“The Christian life is not what we give to God but what God gives to us. And what He gives is peace, wholeness, humanness at its authentic best forever. Moreover, it’s not because we happened to catch God in a good mood. He ordained peace for us. Full, beautiful salvation is the settled will of God for weak and stupid people who don’t mind being saved” (Raymond Ortlund, Jr.). This statement captures well the heart of Isaiah 26. It’s a song of praise which celebrates the triumph of the LORD and demonstrates what it means to wait for Him. While the ruined city of the earth lies silent (25:12, 26:5), the city of God stands strong, with salvation as its walls. Its gates are not closed for fear of attack, but wide open, that the faithful may freely enter. These are the ones whose behavior reflects the King of the city. But the only explanation for their faithfulness to God can be God’s faithfulness to them. An inner consistency marks their lives, flowing out of their complete dependence on the LORD. The city of earth will be trampled, but they will rest secure and at peace, now and forever. He is an eternal Rock for all who trust in Him (v 1-6). Morning and evening they long for God, and He keeps them in His way. Because His honor and reputation have become their deepest desire, they want to live in such a way that He will be glorified and not disgraced. More than anything, true believers want God’s character to be unmistakably seen in them, as a testimony to those who do not yet know Him (v 7-9). But this faithful witness often bears no fruit. The shocking reality is that the people who do not know God may never learn anything from the grace that He shows them. The successful and privileged wicked sense no need of God. So eventually His people cry out for the LORD to come and bring about the great and final reversal of this world’s madness (v 10-11). Meanwhile, they continue trusting God and waiting for His plan to unfold. They realize that any good in them is God’s doing, not theirs. He has made it possible for them to know true peace and to accomplish whatever significant things they have done. Apart from His grace and goodness, they too would be lost and without hope. Their story can only be told to God’s glory (v 12-15). Like a woman with a false pregnancy, the people of God have struggled yet failed to deliver God’s salvation to the world. Still, by His grace alone, they will rise, even from death, and sing for joy. So as God moves the world toward the last judgment, His suffering saints wait patiently, and securely (v 16-21). For further meditation: