As I continue in my journey through Isaiah in my morning quiet time, I felt so blessed that I decided to post thoughts.
In Isaiah 26:1-19 he offered up this song after he wrote of GOD’s judgement on the earth in chapter 24, which was followed by a prayer of thanksgiving in chapter 25. While the song of chapter 26 was specifically targeted to those in the land of Judah, one could make an argument that the Holy Spirit led Isaiah to write for us to know what we may sing while we are standing the congregation of the righteous before GOD in heaven one day.
Written some 2700 years ago, yet the words and tone of the song could very well have been written by any modern Christian writer today for us to sing during our worship time in church. It could also be added to the fifth book of Psalms 73-89. Isaiah is picturing himself standing in the redeemed land with the remnant listening to the people express their thanks to and confidence in God.
It’s a beautiful picture where we find some truly stunning verses of scripture like, “Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you.” 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.
To be assured you and I will be part of the congregation of the righteous, let us continue to trust in Him, by positioning ourselves to have our hearts changed by him and reflect the righteousness of GOD. Remember that we all must continuously ask GOD to search our heart to see if there is any wicked way in us, and pray for HIM to lead us in the way everlasting.
Isaiah 26:1-19
A Song of Salvation and Thanksgiving
1.) In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
“We have a strong city;
God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
2. ) Open the gates,
That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
3) You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
4.) Trust in the Lord forever,
For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
5.) For He brings down those who dwell on high,
The lofty city;
He lays it low,
He lays it low to the ground,
He brings it down to the dust.
6.) The foot shall tread it down—
The feet of the poor
And the steps of the needy.”
7.) The way of the just is uprightness;
O Most Upright,
You weigh the path of the just.
8.) Yes, in the way of Your judgments,
O Lord, we have waited for You;
The desire of our soul is for Your name
And for the remembrance of You.
9.) With my soul I have desired You in the night,
Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
For when Your judgments are in the earth,
The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
10.) Let grace be shown to the wicked,
Yet he will not learn righteousness;
In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly,
And will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
11.) Lord, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see.
But they will see and be ashamed
For their envy of people;
Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.
12.) Lord, You will establish peace for us,
For You have also done all our works [g]in us.
13.) O Lord our God, masters besides You
Have had dominion over us;
But by You only we make mention of Your name.
14.) They are dead, they will not live;
They are deceased, they will not rise.
Therefore You have punished and destroyed them,
And made all their memory to perish.
15.) You have increased the nation, O Lord,
You have increased the nation;
You are glorified;
You have expanded all the borders of the land.
16.) Lord, in trouble they have visited You,
They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.
17.) As a woman with child
Is in pain and cries out in her pangs,
When she draws near the time of her delivery,
So have we been in Your sight, O Lord.
18.) We have been with child, we have been in pain;
We have, as it were, brought forth wind;
We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth,
Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19.) Your dead shall live;
Together with my dead body they shall arise.
Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;
For your dew is like the dew of herbs,
And the earth shall cast out the dead.
I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
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