Latest / KNEO Podcast / Marriage Life and More and Bible Study - Isaiah 26 - Peace Like a River ... Mine's More Like a Clogged Drain! - 371

Transcript

Marriage Life and More and Bible Study - Isaiah 26 - Peace Like a River ... Mine's More Like a Clogged Drain! - 371 · KNEO Podcast

• 0:05
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah says God will keep you in perfect peace if your mind stays on him.
• 0:10
  Daniel Moore: So naturally, your strategy is to worry about everything, trust absolutely nothing, and then wonder why you're stressed out?
• 0:16
  Daniel Moore: I mean, how's that working for you?
• 0:19
  Daniel Moore: And you guys have watched God split seas, defeat armies, and provide food in the wilderness.
• 0:24
  Daniel Moore: But trusting him with tomorrow is where you draw the line?
• 0:27
  Daniel Moore: Apparently miracles are impressive, but anxiety is still your favorite hobby.
• 0:32
  Daniel Moore: This week we're diving into Isaiah chapter 26, where we discover something everybody wants but few people seem to have.
• 0:38
  Daniel Moore: Perfect peace.
• 0:40
  Daniel Moore: Now most of us would settle for five uninterrupted minutes without somebody needing something, a bill showing up, or life throwing another curveball.
• 0:48
  Daniel Moore: But Isaiah 26.3 reminds us that God will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him.
• 0:54
  Daniel Moore: Notice God never promised us a perfect life, but He did promise peace in the middle of an imperfect one.
• 1:00
  Daniel Moore: This chapter reminds us that human pride eventually falls.
• 1:03
  Daniel Moore: God's faithfulness never fails, and even death doesn't get the final word.
• 1:08
  Daniel Moore: Yet somehow we spend more time worrying about what might happen tomorrow than remembering what God has already brought us through yesterday.
• 1:15
  Daniel Moore: We trust our GPS to get us somewhere we've never been, the struggle to trust God who's already in our tomorrow.
• 1:22
  Daniel Moore: And here's the truth.
• 1:24
  Daniel Moore: Peace doesn't come from controlling our circumstances, it comes from trusting the one who controls what we cannot.
• 1:30
  Daniel Moore: To grab your Bible, turn to Isaiah chapter 26, and let's discover why a mind anchored in God can remain steady even when the world around us is falling apart.
• 1:39
  Daniel Moore: Let's get to it.
• 1:44
  Daniel Moore: Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
• 1:46
  Daniel Moore: This is a podcast about marriage, Bible, and book studies.
• 1:49
  Daniel Moore: We interview people who have a story.
• 1:50
  Daniel Moore: I'm Danny Moore, your host, thank you guys for joining us this week.
• 1:53
  Daniel Moore: If not familiar with our show, check out our website, connectingthegap.net, for links to our platforms.
• 1:58
  Daniel Moore: We're on YouTube and Rumble.
• 2:00
  Daniel Moore: We're also on Alexa and Google Smart Devices.
• 2:02
  Daniel Moore: You can also visit us on social on Facebook, Instagram, X, and ActSocial at CTGAPOnline.
• 2:08
  Daniel Moore: If you're a fan of our show, please subscribe.
• 2:10
  Daniel Moore: Feel free to leave a comment on our platforms, give us a thumbs up or five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and we thank you in advance for doing that.
• 2:18
  Daniel Moore: Well, welcome guys once again to another episode here on Connecting the Gap.
• 2:22
  Daniel Moore: We've been going through our verse-by-verse study in Isaiah, and we've made it all the way to chapter 26.
• 2:28
  Daniel Moore: So we are creeping oh so close to being halfway through this book.
• 2:33
  Daniel Moore: It has 66 chapters.
• 2:35
  Daniel Moore: So once we hit 33, we've reached that midpoint.
• 2:38
  Daniel Moore: And that's starting to look a little bit closer now and look like it's right around the corner.
• 2:42
  Daniel Moore: We've got a lot to go through this week, though, so we're gonna go ahead and jump right into it.
• 2:46
  Daniel Moore: So grab your Bibles and get your coffee, whatever else you need, and let's go ahead and open our Bibles and let's start looking through Isaiah chapter 26.
• 3:12
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah chapter 26 is a prophetic song of trust and triumph that reflects the deep hope and steadfast faith of God's people in the midst of turmoil.
• 3:21
  Daniel Moore: Set in the context of messianic promises and the ultimate victory of righteousness, this chapter presents a vision of a strong and secure city where those who are faithful and just dwell in perfect peace.
• 3:33
  Daniel Moore: It contrasts the fate of the wicked with the enduring security of the righteous, emphasizing themes of resurrection, divine justice, and unwavering trust in God.
• 3:42
  Daniel Moore: Through powerful poetry and vivid imagery, Isaiah calls the faithful to patiently wait on the Lord, assured that his purposes will prevail and his judgment will bring restoration and peace.
• 3:54
  Daniel Moore: So as we get started this week, let's go ahead and read through our text that we're going to be covering through this week's episode.
• 3:59
  Daniel Moore: It is a little bit of an extended reading here, so we're going to go ahead and just cover all of these verses in this initial reading.
• 4:07
  Daniel Moore: And that way, once we finish, we can just go ahead and jump into the verse-by-verse study here of chapter 26.
