Isaiah – The fifth Hebrew gospel – Chapter 26

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Verse 1 – Strong City and Salvation:

“In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; יהוה makes salvation its walls and ramparts.”

The Hebrew word for “strong city” is “iyr oz,” emphasizing not only the physical but also the spiritual strength of the city. Meaning, in the midst of Jacob’s Trouble, salvation is the impregnable fortress of the righteous. The term “walls and ramparts” signifies our divine protection from the trouble.

This city symbolizes the Ecc-les-sia – the called out assembly of Israel, built on the foundation of Yahusha. The “strong city” represents the unshakable nature of His salvation, which surrounds and protects us from spiritual adversaries during Jacob’s Trouble. 

יהוה speaks of the walls of Jerusalem in Zech. 2:4 For I, saith יהוה, I will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

Ps. 125:2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so יהוה is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Verse 2 – Gates of Righteousness:

“Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.”

The “gates of righteousness” are symbolic of Yahusha Himself, who declared, “I am the door” (John 10:9) it’s through persevering faith in Yahusha that we’re gonna enter into the righteousness of Elohim. This verse underscores the importance of faith in Yahusha as the gateway to righteousness and salvation. Acceptance grants access to the courts of this world why, because “Acceptance” grants access to the courts of heaven. Whatever is bound above is bound below. 

Ps. 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise יהוה: 20 This gate of יהוה into which the righteous shall enter.

Revelation 21:27 tells us that only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life enter the New Jerusalem. The gates of righteousness in Isaiah 26 represent entry into this holy city for those who keep the faith.

Rev. 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Verse 3 – Perfect Peace:

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.”

The term “perfect peace” in Hebrew, “shalom shalom,” speaks to an abundance of peace, an exquisite tranquility. In the throes of Jacob’s Trouble, those who maintain unwavering trust in יהוה experience not just ordinary peace but an extraordinary serenity – Yahusha IN us! 

Verse 4 – Trust in יהוה  Forever:

“Trust in יהוה  forever, for יהוה, Elohim, is the Rock eternal.”

(lit. “a Rock of Ages”). 

“Trust” here, “batakh,” denotes a deep-seated reliance. In the pre-millennial realm, we understand that enduring trust in יהוה, our everlasting Rock, is the foundation of our hope, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable tribulation.

Revelation 22:6 describes Yahusha as the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end. In the millennial age, our trust remains in the eternal Rock of Moshiach.

Verse 7 – The Path of the Righteous:

“The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.”

The Hebrew phrase “masil derek yashar” emphasizes that the path of the righteous is a straight and level road. Yahusha – “the narrow road that leads to life, “the Upright One,” ensures that the journey of the righteous in Jacob’s Trouble is made smooth despite trials and tribulations.

Prov. 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 

5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of יהוה, and he pondereth all his goings.

Verse 9 – The Desire for His Name:

“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 verse unveils the yearning of the soul, “naphshi tashaq,” and the longing of the spirit, “ruachi khafetz,” for יהוה. The apocalyptic context suggests that even in the darkest hours of Jacob’s Trouble, our desire for His name and righteousness is unquenchable!

Verse 10 – Grace to the Wicked:

“But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness, they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of יהוה.”

Verse 12 – All You Have Accomplished:

“יהוה, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”

The Hebrew term “shil” conveys the idea of establishing, while “pa`al” signifies divine action. This verse shows that even our accomplishments, “pa`al,” during Jacob’s Trouble, are established by יהוה, the source of our peace.

Verse 13 – other lords besides thee – אָדֹן ‘âdôn Alpeh-Dalet-Nun Sofeet 

26:13 O יהוה our Elohim, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

The reference is to foreign despotisms, and not as some have thought to false gods. The rule of the heathen over the people of יהוה  was an invasion of יהוה s sovereignty, it was inconsistent with the ideal of the Theocracy, and hindered the perfect realization of the Divine will in the national life. 

Verse 19 – Your Dead Will Live:

But your dead will live, יהוה their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

This verse, deeply rooted in apocalyptic imagery, speaks of the resurrection. “Your dead will live,” “metekha yikhyyu,” anticipates the restoration of the righteous. At the end of Jacob’s Great Trouble – the Great Tribulation at the end of the millennium, the dead will rise to everlasting joy.

Verse 21 – For, behold, יהוה cometh out of his place to punish

For, behold, יהוה 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.The storm of judgment is about to burst on the world, but it will be of short duration; let the people seclude themselves in the privacy of their chambers and wait for a glorious salvation ( Zep 2:3; Dan 12:13).

יהוה is coming forth out of his place (The Shamayim Mic 1:3).

…the earth also shall disclose her blood; uncovered blood cries for vengeance (Gen 4:11; Eze 24:7-8); and the earth, by drinking in innocent blood, seems to conspire with the murderer, by concealing his guilt. This is why we hear Job’s impassioned cry in Job 16:18 NOT to cover him: O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

shall no more cover her slain: The idea here is the same: the earth will expose the dead bodies as evidence against the persecutors. It’s  at least doubtful if there is any thought of actual resurrection for them here.