Isaiah 26:15

Isaiah 26:15 says, 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.  Isaiah reminded the people that God was the one responsible for them becoming a great nation when they obeyed Him.  If we are to be a great nation today, we can only do so by being obedient to God and living by His laws and guidance.  God increased the numbers of the people of Israel and Judah because of His covenant with them, and when they disobeyed that covenant, He allowed them to be taken over by other nations and their numbers to decrease.  As Christians, our numbers should be increasing, but too often we fail to obey God’s commandments, and our numbers decrease.  If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, though, the number of those who are saved will never decrease in our home to come.

Verse sixteen adds, Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.  Isaiah said that when the people of Judah found themselves in trouble in the world that they would then called out to God, even if they were being chastised by Him.  We should never just call out to God when we are in trouble but should call out to Him daily so that He will keep us in His will, then we won’t find ourselves in trouble spiritually. 

Verse seventeen continues, 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.  Isaiah said that in God’s sight the people of Judah had been like a woman in labor, who cried out in her pain.  God did not cause their suffering, nor does He cause ours, but He is aware of it.  Even if we are not in physical pain because of our disobedience to God, and we may even be flourishing, God sees our spiritual condition.  Any time we are disobedient to God, He is going to see our spiritual suffering.

Verse eighteen states, 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.  Isaiah said Judah had been like a woman in labor, but they hadn’t brought forth a child.  There would be a great disappointment at this time.  Isaiah also said that they had not brought forth the deliverance of the earth, which it was their duty to reach with God’s word and which they were to show His grace.   If we are not reaching out to the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ today, we are laboring in vain spiritually. 

Verse nineteen adds, 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.  Isaiah said that even those alive who were rebelling against God would find no deliverance until they repented and returned to Him, and those who had died faithful to Him would live again.  Even if we die a physical death because of our faith in God, we will live forever with Him spiritually.  The dead in Christ shall rise again, and those who are living refusing to accept His gift of salvation will suffer an everlasting spiritual death one day. 

Verse twenty says, 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.  Isaiah told his fellow Jews to go into their chambers and shut the doors behind them until this indignation was past.  Matthew Henry says this verse and the next were not a part of the previous song but an introduction to the next chapter more than a conclusion to this one.  Of course, we must remember that chapters and verses were set at a much later time, so we shouldn’t take them to be any more than man-made divisions. Isaiah said that the trouble that was coming to Judah would only last for a while, and the times we suffer because of our faith will only last for a little while from an eternal perspective.  We are told to go into the world and proclaim the gospel, even if this at times may cause us to be in danger.  They were also told to separate themselves from the non-believers and return to purity before God.

Verse twenty-one adds, 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. Isaiah said that one day God was coming in judgment of the earth.  There will be no hiding place for those who are lost, but we as Christians need to hide securely in our faith in Jesus Christ.  He is the only everlasting hiding place.

Isaiah 26:9

Isaiah 26:9 says, 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.  Isaiah said that he desired God in the night and then early in the morning.  I believe that this means that Isaiah continually sought to be in fellowship with God.  We likewise need to always desire to be in fellowship with God at all times.  Isaiah then added that when the judgments of people were based on following God’s law that all the earth would learn His righteousness.  This should be our desire, though it will never happen in this lifetime. 

Verse ten adds, 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.  Though God showed His mercy to the wicked, the sinners, they would not walk in obedience to Him by learning about His righteousness.  They would continue to deal unjustly with others and would not behold the majesty of God.  Even if we are a Christian nation, which I don’t personally think we can call ourselves anymore, there will always be those who refuse to believe in God and acknowledge His majesty. 

Verse eleven continues, 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.  Isaiah said that God had lifted up His hand to give the wicked warning of the danger of continuing to deny or defy Him.  They would not see what should be evident to them, but Isaiah said there was coming a day when God would make them see, but it would be too late to do them any good.  Those who refuse to see Who God is in this life will one day see Him clearly, but it will be too late to accept His mercy shown to everyone when He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for their sins.  

Verse twelve states, Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.  Isaiah said that God would ordain peace to His people, and we as His people, those who are  followers of Christ, should be at peace in our lives today.  This doesn’t mean that everything is always peaceful in our lives with those around us, but that we should be spiritually at peace even if our life is in turmoil.  We aren’t promised that we will never be persecuted and suffer because of our faith, but we still should always be at peace in our soul.  We also must acknowledge that any good that we do as Christians is because God empowers us to do it.  

Verse thirteen adds, O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.  Isaiah said that even though the people of Judah had often been under the power of rulers of other nations that only God had the right to rule them and that they should give their allegiance to Him.  Still, they found themselves in this situation because they refused to be obedient to God and His commandments.  As followers of Christ, we should never put our faith in any earthly ruler, but we should always be obedient to God alone. 

Verse fourteen continues, 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.  Isaiah reminded the people of Judah that their enemies of the past were dead and forgotten.  Those who oppose God and His people, no matter how powerful they may be, will one day be dead and forgotten.  Even if they are remembered, they will no longer have power over anyone.  Our ruler as Christians, Jesus Christ, will never be dead and forgotten, since His power is forever.  Only those with our names written in the Book of Life will be remembered, and even then, it will not be because of what we have done, but it will be because of what Jesus Christ did for us when He died for our sins.  

Isaiah 26:5

Isaiah 26:5 says, 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.  Isaiah said that those who had set themselves up as being more important than other people would be brought down low, so low that they would be no more than dust.  All the power that people of the world may exhibit, outside of God’s will, one day will amount to no more than the dust of the earth.  At times in the past, God has brought lofty nations down, and one day He will do it for all time to all ungodly nations. 

Verse six adds, The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.  Isaiah said those who were considered poor and unworthy would tread down the powerful if they put their faith in God.  Today, many poor and needy Christians are being looked down on and mistreated by those in power, but even if that is happening, these Christians need to just remain humble servants of God.  Jesus Christ set the example and we as His followers need to truly follow His example. 

Verse seven continues, The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.  Isaiah said that the way of the just was to be upright with God.  The only way we can do this is by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and being obedient to His will.  God, the Most Upright, will judge our path, even if we are a follower of Christ.  We cannot accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord and then just go our own way.  We must always follow the way that Jesus Christ leads us, and this will always be to moral uprightness. 

Verse eight concludes, 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.  Isaiah said that those people of Judah and Jerusalem who had put their faith in God awaited His judgments and that the desire of their soul was to obey Him and remember Who He is and what He had done for them.  As Christians, we need to remember who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us, and it should be our desire to serve Him faithfully. 

Isaiah 26:1

Isaiah 26:1 says, 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.  The first four verses of this chapter are a song of praise for the safety of the church in general and every member in particular.  Isaiah said that in that day, which Matthew Henry said is the gospel day, the day of enlarging the Old Testament church, that this song of victory and praise to God would be sung.  We as followers of Christ have assurance of an everlasting victory, and we should be singing praises to God. 

Verse two adds, Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.  Isaiah said instead of shutting themselves away, that the people of Judah should open the gates so all the righteous might come in.  God’s salvation was never intended to be limited to just a certain group of people but was and is to be available to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  As stated many times, this meant that those who lived before He came were to put their faith in the coming Messiah, and those who lived after He came were to put their faith in the fact that He is the Messiah, or Savior, Who came to redeem mankind.  We cannot sing praises to Him if we have not accepted Him as our personal Savior and Lord though. 

Verse three continues, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Those who believe in Jesus Christ should live in perfect peace because He has already assured them of the ultimate victory.  This is to be a perfect peace.   Matthew Henry says this an inward peace, an outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, and peace at all times under all events.  If we are a follower of Christ, we should have that same peace today. 

Verse four continues, Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:  Isaiah told the people to trust in the Lord forever because He has everlasting strength.  This is never going to change.  There should never come a time that we as Christians do not rejoice and trust in God.  He will never fail to be able to deliver on His promise of everlasting life with Him to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah 25:6

Isaiah 25:6 says, And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.  Isaiah said God was making a feast for all the people and not just for the Jews, which is why the gospel is to be preached in all the world to all people.  Matthew Henry said we could see this as when the people of Jerusalem were delivered from the Assyrians by an angel of God or when the God’s people were released from captivity in Babylon, or any other occasion when He delivered them, but we must also look ahead to when Jesus Christ will deliver those who have put their faith in Him forever.  The coming of Jesus Christ in victory is the time when this will really be true.

Verse seven adds, And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.  At this time, God will remove all the coverings that have been over the faces of people preventing them from seeing God clearly.  Even as Christians, we still have a limit on our understanding of God, but when Jesus Christ returns in victory, all that keeps us from seeing God clearly will be removed. 

