Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 26

Verses 1-21

1. Intro:
   1. This song – The prophet wrote a song that will be sung by the redeemed when the messiah will establish the millennial kingdom.
      1. With all the “marketing” in Christendom, if we are living in the end times, I’m surprised someone hasn’t put this chapter to music… because it will be the #1 song on Air One in the Millennium!
   2. The future is secure with God, & thus Our future is secure with God!
2. MILLENNIUM! (1-21)
   1. Peace, Peace! (1-6)
   2. (1) “in that day” – see 27:1 also…that ties them in.
   3. This song – The prophet wrote a song that will be sung by the redeemed when the messiah will establish the millennial kingdom.
      1. With all the “marketing” in Christendom, if we are living in the end times, I’m surprised someone hasn’t put this chapter to music… because it will be the #1 song on Air One in the Millennium!
   4. (3) God gives peace to His people(also see 12)
      1. Peace, peace! Shalom, Shalom! in the original.
         1. A duplicating peace! - A peace that really is peace.
         2. The general meaning behind the root is: of completion & fulfillment - of entering into a state of wholeness & unity, a restored relationship. [TWOT]
      2. Stayed – steadfast.
      3. Trust – The redeemed will readily testify of the everlasting faithfulness of Jehovah.
         1. Let us rest upon Him with all our weight! - Let us drive out all unbelief! - Let us rid ourselves of doubts & fears!
         2. Spurg, “A loving parent would be sorely grieved if his child could not trust him!”
   5. (5,6) The proud enemy is brought down.
   6. Waiting for & Desiring God! (7-11)
      1. It is always springtime in the heart that loves God.
      2. Brother Lawrence, “Let us give our thoughts completely to knowing God. The more one knows him, the more one wants to know him, and since love is measured commonly by knowledge, then, the deeper and more extensive knowledge shall be, so love will be the greater, and, if love is great, we shall love him equally in suffering and consolation.”
   7. Establishing Peace! (12-19)
   8. (15) You have increased the nation – ie. The world-wide Gentile Church.
   9. The focus of the kingdom age is glory of God!
   10. (16-18) This pictures Israel’s suffering during the tribulation.
       1. But following the Tribulation there is hope of the Resurrection.
   11. (19) Resurrection!
       1. Among the clearest of OT verses on this subject.
       2. “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” S.o.S. 2:13
   12. Comforted During the Tribulation! (20,21)
   13. Read - Rev.12:13-17
   14. PEACE!
   15. There is a universal yearning for peace! (some get it, & some don’t & won’t!)
       1. See - Is.57:19-21
       2. 3 Divisions of the doctrine of Peace! (Adapted from Lockyer’s “All the Doctrines of the Bible”; Pg.212-216)
   16. Peace With God! [Or, Peace Above us!]
       1. Eliphaz exhorted in Job 22:21, “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.”
       2. Peace with God means that our problem with sin has been settled by the blood of Christ. God is our Father, not our Judge.
          1. Rom.5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
       3. This peace with God is divine in origin!
          1. The Trinity is united in its acquisition & application.
       4. [1] God the Father is the God of Peace!
          1. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely;” 1 Thes.5:23
       5. [2] God the Son is the Prince & the Personification of Peace!
          1. Prince: “His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is.9:6
          2. Personification: “For He Himself is our peace,” Eph.2:14
       6. [3] God the Spirit provides the Fruit of Peace!
          1. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,…” Gal.5:22
       7. So, the Father decreed peace; the Son purchased peace; the Spirit applies peace.
   17. ​​​​​​​Peace Of God! [Or, Peace Within us!]
       1. “Not all who have peace with God, have peace within!”
       2. They have the title to it, but fail to enjoy their inheritance.
       3. If our enemy can’t steal our pardon, he will try to pilfer our peace!
       4. “The peace of God is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of divine sufficiency in the midst of problems.” (Warren Wiersbe; pg.468)
          1. George Morrison said, “Peace is the possession of adequate resources”, & those resources come from the Lord when you yield heart & mind to Him.
          2. When Jesus rules the heart, peace reigns.
       5. Let’s look at Phil.4:7.
          1. Be Anxious for Nothing – Exercise our minds in our everyday affairs…Yes!
             1. ​​​​​​​Allow ourselves to be shaken w/fears, vague uncertainties, & ceaseless alarms?...No!
             2. Faith learns to trust the God of Peace today & tomorrow!
             3. F.B.Meyer “If we allow worries, anxieties, careworn questions to brood in our hearts, they will soon break up the our peace, as swarms of tiny gnats will make a Paradise uninhabitable.”
          2. Be Prayerful in Everything – What a strong link between prayer & peace!
             1. What else but believing prayer can correct thefeverish restlessness of the heart, bringing us intoGod’s atmosphere of calm.
          3. Be Thankful for Anything – “Thanks & tranquility – praise & peace are fast friends.”
             1. Possession of “the peace of God” enables us to believe that “all is right which seems most wrong, if it be His sweet will.”
          4. Also note in vs.7 “guard”.
             1. It speaks of a fortified place where soldiers are quartered(garrison). Peace as a sentinel guards us, as a sentry guards a palace.
   18. Peace From God! [Or, Peace Around us!]
       1. The beginning of the epistles are fragrant with this peace!
          1. Rom.1:7 “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
       2. Perfect Peace! (Is.26:3)
          1. Coming from God, it bears the imprint of His own perfection.
       3. Peace Passing Understanding! (Phil.4:7)
          1. As the Scots put it, “Better felt then telt.”
          2. It also passes all misunderstandings!
       4. Peace as a River! (Is.48:18)
          1. Is.48:18 “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river,”
          2. I've got peace like a river…I've got joy like a fountain…I've got love like an ocean...( in my soul)
          3. We’re not talking about some trickling stream, but boundless as a mighty, surging river, and like a swelling river, it broadens & deepens & fills up.
   19. Last thing on Peace…Go for it!
       1. Heb.12:14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”
       2. This is a hunting illustration – Follow peace as the hound does the hare.