isaiah composed a lot of songs. Isaiah 26:1-9 is a song of praise that expresses thankfulness to God for salvation.
This song expresses joy of salvation, praise to a worthy savior and lifestyle of the saved. Salvation and singing go together. How many of the great hymns are about salvation. This song will be sung in the land of Judah (Vs 1).
Isaiah 26:1-9
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
God makes salvation
its walls and ramparts.
2 Open the gates
that the righteous nation may enter,
the nation that keeps faith.
3 You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
4 Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.
5 He humbles those who dwell on high,
he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground
and casts it down to the dust.
6 Feet trample it down—
the feet of the oppressed,
the footsteps of the poor.
7 The path of the righteous is level;
you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.
8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts.
9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
When your judgments come upon the earth,
the people of the world learn righteousness.
This song is something of the Old Testament equivalent of Ephesians 5:19 that tells us to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.
Salvation causes us to rejoice and praise God. This is very appropriately expressed in song. Even while others are facing judgment the saved will praise God. The Christian should praise God even in the midst of difficulty. The joy of salvation is wonderfully expressed in a song.
We see in verses 1-3 just what salvation means to the saved. The song begins by thanking God for the security He gives. God has given the walls that protect the city. It is ultimately God who must give us protection.
Some of the most fortified cities have fallen. No matter how fortified the city it won’t prevent the city from fighting from within. In some cases God caused the enemies to turn the sword on themselves. God must give the protection.
We can secure our homes but without God’s protection nothing is really secure. Every secure device can fail without God’s protection. We should never forget what God has done for us.
Now if in the Old Testament times they could praise God for salvation from the sword of their enemies. How much more we should praise God for our spiritual salvation. The eternal salvation of our soul.
Verse 2 speaks about the gates of the city. Gates can serve two purposes. One purpose is to shut out those who are unwelcome. The other purpose is to receive those who are welcome. The Bible says the path to destruction is wide and the way to salvation is narrow.
All of us who know Jesus Christ as savior are fully accepted by God. It will be tragic for all who trust in their own works and efforts for salvation.
What is a benefit of salvation? It is a peace that casts our fear. Peace, perfect Peace vs 3. It is for those whose mind is steadfast on the Lord.
How do we have this peace? We first trust Jesus Christ as savior and we go on trusting in Christ. Worry can plague us. Even waiting on the results of a biopsy God intends peace. Much worry is not legitimate it is imaginary. There are two things we should not worry about. Thing we cannot change and things we can change.
So can trusting God really bring peace? In Daniel chapter 6 when Daniel is facing the lions den Daniel is at peace, but the king cannot sleep. Do you have God’s peace in this world where troubles rage?
The Hymn Peace, Perfect Peace puts it all in the form of a question.
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrow surging round?
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Yes whose mind is steadfast in the Lord. The saved can stand before God at the moment of death and be at peace with God.
The Saved are singing praise to a worthy savior (Vs 4-6). Trust in the Lord forever (Vs 4). The God who saves is worthy of our complete trust. We trust God because He is the eternal rock. It is the steadfastness of God our rock that we can have our trust.
God is the rock and you can count on him. There are foundations of sand all around. There are companies that may go bankrupt. Nations may crumble. You can count on God forever. Those who know Jesus as savior have come to God. In Jesus there is the security of the rock.
God is powerful and there is no trouble for him to be victorious over his enemies. A high city with a lookout is most impenetrable. It represents the epitome of pride. God lays low the lofty city. The self sufficient think they have no needs. There is no future in a city that trusts in its own strength. God brings such a lofty city low.
It is the righteous people not the position of the city that really is the defense of the city. It is the lowly that share in the victory. God uses the feet of the oppressed to trample the city.
There is no one else like God. No one else in whom lies salvation.
The television shows focus on the lifestyles of the rich and famous. How should the save live? We have a worthy savior.
Here is the lifestyle of those who serve God who walk the path of righteousness vs. 7. This path has a level road. The way is paved. This is in the context of very difficult times but the saved are walking down a smooth path.
Have you ever talked to someone going through difficult times? How do people without God make it through times like this? The saved have a comfort in God that no one else has.
Those who have experienced salvation seek God and long for the comfort of God vs 8. They can say, my soul yearns for you in the night or my spirit longs for you in the morning. The saved delight in a relationship with their God.
The saved wait on God, expect great things from God and hope strongly in God. We live in a fast paced society so it will be difficult to wait on God. But the saved trust God to supply all their needs.
God is a just judge. Verse 9 speaks of God’s judgment. When those away from God experience difficulties, consequences of actions it brings them to God in brokenness. This judgment of God will cause some to turn to God. When we seek God He will be found.
We need to put distractions aside and really seek God. Do you yearn for God? As you read this passage you can also praise God for the salvation He gave you.