• 4:13
  Daniel Moore: So Isaiah chapter 26, verse 1, this is from the ESV version of the Bible.
• 4:18
  Daniel Moore: In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah.
• 4:22
  Daniel Moore: We have a strong city, he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
• 4:26
  Daniel Moore: Open the gates that the righteous nations that keep faith may enter in.
• 4:31
  Daniel Moore: You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
• 4:36
  Daniel Moore: Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
• 4:41
  Daniel Moore: For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city.
• 4:45
  Daniel Moore: He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, cast it to the dust.
• 4:49
  Daniel Moore: The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.
• 4:54
  Daniel Moore: The path of the righteous is level.
• 4:56
  Daniel Moore: You make level the way of the righteous.
• 4:58
  Daniel Moore: In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you.
• 5:01
  Daniel Moore: Your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.
• 5:05
  Daniel Moore: My soul yearns for you in the night.
• 5:07
  Daniel Moore: My spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
• 5:10
  Daniel Moore: For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
• 5:15
  Daniel Moore: If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness.
• 5:18
  Daniel Moore: In the land of uprightness, he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the Lord.
• 5:24
  Daniel Moore: O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it.
• 5:28
  Daniel Moore: Let them see your zeal for your people and be ashamed.
• 5:31
  Daniel Moore: Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.
• 5:34
  Daniel Moore: O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for all of us all our works.
• 5:41
  Daniel Moore: O Lord our God, other lords beside you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance.
• 5:47
  Daniel Moore: They are dead, they will not live, they are shades, they will not arise.
• 5:52
  Daniel Moore: To that end you have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them.
• 5:58
  Daniel Moore: But if you have increased a nation, O Lord, you have increased the nation, you are glorified, you have enlarged all the borders of the land.
• 6:06
  Daniel Moore: O Lord, in distress they sought you, they poured out a whispered prayer, when your discipline was upon them.
• 6:13
  Daniel Moore: Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pains when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O Lord.
• 6:21
  Daniel Moore: We were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to the wind.
• 6:26
  Daniel Moore: We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.
• 6:31
  Daniel Moore: Your dead shall live, their bodies shall rise, you who dwell in the dust awake and sing for joy.
• 6:37
  Daniel Moore: For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.
• 6:41
  Daniel Moore: Verse 20.
• 6:42
  Daniel Moore: Come, my people, enter your chambers, shut your doors behind you, hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.
• 6:50
  Daniel Moore: For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.
• 7:02
  Daniel Moore: That's Isaiah chapter 26, verses 1 through 21.
• 7:09
  Daniel Moore: So as we get started this week, this is titled The Song of Judah.
• 7:16
  Daniel Moore: Verse 1.
• 7:17
  Daniel Moore: In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah.
• 7:20
  Daniel Moore: We have a strong city, he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
• 7:26
  Daniel Moore: This verse here introduces a prophetic hymn of praise that is meant to be sung in that day, a phrase common in Isaiah that points to a future time of divine intervention, often connected to messianic fulfillment, judgment, or deliverance.
• 7:40
  Daniel Moore: The strong city symbolizes a place of divine protection and righteousness, likely reflecting the new Jerusalem or a renewed Zion rather than a literal Jerusalem of Isaiah's time.
• 7:52
  Daniel Moore: Commentators like Alec Mother suggest this city stands in stark contrast to the unsellable city of chapter 25, 2, which God destroyed, showing that God's kingdom is eternal and based on salvation rather than human strength.
• 8:07
  Daniel Moore: The mention of walls and bulwarks emphasizes that God's salvation is the true defense, not physical fortifications.
• 8:15
  Daniel Moore: This imagery would have been especially comforting during times of military threat, such as during Assyria's aggression.
• 8:23
  Daniel Moore: Verse 2, open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
• 8:29
  Daniel Moore: This verse continues the vision of the strong city in verse 1 and extends an invitation to the faithful.
• 8:35
  Daniel Moore: The gates are open not to any people, but specifically to the righteous nation that keeps faith.
• 8:41
  Daniel Moore: Historically, Isaiah was preaching to Judah, a nation that had often failed in righteousness and covenant faithfulness.
• 8:48
  Daniel Moore: Thus, this line looks forward to a redeemed remnant or a purified people, whom God will welcome into a secure kingdom.
• 8:56
  Daniel Moore: The call to be righteous and faithful echoes various themes in Isaiah, where obedience and trust in God, not mere heritage or ritual adherence, define true belonging to God's people.
• 9:07
  Daniel Moore: You can see more references to that in Isaiah 1, verses 18-20, and Isaiah 10, verses 20 to 23.
• 9:15
  Daniel Moore: The concept also anticipates the New Testament teaching that the kingdom of God is entered through faith and obedience, such as mentioned in Matthew 5.20 and Hebrews 11 6.
• 9:27
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah 26, verse 3.
• 9:29
  Daniel Moore: You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
• 9:35
  Daniel Moore: This well-loved popular verse offers a personal application from the broader national vision.
• 9:41
  Daniel Moore: The phrase perfect peace, or in Hebrew Shalom Shalom, literally emphasizes complete, unbroken peace.
• 9:49
  Daniel Moore: It is not merely the absence of conflict, but a holistic sense of well-being, safety, and fullness that comes from God.
