John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 26:1

"In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: we have a strong city; salvation will he appoint for walls and bulwarks." — Isaiah 26:1 (ASV)

In that day shall a song be sung. Here the Prophet begins again to show that, after the return of the people from captivity, they will be defended by God’s power and guardianship, and that under his protection Jerusalem will be as safe as if she had been surrounded by bulwarks, ramparts, a ditch, and a double wall, so that no enemy could find entrance.

It is proper to observe the time when “this song was sung.” The Prophet had foretold the calamity that would befall the Church, which was not yet so near at hand, but happened a short time after his death. When the people were led into captivity, they would undoubtedly have despaired if they had not been encouraged by such promises.

That the Jews might cherish a hope that they would be delivered, and might behold life in the midst of death, the Prophet composed for them this song, even before the calamity occurred, that they might be better prepared for enduring it, and might hope for better things. I do not think that it was composed solely so that, when they had been delivered, they might give thanks to God, but that even during their captivity, though they were like dead men (Ezekiel 37:1), they might strengthen their hearts with this confidence, and might also train up their children in this expectation, and hand down these promises, as it were, to posterity.

We have formerly seen the reason why these and other promises were put by Isaiah into the form of verse. This was so that, having been frequently sung, they might make a deeper impression on their memory. Though they mourned in Babylon and were almost overwhelmed with sorrow (hence these sounds, as in Psalm 137:4, How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?), yet they must have hoped that at a future period, when they should have returned to Judea, they would give thanks to the Lord and sing his praises. Therefore the Prophet shows them from a distance the day of deliverance, so that they might take courage from the expectation of it.

We have a city of strength. By these words a full restoration of Jerusalem and of the people is promised, because God will not only deliver the captives and gather those that are scattered, but will also preserve them safe after having brought them back to their country. But not long afterwards believers saw that Jerusalem was destroyed (2 Kings 25:9), and the Temple thrown down (2 Chronicles 36:19), and after their return nothing could meet their eye but hideous ruins; and all this Isaiah had previously foretold. It was therefore necessary that they should behold from the lofty watchtower of faith this restoration of Jerusalem.

He has made salvation to be walls and a bulwark. He now defines what will be “the strength of the city”; for the “salvation” of God will take the place of a “wall,” towers, ditches, and mounds. As if he had said, “Let other cities rely on their fortifications, God alone will be to us instead of all bulwarks.” Some allege that the words may be read, “He has set a wall and bulwark for salvation”; and I do not set aside that rendering.

But as a more valuable doctrine is contained in the Prophet’s words, when nothing is supplied, it serves no good purpose to go far for a forced interpretation; especially since the true and natural interpretation readily presents itself to the mind, which is that God’s protection is more valuable than all ditches and walls.

In like manner, it is also said in the psalm, Thy mercy is better than life (Psalms 63:3), for as David there boasts of enjoying, under God’s shadow, greater safety and freedom from care than if he had been fortified by every kind of earthly defense, so Isaiah here says that there will be good reason for laying aside fear when God shall have undertaken to guard his people.

Now, since this promise extends to the whole course of redemption, we ought to believe that at the present day God is still the guardian of his Church, and therefore that his power is more effective than if it had been defended by every kind of military force.

Accordingly, if we wish to dwell in safety, we must remain in the Church. Though we have no outward defenses, yet let us learn to be satisfied with the Lord’s protection, and with his sure salvation, which is better than all bulwarks.