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Overview

Isaiah’s vision shifts to revealing a song that will be sung in the land of Judah. This song is about a future, thriving city: the city of God. 

Isaiah 26:1-4

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Is this Jerusalem? Is this another “strong” city? Jerusalem is never mentioned by name, but many do think this is a reference to the capital of Judah. What makes this chapter unique is the spiritual nature of this city. The people in this city keep their minds focused on God. And in turn, there is peace and rest witihin the walls of this city. 

Isaiah 26:11-15

O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed. Let the fire for your adversaries consume them. O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works. O Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance. They are dead, they will not live; they are shades, they will not arise; to that end you have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them. But you have increased the nation, O Lord, you have increased the nation; you are glorified; you have enlarged all the borders of the land.

The vision presents this song that captures this reality: Within the gates there is peace, outside the gates there is destruction. Fortunately, verse 15 states that God is willing to enlarge the borders, to allow more people to come in. Many scholars believe this points to the days of the New Covenant, the era when both Jews AND Gentiles will come into the city of God. So where are you? Are you inside the gates of the city of God or do you still have residence in the city of Man? One city will rise, one city will fall. 

Isaiah 26:19

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

The doctrine of bodily resurrection is scantily mentioned in the Old Testament. Verse 19 is one of the few passages that allude to it. Daniel 12 seems to say that the dead, both the righteous and the unrighteous, will arise from the dust to then be fitted with a resurrected body. This is a glorious hope. Obviously, our hope is now grounded on the firstfruits of our resurrection, Jesus Christ. He is the first to receive a resurrection body. He now sits at the right hand of God, having finished the work of redemption, enjoying His eternal bodily form. 

Ronald Reagan, the 40th U.S. president, said something very unique at a prayer breakfast, back in 1984. He said, 

“I believe that George Washington knew the City of Man cannot survive without the City of God; that the Visible City will perish without the Invisible City.” 

I appreciate what Reagan was trying to say here. Reagan was highlighting the importance of a spiritual city, a place where the nations can find peace and safety. 

Jesus called us a “city on a hill”. Don’t forget to shine brightly today.