Verse eight continues, He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.  God swallowed up death in victory spiritually when Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of all people.  Of course, each individual must accept that gift of salvation for it to apply to them, but the victory is already won.  Still, when He returns to claim His church, death will be done away with and all the tears that His people cried from suffering in this world will be dried.  Even now, with all the problems in the world, we as followers of Christ should live in the joy of our salvation.  The victory is already ours through our faith in Jesus Christ, so nothing should rob us of that joy as we await the return of Jesus Christ or the end of our life here as we go to be with Him.

Verse nine states, And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.  Isaiah said when this deliverance came that the people of Judah and Jerusalem would declare that this was something that God had done and would rejoice that they had waited for Him to do so.  Things may get bad in the world for us as followers of Christ today, but we just have to be patient and wait on God to deliver us, whether it be in this lifetime or after death.  We should never give up on God out of impatience or for any other reason.  His promise will come true. 

Verse ten adds, For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.  Isaiah then refers to the time when Moab would be defeated because God’s hand was on Judah.   Though this referred to a particular time in history, it also refers to today when God’s hand protects His people, the church.  It also refers to the coming time when Jesus Christ will return to redeem His people, the church, those who have accepted Him as their Savior and Lord. 

Verse eleven continues, And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.   Though God’s hand was said to rest on the mountain, He would also be actively involved in restoring His people.  Matthew Henry said God’s hand would be like the hand of a swimmer that never rests but must always be active.  I know that God, instead of being some inactive being in the heavens, is still actively involved in His creation.  He is still protecting His people and redeeming those who will respond to His call to salvation.  Isaiah said that when God restored His people that He would bring down all those who had been so full of self-pride.  Even if this doesn’t happen in this lifetime, when Jesus Christ returns it will. 

Verse twelve concludes, And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.  Isaiah said God would bring down all the fortresses that stood against His people and Him, and He has already done that spiritually for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 25:1

 Isaiah 25:1 says, O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.  Even though Isaiah was telling the people what God had said about their corrupt relationship with Him, he also said that God was his God, and he would exalt Him, praising His name for the wonderful things He had done.  Even if all the rest of the world were to turn against God, as followers of Christ, we still need to proclaim that He is our God and exalt His name because of all that He has done.  As Matthew Henry says, if we expect others to praise God, then we must first praise Him ourselves. Also, Isaiah didn’t do this to claim that his actions made him more worthy of God’s love, but that he was simply acknowledging the majesty of God.  As Christians, when we praise God, it will always be as unworthy but forgiven sinners.  

Verse two adds, For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.  Isaiah praised God even though the city of Jerusalem was going to be left in ruins.  We cannot allow times when things go badly in life for us, as individuals or as a nation, keep us from praising God for His greatness. 

Verse three continues, Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.  Isaiah said that because of God showing His power by leaving mighty cities in ruins that His people who had been trampled down would be made strong and come to praise Him while His enemies would fear Him.  As followers of Christ, we were once trampled down by sin, but after we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we are given the spiritual strength to overcome all our enemies, if we remain obedient to God.  Even if the people of the world never acknowledge Him before then, one day they will be sent away to everlasting punishment and will learn to truly fear the power of God.  Still, it will be their choice. 

Verse four states, For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.  Isaiah said that God had always been there to help the weak and suffering if they only acknowledged Him.  When everything in life seems to be beating us down, as Christians, if we remain true to God, He has already given us the victory.  No matter how weak we may be seen as in the eyes of the world, we can never be defeated spiritually as long as we remain faithful to God. 

Verse five adds, Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.  Isaiah said that God would bring down His enemies, and even if this never happens in this lifetime, it will happen when Jesus Christ returns.

Isaiah 24:10

Isaiah 24:10 says, The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.  Isaiah said that at this time all the city or cities throughout the country would be open to destruction because all their walls of defense would be broken down and that all the doors to every house would be shut.  Matthew Henry says that this would be because there were few men left to fight possibly due to the plague mentioned in chapter twenty-four, verse six.  I also believe that it means they would also be shutting out others in need of help and just looking out for themselves.  We cannot allow fear of anything to stop us from reaching out to others with the gospel.  Even if our numbers become few, we still have the responsibility of sharing the gospel. 