• 9:56
  Daniel Moore: According to commentators like John Oswalt and Edward G.
• 9:59
  Daniel Moore: Young, the repetition of shalom adds poetic and theological weight, portraying that peace that flows only from unwavering trust in God.
• 10:08
  Daniel Moore: The condition for receiving this peace is having the mind stayed or fixed on God, reflecting a mindset rooted in faith, not fear.
• 10:17
  Daniel Moore: This verse may have provided deep encouragement to Isaiah's contemporaries facing instability and war, reminding them that peace is connected not to circumstances, but to trust in God's unchanging character.
• 10:30
  Daniel Moore: Verse 4, trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
• 10:36
  Daniel Moore: This verse gives an imperative.
• 10:39
  Daniel Moore: Trust in the Lord forever.
• 10:41
  Daniel Moore: The word Lord here is rendered from the Hebrew Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh, and the phrase Lord God is a repetitive reinforcement, literally, Yah Yahweh, of God's covenant name, underscoring his reliability and eternal nature.
• 10:56
  Daniel Moore: The metaphor Everlasting Rock echoes the language used in Isaiah 17.10 and Deuteronomy 32.4, where God is described as steady, immovable, and strong, attributes desperately needed in a time of national crisis and fear.
• 11:12
  Daniel Moore: Historically, this is a call to Judah to forsake alliances with foreign nations like Egypt and Assyria, and instead place their trust solely in the Lord.
• 11:21
  Daniel Moore: The idea of God as an everlasting rock gives theological grounding to the earlier promise of peace.
• 11:26
  Daniel Moore: The peace described in verse 3 is possibly only because the one trusted is unchanging and eternally faithful.
• 11:34
  Daniel Moore: So to summarize these first four verses, these first four verses in Isaiah 26 form a prophetic hymn of confidence and faith in the Lord.
• 11:42
  Daniel Moore: They look toward a time of divine deliverance where faithfulness and righteousness are rewarded, and where peace comes not from politics, power, or earthly fortresses, but from trusting the eternal, unshakable God.
• 11:54
  Daniel Moore: These themes would carry special meaning during Isaiah's time, especially as the people face threats from Assyria and the internal decay of their own society, and they remain relevant promises for believers in all generations.
• 12:08
  Daniel Moore: Moving on to verse five.
• 12:10
  Daniel Moore: For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city.
• 12:14
  Daniel Moore: He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, cast it to the dust.
• 12:20
  Daniel Moore: This verse speaks of God's judgment upon the proud and the powerful.
• 12:24
  Daniel Moore: The lofty city is a symbol of human pride, arrogance, and rebellion against God.
• 12:29
  Daniel Moore: While some scholars propose that this may specifically refer to Babylon or figurative representation of all cities in opposition to God's rule, the general consensus is that it contrasts with the strong city of verse 1, which is upheld by God's salvation.
• 12:45
  Daniel Moore: According to the commentator John Oswald, the lofty city reflects worldly power structures that rely on human strength rather than divine dependence.
• 12:54
  Daniel Moore: Its destruction is portrayed in three successive dramatic stages.
• 12:59
  Daniel Moore: First, it lays it low, then it lays it low to the ground, and then it casts it to the dust, emphasizing total humiliation.
• 13:08
  Daniel Moore: Historically, Judah had often looked toward powerful nations like Assyria and Egypt, either with fear or hope for alliances.
• 13:15
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah repeatedly warned that God alone was their rock and deliverer.
• 13:21
  Daniel Moore: Verse 6: the foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.
• 13:28
  Daniel Moore: God exalts the humble and brings down the mighty.
• 13:31
  Daniel Moore: After the proud city is made dust, it becomes a pathway for the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.
• 13:38
  Daniel Moore: This imagery illustrates a total reversal of fortunes.
• 13:41
  Daniel Moore: The oppressed and marginalized, often trampled by the powerful, are now given dignity and victory.
• 13:48
  Daniel Moore: This aligns with a broader biblical theme of divine justice found in places like Luke 152, where God is said to bring down rulers and exalt those of humble estate.
• 13:58
  Daniel Moore: According to the Barnes notes on the Bible, this verse signifies that God's judgments are not random acts of destruction, but purposeful acts that bring justice and vindicate the weak.
• 14:09
  Daniel Moore: Historically, it may have encouraged faithful Israelites who suffered under oppressive foreign powers and corrupt leaders, promising that God's justice would one day reverse their circumstances.
• 14:21
  Daniel Moore: As we move on to verse 7 here in chapter 26, we start talking a little about God's people being vindicated.
• 14:29
  Daniel Moore: Verse 7 says, The path of the righteous is level.
• 14:32
  Daniel Moore: You make level the way of the righteous.
• 14:35
  Daniel Moore: This verse returns to the theme of God providing peace and security to his people, especially those who are righteous.
• 14:42
  Daniel Moore: The level path is a metaphor for a life guided and protected by God.
• 14:46
  Daniel Moore: The repetition emphasizes the assurance and certainty of the righteous path.
• 14:51
  Daniel Moore: In a turbulent, politically treacherous time like Isaiah's, this would have been a word of deep encouragement.
• 14:57
  Daniel Moore: The righteous, those who trust and obey God, do not need to manipulate circumstances or seek protection from earthly powers.
• 15:05
  Daniel Moore: God Himself levels their way.
