Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 26

In that day shall this song be sung – by the people of God, on their restoration to their own land.

We have a strong city – Jerusalem. This does not mean that it was then strongly fortified, but that God would guard it, and thus it would be strong. Jerusalem was easily capable of being strongly fortified (Psalms 25:2); but the idea here is that Yahweh would be a protector, and that this would constitute its strength.

Salvation will God appoint for walls – That is, he will himself be the defender of his people in place of walls and bulwarks. A similar expression occurs in Isaiah 60:18 (see also Jeremiah 3:23, and Zechariah 2:5).

Bulwarks – This word properly means bastions or ramparts. The original word properly means a pomoerium, or antemural defense: a space outside the city wall, raised up like a small wall. The Syriac renders it Bar shuro – ‘Son of a wall,’ meaning a small wall. It was usually a breastwork, or heap of earth thrown up around the city, that constituted an additional defense, so that if they were driven from it, they could retreat within the walls.

Open ye the gates - This is probably the language of a chorus responding to the sentiment in (Isaiah 26:1). The captive people are returning; and this cry is made that the gates of the city may be thrown open, and that they may be permitted to enter without obstruction (Compare to Psalms 24:7, Psalms 24:9; Psalms 118:19).

That the righteous nation which keepeth the truth - Who, during their long captivity and contact with pagan nations, have not apostatized from the true religion, but have adhered firmly to the worship of the true God. This was doubtless true of the great body of the captive Jews in Babylon.

You will keep him - The following verses to (Isaiah 26:11) contain moral and religious reflections, and seem designed to indicate the resignation shown by the ‘righteous nation’ during their long afflictions. Their own feelings they are here represented as uttering in the form of general truths to be sources of consolation to others.

In perfect peace - Hebrew as in the Margin, ‘Peace, peace;’ the repetition of the word denoting, as is usual in Hebrew, emphasis, and here evidently meaning undisturbed, perfect peace. That is, the mind that has confidence in God will not be agitated by the trials to which it will be subject; by persecution, poverty, sickness, want, or bereavement. The inhabitants of Judea had been carried to a far distant land. They had been subjected to reproaches and to scorn (Psalms 137:1–9); had been stripped of their property and honor; and had been reduced to the condition of prisoners and captives. Yet their confidence in God had not been shaken. They still trusted in him; still believed that he could and would deliver them. Their mind was, therefore, kept in entire peace.

So it was with the Redeemer when he was persecuted and maligned (1 Peter 2:23). And so it has been with tens of thousands of the confessors and martyrs, and of the persecuted and afflicted people of God, who have been enabled to commit their cause to him, and amid the storms of persecution, and even in the prison and at the stake, have been kept in perfect peace.

Whose mind is stayed on you - Various interpretations have been given of this passage, but our translation has probably hit upon the exact sense. The word which is rendered ‘mind’ (יצר yētser) is derived from יצר yâtsar to form, create, devise; and it properly denotes that which is formed or made (Psalms 103:14; Isaiah 29:16, Hebrews 2:18). Then it denotes anything that is formed by the mind - its thoughts, imaginations, devices (Genesis 8:21; Deuteronomy 31:21). Here it may mean the thoughts themselves, or the mind that forms the thoughts. Either interpretation suits the connection, and will make sense. The expression, ‘is stayed on you,’ in the Hebrew does not express the idea that the mind is stayed on God, though that is evidently implied. The Hebrew is simply, whose mind is stayed, supported (סמוּך sâmûk); that is, evidently, supported by God.

There is no other support but that; and the connection requires us to understand this of him.

Trust ye in the Lord for ever—The sense is, ‘Let your confidence in God on no occasion fail. Let no calamity, no adversity, no persecution, no poverty, nor any trial of any kind, prevent you from placing entire confidence in Him.’ This is spoken evidently in view of the fact stated in the previous verse: that the mind that is stayed on Him shall have perfect peace.

For in the Lord JEHOVAH—‘This is one of the four places where our translators have retained the original word Yahweh (Psalms 133:1–3:18; the notes at Isaiah 12:2).

The original is יהוה ביה b'yâhh y'hōvâh; the first word, יה y'âhh—(), being merely an abridged form of Yahweh. The same form occurs in Isaiah 12:2.

The union of these two forms seems designed to express, in the highest sense possible, the majesty, glory, and holiness of God, and to excite the highest possible reverence where language fails to convey the idea completely.

is everlasting strength—Hebrew as in the margin, ‘The rock of ages’—a more poetic and beautiful expression than in our translation.

The idea is that God is firm and unchangeable like an eternal rock, and that in Him we may find protection and defense for everlasting ages (see Deuteronomy 32:4, et al.; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:32, 47; 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalms 18:31; Psalms 19:14; Psalms 28:1; Psalms 42:9; Psalms 62:2, 6-7, etc., where God is called ‘a rock’).

The lofty city, he layeth it low - The city of Babylon (see the note at Isaiah 25:12; compare Isaiah 13:0, note; Isaiah 14:1, note)