Verse eleven adds, There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.  Isaiah said there would be a crying for wine in the streets and that all joy would be darkened. This could mean that the wine had somehow spoiled or I believe that there just was none left.  Because of that, the mirth that the people of Jerusalem had experienced was gone.  Too often today, people think they need alcoholic beverages to be happy, and when it is gone, they lose their joy.   We as followers of Christ should look to Him alone for our joy, and anything else we think we must have to find happiness will one day be gone. 

Verse twelve continues, In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.  Isaiah said that the city of Jerusalem would be left in desolation, and the gate would be destroyed.  All the things of the world that we look to for safety and security will one day fail us.  Jesus Christ is our gate to everlasting security, and we must put our faith and hope in Him alone. 

Verse thirteen states, When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.  This is a reference to the remnant of the people of Israel that will be left after this coming devastation.  After everything is shaken, there will be a few like the olives after the tree is shaken or the grapes that are left for the gleaning.  The remnant will be dispersed throughout the land.  As Christians, we are part of the remnant of God’s people, and we are often few and scattered throughout the land. 

Verse fourteen adds, They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea.  Though few in number, this remnant will lift up their voices in praise to the majesty of God.  We, as followers of Christ, have already been delivered from everlasting punishment for our sins, so no matter what happens in the world, we should be singing praises to God. 

Verse fifteen continues, Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.  Isaiah said they were to glorify God even in the fires or scattered throughout the world, maybe even often exiled to one of the isles.  If we are confronted with being killed for our faith or maybe being banished to some remote place, we still need to sing praises to God.  It is easy to sing praises to God when things are going well, but we too often only grumble and complain when they aren’t.  Our singing praises to God should never be about how things are going materially but should always be about the fact that no matter what happens in this life, He has given us everlasting life with Him if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  We need to be joyous people, no matter what happens in this world. 

Verse sixteen concludes, From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.  Isaiah said that from the uttermost parts of the world that praises to God were heard.  Still, Isaiah lamented the leanness of the number of the people of God that remained, and the people of the world were still treating them treacherously.  Just because God has redeemed us spiritually doesn’t mean that we will not be treated badly by the world.  Often, the opposite may be true.  We cannot allow this to keep us from singing praises to God if it does happen, though. 

Verse seventeen says, Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.  Isaiah then stated that instead of living in the peace and security that God’s people should have that they were living in dread of total ruin.  We may see all the things wrong in the world today or may even lack what we need to do more than barely survive on, but we should never live in fear of the world.  We have everlasting victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Verse eighteen adds, And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.  Isaiah basically said that there was no hope of escape by looking for safety in the world.  Those that escaped the pit would be taken by the snare, since the whole earth would be shaken, since God’s judgment was coming.  When God’s final judgment comes, there is no place that those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will find safety, since God controls not just the earth but the universe. 

Verse nineteen continues, The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.  Isaiah said that the whole earth would be broken down, cleanly dissolved, and moved exceedingly.  I believe this is more a reference to when Jesus Christ returns in victory, but there may have been times when God allowed natural disasters to occur that show His power over the world.  Nothing in this world is ever going to keep us safe when God’s judgment comes except a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Verse twenty concludes, The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.  Isaiah said because of the transgressions of mankind, that one day God was going to do away with the old earth, even though it had been declared good when He created it.  It is the sins of mankind that has caused the whole earth to become corrupted.  God will then restore the heavens and the earth to what they should have been all along, once He exiles Satan and all those who follow Him to the pits of hell. 

Verse twenty-one states, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.  Isaiah said that when God’s judgment comes, those who has been in positions of power and prestige, those who had been sitting on high in the eyes of the world but didn’t acknowledge God would be punished for their sins.  They would no longer be in power but would be sent away to everlasting punishment. 

Verse twenty-two adds, And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.  Once more, Isaiah said that those who were judged and found guilty of sin who had not found forgiveness by putting their faith in Jesus Christ would be cast down into the pit.  There, they will be visited by the wrath of God.  Still, it will be their choice to be there.  God has made the way possible to escape this coming judgment, but those who refuse to accept that way will know the wrath of God one day. 

Verse twenty-three continues, Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.  Isaiah said that in that day even the moon and stars would be ashamed.  When God returns in His glory, the stars, even the sun, will pale in comparison.  The question is will we be going to an everlasting relationship with God or to everlasting punishment. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will be going to their home in heaven with Him and all others will be going to the pit, to hell, for everlasting punishment.