• 15:07
  Daniel Moore: According to the theologian E.
• 15:09
  Daniel Moore: J.
• 15:09
  Daniel Moore: Young, this is not a promise of absence of trouble, but of God's constant guidance and care through life's trials.
• 15:18
  Daniel Moore: Verse 8.
• 15:19
  Daniel Moore: In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you.
• 15:21
  Daniel Moore: Your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.
• 15:25
  Daniel Moore: Here the people respond to God's faithfulness with trust and strong yearning for His presence.
• 15:30
  Daniel Moore: And the path of your judgments refers to the way God acts in the world to bring about justice and righteousness.
• 15:37
  Daniel Moore: Even when those judgments involve suffering or discipline, the faithful remain confident and wait on the Lord.
• 15:44
  Daniel Moore: Waiting in this context denotes patient hope and unwavering trust.
• 15:48
  Daniel Moore: The phrase in this verse, your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul, reflects deep devotion.
• 15:55
  Daniel Moore: In Hebrew thought, name signifies character, and remembrance often refers to God's past acts of salvation.
• 16:03
  Daniel Moore: The people are not merely looking for deliverance, but for communion with God Himself.
• 16:08
  Daniel Moore: The pulpit commentary notes that the longing for God's name and fame is a mark of genuine faith, contrasted with those who only seek divine help in crisis but have no heart for God.
• 16:20
  Daniel Moore: To summarize these verses 5 through 8, these verses present a powerful vision of divine justice, the collapse of human pride, the exaltation of the humble, and the ultimate faith of the righteous who walk a God prepared path and wait patiently for his full redemption.
• 16:34
  Daniel Moore: Historically, this would have spoken to Isaiah's audience during turbulent times of national insecurity, reminding them that their future depended not on alliances or defenses, but on the Lord's sustaining power and righteous judgments.
• 16:48
  Daniel Moore: Moving on to verse 9.
• 16:52
  Daniel Moore: My spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
• 16:55
  Daniel Moore: For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
• 17:01
  Daniel Moore: This verse expresses deep longing for God, portraying the faithful believer as one pursuing communion with Him throughout all seasons, even in the darkness, which was symbolic of trial or absence of clarity.
• 17:13
  Daniel Moore: The speaker's deep yearning highlights not only the desire for God's presence, but also for God's justice to be revealed on earth.
• 17:20
  Daniel Moore: Historically, Isaiah's audience lived in a time when they witnessed injustice and the seeming triumph of the wicked.
• 17:26
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah affirms that God's righteous judgments teach the world what true justice and righteousness are.
• 17:32
  Daniel Moore: When God acts in judgment, whether through correcting his people or judging nations, people are forced to confront their moral state and recognize divine standards.
• 17:42
  Daniel Moore: According to the commentary E.
• 17:44
  Daniel Moore: J.
• 17:44
  Daniel Moore: Young, there is a clear relationship stated here between divine activity and human response.
• 17:50
  Daniel Moore: God's intervention brings about moral awareness.
• 17:53
  Daniel Moore: The judgments don't merely refer to punishment, but also to God's governing actions in history.
• 17:59
  Daniel Moore: This reflects the prophet's theology that God uses historical events as tools of instruction to the nations.
• 18:07
  Daniel Moore: Verse 10 If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness.
• 18:12
  Daniel Moore: In the land of uprightness, he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the Lord.
• 18:18
  Daniel Moore: In this verse, Isaiah contrasts those who respond to God's judgments with those who refuse to change, even when shown mercy.
• 18:25
  Daniel Moore: The verse suggests that the wicked are spiritually blind.
• 18:29
  Daniel Moore: Divine favor does not necessarily lead to repentance.
• 18:32
  Daniel Moore: Even when placed in an environment where righteousness is known, like the land of uprightness, presumably referring to Judah or God's presence among his people, the wicked continue in corruption.
• 18:44
  Daniel Moore: This is a sobering warning.
• 18:46
  Daniel Moore: It implies that without a heart change, external blessings or exposure to godly surroundings will not transform people.
• 18:54
  Daniel Moore: Matthew Henry comments that this verse shows how hardened the heart can become when people abuse God's patience and misinterpret his kindness as indifference.
• 19:03
  Daniel Moore: Historically, Judah had experienced seasons of peace and prosperity, especially under kings like Uzziah and Hezekiah, yet often failed to remain faithful.
• 19:12
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah points out that mercy alone will not reform the rebellious.
• 19:16
  Daniel Moore: It requires spiritual awakening and submission to God's authority.
• 19:22
  Daniel Moore: Verse 11.
• 19:23
  Daniel Moore: O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it.
• 19:27
  Daniel Moore: Let them see your zeal for your people and be ashamed.
• 19:30
  Daniel Moore: Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.
• 19:35
  Daniel Moore: This verse continues the theme of God's actions being unrecognized or rejected by the wicked.
• 19:40
  Daniel Moore: The phrase, your hand is lifted up, implies that God's power is ready to act, possibly in judgment or deliverance, but the spiritually blind do not recognize it.
• 19:50
  Daniel Moore: The plea let them see your zeal for your people refers to God's passionate commitment to protecting and vindicating those who are faithful to Him.
• 19:58
  Daniel Moore: When God acts decisively, the proud will be put to shame, and his enemies brought to destruction.
