Read Isaiah 26 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
26:1-10 {p} Peace for him who trusts in YHVH/ He brings down the lofty who dwell on high
26:11 {s} The wicked did not see the hand of YHVH, but they will see with shame His zeal for the people
26:12 {s} Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us
26:13-15 {p} Other masters will perish, for YHVH destroyed them/ He is exalted to the ends of the earth
26:16-19 {p} In trouble they sought YHVH/ He shall raise the dead to life
26:20-21 {p} Let YHVH’s people hide themselves until His indignation is past, when He visits the earth’s iniquity upon it
The Strong themes:
25:9-26:10 {s+p} We have waited for God, trusted in Him and He has saved us/ He brings down the proud
26:11-15 {s+s+p} YHVH zealously establishes peace for His people and destroys the wicked so that He alone is exalted
The Chiastic structure:
Now why do I say that the 1A pair means Judah’s strong city of salvation? Isa 25:10b-26:6 resolves into its own substructure.
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 ramparts.” Isa 26:1
Pairs with
TRUST IN YHVH FOREVER; for in Yah YHVH is an EVERLASTING ROCK. Isa 26:4
This is the Gospel, for we do not earn salvation by works of the Law but it is a free gift of grace by trust in YHVH forever. YHVH is Judah’s everlasting Rock, her strong city of salvation.
As far as the 2A pair, Isa 26:14-19 also resolves into its own substructure.
YOU HAVE INCREASED the nation, O YHVH, You have increased the nation; You are glorified. YOU HAVE EXTENDED it to all the ends of the earth. Isa 26:15
Pairs with
WE HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISHED SALVATION IN THE EARTH, nor have the inhabitants of the world been born. Isa 26:18
That is, Judah is acknowledging that they have not brought the nations to salvation. But who has? YHVH! He has increased Israel, He has extended Israel to the ends (literally “extremities”) of the earth. The nations, to the ends of the earth, have been grafted in to the olive tree of Israel, through Messiah Yeshua, Israel’s Root.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Romans 11, Bible for Beginners – Christine Miller
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