Isaiah 26 - Introduction

A song inciting to confidence in God, for his judgments, and for his favour to his people. An exhortation to wait on God.

Before Christ 715.

THIS chapter contains the second doxology, and is truly poetical. It is twofold: We have first, after the preface, Isaiah 26:1 the song of the true believers, which consists of different parts. The first sets forth a confessional and fiducial celebration of the benefit conferred upon the church: the second addresses, in a congratulatory manner, these confessors of the truth, who had not fallen away in the time of distress, Isaiah 26:2. The third explains the faith and hope of the children of GOD, Isaiah 26:3. The fourth exhorts the brethren of a weaker mind, from the deliverance now granted to the church, to arm themselves with the same confidence against all fears and temptations, Isaiah 26:4. The fifth, turning the discourse to God, delivers a confession concerning the divine judgments, their causes and effects, and the disposition of the holy and the wicked towards them, Isaiah 26:7. In which confession the pious first acknowledge, in general, the equity of the ways of God toward the righteous in those judgments which he executes upon the church, Isaiah 26:7. Secondly, they set forth their own disposition respecting those judgments, Isaiah 26:8. Thirdly, the disposition of the wicked, Isaiah 26:10. Fourthly, they particularly set forth the lively faith, hope, and confidence which they had maintained in the time of affliction, Isaiah 26:12. The epilogue, or the prophet's conclusion of this song, making its second part, is simple, and of an historical style, corroborating the hope and faith of the church, and conceived in the manner of an answer to the above confession, Isaiah 26:20. The whole structure of the song, as well with respect to argument as composition, is very similar to the cxviiith Psalm. Vitringa.