• 20:05
  Daniel Moore: The firefear adversaries echoes imagery found earlier in Isaiah, such as in Isaiah 10 17, where God's holiness manifests as a consuming fire against all sin and opposition.
• 20:17
  Daniel Moore: Commentator Alec Mother notes that this verse shows the prophet's struggle between mercy and wrath, while Isaiah longs for repentance.
• 20:25
  Daniel Moore: There is recognition that God's justice will ultimately prevail over unrepentant evil.
• 20:30
  Daniel Moore: Historically, this could have been a warning to nations like Assyria, which threatened Judah, but would eventually face God's consuming judgment themselves.
• 20:40
  Daniel Moore: Verse 12, O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.
• 20:48
  Daniel Moore: In stark contrast to the judgment on the wicked, this verse expresses a confident affirmation of God's peace for his people.
• 20:55
  Daniel Moore: It acts as a theological conclusion to the sequence of reflection on judgment and righteousness.
• 21:01
  Daniel Moore: The people recognize that all righteousness and achievements come from God, in the statement, You have indeed done for us all our works.
• 21:09
  Daniel Moore: This humility acknowledges that any peace or prosperity they experience is not due to human effort but divine initiative.
• 21:17
  Daniel Moore: The peace here, or shalom, encompasses well-being, security, and restoration.
• 21:23
  Daniel Moore: According to Kiln DeLeach, the verse points to the all-sufficiency of God's grace.
• 21:28
  Daniel Moore: Not only does he secure their future peace, but even their past good is the result of his working in them.
• 21:34
  Daniel Moore: In historical context, this would provide hope to the faithful remnant in Judah, who remain loyal to God amidst national upheaval, encouraging them to see their present and future as entirely dependent on divine faithfulness, not human alliances or accomplishments.
• 21:51
  Daniel Moore: Summarizing verses 9 through 12, they reinforce the dual theme of judgment and mercy.
• 21:57
  Daniel Moore: God's people long for his justice, recognizing recognizing that even his discipline teaches righteousness.
• 22:03
  Daniel Moore: The wicked, however, remain blind, whether faced with mercy or warning.
• 22:08
  Daniel Moore: Yet amid all of this, the faithful rest in the assurance that God is their peace, and every good thing they possess originates from his gracious hand.
• 22:19
  Daniel Moore: Moving on to verse thirteen, O Lord our God, other lords beside you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance.
• 22:29
  Daniel Moore: The prophet begins with a confession that acknowledges past subjugation.
• 22:33
  Daniel Moore: The phrase other lords beside you can be interpreted in two ways.
• 22:38
  Daniel Moore: Historically it may refer to foreign powers that ruled over Judah, such as Assyria or Babylon.
• 22:43
  Daniel Moore: Spiritually, it may refer to false gods or idols that the people had submitted to.
• 22:49
  Daniel Moore: The statement demonstrates a shift in devotion back to the true God, Yahweh.
• 22:53
  Daniel Moore: The prophet emphasizes exclusive devotion despite the influence of these other powers and so-called lords.
• 23:00
  Daniel Moore: Only the name of the Lord is remembered with reverence and worship.
• 23:04
  Daniel Moore: Commentator E.
• 23:05
  Daniel Moore: J.
• 23:05
  Daniel Moore: Young explains that this verse reveals a deep renewal of spiritual loyalty after the people have been chastened and have recognized the futility of trusting in any authority but God.
• 23:16
  Daniel Moore: The verb bring to remembrance has covenantal overtones.
• 23:20
  Daniel Moore: It reflects the act of honoring God's name and worship as Israel was originally called to do in Exodus 315.
• 23:27
  Daniel Moore: Politically, Isaiah's Judah was threatened by foreign domination and military sortion, but this verse expresses a faith that looks beyond human rulers to the sovereignty of God alone.
• 23:42
  Daniel Moore: Verse 14 They are dead, they will not live they are shades, they will not arise.
• 23:48
  Daniel Moore: To that end you have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them.
• 23:54
  Daniel Moore: This verse speaks of the certain and permanent downfall of the enemy powers or the other lords previously mentioned.
• 24:01
  Daniel Moore: They are dead they will not live emphasizes finality.
• 24:05
  Daniel Moore: Shades refers to the Raphaim, spirits of the dead in ancient Hebrew thought, conveying that these powers are not only inactive but incapable of returning.
• 24:15
  Daniel Moore: God's judgment upon them is complete and irreversible.
• 24:19
  Daniel Moore: Going a little deeper into the term Raphaim, it refers to the departed spirits or the dead often seen as ghostly figures inhabiting the underworld or Sheol.
• 24:30
  Daniel Moore: In this specific verse Isaiah uses Raphaim translated as shades in the ESV to emphasize the complete and irreversible downfall of foreign rulers and oppressive regimes that once dominated Israel.
• 24:44
  Daniel Moore: The Hebrew word Raphaim appears in various parts of the Old Testament and can have slightly different meanings depending on the context.
• 24:52
  Daniel Moore: In some passages like Deuteronomy 211 or Genesis 14 the Raphaim are depicted as a race of ancient giants, warrior like people who once lived in Canaan and were known for their strength and size.
• 25:05
  Daniel Moore: They are often mentioned alongside other mighty ancient tribes like the Anakim and Emum.
• 25:11
  Daniel Moore: In that context they symbolize formidable woes who were defeated as Israel entered the Promised Land.
• 25:18
  Daniel Moore: Number two, in poetic and prophetic texts such as Isaiah 149 and Proverbs 218, Raphaim refers to the dead, the weak and powerless dwellers of Sheol.
• 25:30
  Daniel Moore: This usage emphasizes their current state of helplessness and disembodiment this verse uses the term in the second sense.
• 25:39
  Daniel Moore: The idea is that the former oppressive worldly powers, once proud and dominating, are now lifeless and unable to rise again.
• 25:46
  Daniel Moore: They are not just physically dead, but spiritually erased, with no hope of revival or legacy.
• 25:53
  Daniel Moore: This verse reinforces the permanence of their judgment, especially when compared to God's enduring rule and the resurrection hope hinted at in Isaiah 2619.
• 26:03
  Daniel Moore: According to Killen DeLeach Biblical commentary this verse is not just highlighting physical death but political extinction, the total erasure of oppressive regimes or pagan empires that had once dominated God's people.
• 26:16
  Daniel Moore: The phrase wiped out all remembrance of them further shows God's zeal for his glory and his people's purity.
• 26:23
  Daniel Moore: It assures that these former oppressors will not rise again to trouble Israel.
• 26:28
  Daniel Moore: Historically this was true of several nations that opposed Judah such as Assyria which fell dramatically after seeming invincible thus Raphaim serves as a powerful image of the utter defeat and impotence of those who opposed God, emphasizing the total supremacy and justice of the Lord.
• 26:48
  Daniel Moore: Verse 15 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 This verse provides a striking contrast to the previous one where the former rulers were destroyed, God's people experienced growth and expansion.
• 27:07
  Daniel Moore: The repetition of you have increased the nation emphasizes the miraculous and abundant nature of this blessing.
• 27:15
  Daniel Moore: The increase may signify restored population, influence or spiritual vitality.
• 27:20
  Daniel Moore: You are glorified makes it clear that this flourishing brings glory not to Israel but to God.
• 27:27
  Daniel Moore: The phrase enlarged all the borders of the land echoes covenant promises going back to Abraham and reaffirmed under Moses and Joshua back in Genesis 1518.
• 27:37
  Daniel Moore: Some scholars such as John Oswald interpret this as partially fulfilled in periods of national renewal such as under King Hezekiah and ultimately pointing ahead to the Messianic kingdom where God's reign will extend over all the earth.
• 27:51
  Daniel Moore: Theologically this verse shows that all blessing growth and restoration come directly from the Lord's hand in contrast to the self aggrandizing methods of worldly empires verse 16 O Lord in distress they sought you they poured out a whispered prayer when your discipline was upon them this verse recalls how distress and divine discipline caused the people to turn back to God.
• 28:19
  Daniel Moore: They sought you shows the hardships led to repentance and renewed dependence.
• 28:24
  Daniel Moore: The whispered prayer or chastened speech, as some translations note, suggests deep humility.
• 28:30
  Daniel Moore: It may refer to a prayer uttered with desperation or quiet reverence, possibly even a recognition that their suffering was deserved.
• 28:39
  Daniel Moore: Historically, Isaiah's audience had suffered and would suffer under foreign oppression, famine and divine chastening.
• 28:46
  Daniel Moore: This verse reflects the spiritual awakening that often follows such trials.
• 28:51
  Daniel Moore: According to Matthew Henry's commentary, affliction often drives people to prayer, even when pride or neglect had kept them silent previously the discipline of the Lord is shown here to have redemptive purpose it turns hearts back to Him.
• 29:07
  Daniel Moore: To summarize verses thirteen through sixteen they outline a journey from bondage to blessing.
• 29:12
  Daniel Moore: God's people confess past enslavement to unworthy rulers or idols and acknowledge that these threats have now been dismantled by God's hand.
• 29:21
  Daniel Moore: In response they witness new growth and expansion celebrating God's glory.
• 29:26
  Daniel Moore: Even their suffering brought upon by divine discipline becomes a catalyst for sincere repentance.
• 29:32
  Daniel Moore: Historically and theologically these verses emphasize God's faithfulness in judgment and restoration, calling his people to exclusive allegiance and trust moving on to verse 17 like a pregnant woman who wriths and cries out in her pains when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O Lord.
• 29:54
  Daniel Moore: This verse uses the metaphor of a woman in labor to describe the intense suffering and longing experienced by God's people.
• 30:01
  Daniel Moore: The image of labor pains was a common Old Testament metaphor you can see that in Isaiah 138, Jeremiah 431 and Micah 49 and 10, signifying agony, anticipation and intense struggle.
• 30:14
  Daniel Moore: However, in this case the labor results in frustration, not new life.
• 30:19
  Daniel Moore: The phrase because of you, O Lord, signifies that the suffering is perceived as coming under God's permissive will, possibly as discipline or judgment.
• 30:28
  Daniel Moore: Historically this could relate to the distress experienced by Israel during the Assyrian or Babylonian invasions when the people hoped for deliverance but found only further tribulation.
• 30:39
  Daniel Moore: Commentators like John Calvin note that this verse portrays the people's sense of helplessness and human weakness, despite their longing for God's intervention.
• 30:49
  Daniel Moore: Verse 18 We were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind, we have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen this follows on the previous verse's metaphor to express futility.
• 31:05
  Daniel Moore: The labor produced no child, only wind, a term indicating emptiness or vanity.
• 31:11
  Daniel Moore: The national hope for deliverance had not materialized.
• 31:15
  Daniel Moore: Despite all their efforts and anguish Israel saw no success.
• 31:19
  Daniel Moore: They failed to deliver themselves and the wicked nations, which was noted by inhabitants of the world in that scripture, and they had not been overthrown.
• 31:28
  Daniel Moore: Some scholars believe this might reflect the people's disappointment with what seemed to be ineffectual prayers or religious fervor yielding no tangible kingdom advance.
• 31:37
  Daniel Moore: The inhabitants of the world may denote oppressive foreign rulers like Babylon, showing that the desired overthrow or judgment had not yet come.
• 31:46
  Daniel Moore: The pulpit commentary suggests that these lines express the frustration of people who hoped in nationalist or military rising but recognized their failure without divine intervention.
• 31:59
  Daniel Moore: Verse 19 Your dead shall live, your 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 This verse is extraordinary because it gives one of the clearest Old Testament affirmations of resurrection.
• 32:18
  Daniel Moore: After the despair of verses in seventeen and eighteen there is hope in reversal God will raise his people.
• 32:25
  Daniel Moore: The mention of your dead being resurrected shows divine possession and assurance.
• 32:31
  Daniel Moore: Dwell in the dust refers to the grave and dew is a symbol of life giving freshness.
• 32:37
  Daniel Moore: You can read some more about that in Hosea fourteen five Dew of light could mean God's divine truth or favor, effecting resurrection.
• 32:46
  Daniel Moore: The phrase earth will give birth to the dead contrast with the earlier futile birth metaphor now transformed into a miraculous new creation.
• 32:55
  Daniel Moore: This is part of what scholars call Isaiah's Little Apocalypse, a prophetic vision with eschatological scope.
• 33:03
  Daniel Moore: The Jewish study Bible and commentators like Alec Mother see this as both literal resurrection and national restoration.
• 33:10
  Daniel Moore: It introduces hope for spiritual rebirth or final eschatological resurrection at the end of days.
• 33:18
  Daniel Moore: Verse 20 Come my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you.
• 33:24
  Daniel Moore: Hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by God invites his faithful people to shelter as divine judgment passes over, similar to how Noah entered the Ark or the Israelites hid during the Passover in Exodus 12, 22 and 23.
• 33:41
  Daniel Moore: The chambers suggest a protected space, possibly metaphorical a spiritual trust in God or literal hiding from coming calamity.
• 33:50
  Daniel Moore: Fury refers to God's wrath or judgment, which is always measured in duration which a little while in the scripture and also in prophetic literature.
• 34:00
  Daniel Moore: Historically this could refer to the Babylonian exile or any of God's judgments where protection was extended to the faithful.
• 34:08
  Daniel Moore: Matthew Henry writes that this is an encouragement to faithful believers to quietly trust during times of shaking.
• 34:14
  Daniel Moore: The command to close doors emphasizes personal responsibility and separating from sin and impending judgment.
• 34:23
  Daniel Moore: And the final verse in chapter 26 verse 21 For behold the Lord is coming out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it and will no more cover its slain.
• 34:38
  Daniel Moore: This verse here gives the reason for the prior warning The Lord is no longer passive.
• 34:44
  Daniel Moore: He is described almost as a divine warrior stepping down to execute justice.
• 34:49
  Daniel Moore: Coming out of his place uses temple or heavenly imagery to emphasize decisive action.
• 34:56
  Daniel Moore: The phrase in the scripture inhabitants of the earth signifies universal judgment extending beyond just Israel to all who have committed bloodshed.
• 35:05
  Daniel Moore: The earth disclosing its blood denotes the uncovering of injustices long hidden, such as Genesis four ten, where Cain's act cried out from the ground No crime will remain unpunished.
• 35:19
  Daniel Moore: Commentators like EJ Young understand this as the eschatological day of judgment when God reveals and judges all hidden sin.
• 35:28
  Daniel Moore: It connects the revelation imagery of divine vindication for the martyred and the oppressed.
• 35:35
  Daniel Moore: So as we summarize verses 17 through 21 it transitions from a picture of national disappointment and judgment to eschatological hope and divine justice.
• 35:45
  Daniel Moore: The remnant's confession of failure in verses 17 to 18 is answered by God's promise of resurrection and salvation in verse 19.
• 35:52
  Daniel Moore: That's followed by exhortation to trust God and hide from coming judgment in verse 20 culminating in the vision of God's righteous judgment on the wicked in verse 21.
• 36:02
  Daniel Moore: It fits within Isaiah's broader theme of salvation through judgment and God's final triumph well that wraps up chapter 26 for this week's episode here on the podcast.
• 36:28
  Daniel Moore: Don't forget to visit our website at connectingthegap.net and please subscribe and share if you love these episodes love the study that we're in we know lots of other people will as well and we just ask that you would share this to help our podcast to grow help expand our borders and that would help us tremendously and you can be a part of the ministry here at Connecting the Gap by helping this to reach more people around the world.
• 36:51
  Daniel Moore: Just want to thank everybody that has shared this podcast everybody that's downloaded and listened to episodes the last time we looked here we've reached in about around 950 plus cities and over 86 countries so far since this podcast has started.
• 37:07
  Daniel Moore: And we know that that's only by the grace of God first of all but secondly it's because you guys that listen each and every week have helped us get to that point.
• 37:15
  Daniel Moore: And we truly appreciate that and thank you.
• 37:17
  Daniel Moore: Reach out to us we'd love to hear from you there's more information on our website our resources are there as well go check all that out at connectegap.net well as we wrap up chapter 26 this week this was an intense chapter that speaks of an enduring trust in God amidst judgment, a future hope through resurrection and the confidence of the righteousness in God's ultimate justice and deliverance.
• 37:41
  Daniel Moore: The chapter forms part of what scholars call Isaiah's apocalypse section which is chapters 24 through 27 which centers on God's end time victory over evil and his vindication of the righteous.
• 37:54
  Daniel Moore: There are a few key themes here in this chapter.
• 37:56
  Daniel Moore: The first one is a song of salvation which encompass verses one through six.
• 38:01
  Daniel Moore: The chapter opens with the prophetic song that will be sung in the land of Judah it speaks of a strong city where God appoints salvation for its walls and bulwarks, calling the righteous to enter.
• 38:12
  Daniel Moore: This emphasizes that trust in God is key to security and peace.
• 38:16
  Daniel Moore: Verse three is a powerful reassurance you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trust in you.
• 38:24
  Daniel Moore: Verses five through six contrast the humble and the proud, God brings down the lofty city and lifts up the righteous, reminding us that ultimate victory is not by human power, but by divine justice.
• 38:37
  Daniel Moore: The second key theme is longing for God's righteousness, which was verses seven to eleven The people of God express longing for God and his justice.
• 38:47
  Daniel Moore: They recognize that even in times of discipline the desire is to see God's name glorified in the earth.
• 38:53
  Daniel Moore: This section reflects the struggle of living in a fallen world, where despite God's judgments and teachings the wicked often remain blind to truth.
• 39:02
  Daniel Moore: It challenges us to remain faithful and wait for God's righteousness to be fully revealed.
• 39:08
  Daniel Moore: The third theme is frustration with seeming futility and the promise of resurrection that's verses twelve through nineteen the people acknowledge that despite their efforts they have failed to bring about deliverance.
• 39:21
  Daniel Moore: They express the bitterness of suffering but are met with God's promise that your dead shall live, their bodies shall rise.
• 39:28
  Daniel Moore: This stands as one of the clearest Old Testament affirmations of the resurrection and eternal hope.
• 39:34
  Daniel Moore: It reassures us that physical death is not the end for God's people and that ultimate victory over death belongs to the Lord.
• 39:42
  Daniel Moore: And the fourth key here a call to hide and wait, which was verses 20 to 21 The chapter concludes with a word of encouragement to the faithful to take refuge until God's judgment is finished.
• 39:55
  Daniel Moore: It confirms that the Lord is coming to judge the earth and expose all injustice, reinforcing the truth that God sees and will deal with unrighteousness in due time.
• 40:07
  Daniel Moore: So as we look at this chapter this week how can we apply this to our lives today?
• 40:12
  Daniel Moore: Well to close up our episode this calls us today to a deeper trust in God amid troubling times.
• 40:19
  Daniel Moore: In a world filled with injustice, suffering and fear, the promise of perfect peace for those who focus their minds on God is deeply comforting.
• 40:27
  Daniel Moore: It encourages us to remain faithful even when we do not see immediate results and to continue longing for the righteousness of God both in our lives and in the world around us.
• 40:38
  Daniel Moore: The promise of resurrection reminds us that death is not final for those in God life continues beyond the grave.
• 40:45
  Daniel Moore: This gives hope amidst grief and loss finally the call to hide ourselves during the time of wrath isn't about running away in fear, but about finding refuge in God, abiding in his presence, praying waiting and trusting until the storms pass.
• 41:02
  Daniel Moore: So this chapter calls us to live with future hope, present faith and enduring trust in the unshakable hands of God, reminding us that even in judgment God is working a greater purpose the salvation and vindication of his people well that's going to wrap it up for this week for chapter 26 in Isaiah in our verse by verse study.
• 41:26
  Daniel Moore: Next week when we come back we will jump to chapter 27 which is a little bit shorter chapter and we'll get through that one in our next episode here on Connecting the Gap.
• 41:36
  Daniel Moore: Don't forget to visit our website connectingthegap.net and check out all of our resources there.
• 41:41
  Daniel Moore: Anytime you purchase any of those that goes back into our ministry to keep us going here as we put out these episodes each and every week and it also helps with our marriage ministry where we help herding couples and do premarital counseling and all the different things that we offer through our ministry.
• 41:58
  Daniel Moore: So we appreciate in advance anything that you do to help us out or just say a prayer for us here at Connecting the Gap and marriage life and more.
• 42:06
  Daniel Moore: Well that's all for this week and we believe that God's word never fails us.
• 42:10
  Daniel Moore: God's word has stood the test of time and through Jesus' death on the cross he has connected the gap.
• 42:16
  Daniel Moore: This episode was recorded in the upper room at our Connecting the Gap studios this is an extension of Connecting the Gap Ministries we pray that you have a blessed week