Isa 26:1
26:1 In that day shall {a} this song be sung in the land of
     Judah; We have a strong city; {b} salvation will [God]
     appoint [for] walls and bulwarks.

     (a) This song was made to comfort the faithful when their
         captivity would come, assuring them also of their
         deliverance, for which they should sing this song.
     (b) God's protection and defence will be sufficient for us.

Isa 26:2
26:2 {c} Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which
     keepeth the truth may enter in.

     (c) He assures the godly to return after the captivity to
         Jerusalem.

Isa 26:3
26:3 Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] {d} mind
     [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.

     (d) You have decreed so, and your purpose cannot be
         changed.

Isa 26:5
26:5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; {e} the lofty
     city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, [even] to the
     ground; he bringeth it [even] to the dust.

     (e) There is no power so high that it can hinder God, when
         he will deliver his.

Isa 26:6
26:6 The foot shall tread it down, [even] the feet of the {f}
     poor, [and] the steps of the needy.

     (f) God will set the poor afflicted over the power of the
         wicked.

Isa 26:8
26:8 Yea, in the way of thy {g} judgments, O LORD, have we
     waited for thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name,
     and to the remembrance of thee.

     (g) We have constantly abode in the adversities with which
         you had afflicted us.

Isa 26:9
26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my
     spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy
     judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world
     will learn {h} righteousness.

     (h) Meaning that by afflictions men will learn to fear God.

Isa 26:10
26:10 Let favour {i} be shown to the wicked, [yet] he will not
      learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness he will
      deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the
      LORD.

      (i) The wicked though God show them evident signs of his
          grace, will not be any better off.

Isa 26:11
26:11 LORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see:
      [but] they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] {k} envy
      at the people; yea, the fire of thy {l} enemies shall
      devour them.

      (k) Through envy and indignation against your people.
      (l) The fire and vengeance with which you destroy your
          enemies.

Isa 26:13
26:13 O LORD our God, [other] {m} lords beside thee have had
      dominion over us: [but] by thee only will we make mention
      of thy name.

      (m) The Babylonians, who have not governed according to
          your word.

Isa 26:14
26:14 [They are] {n} dead, they shall not live; [they are]
      deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited
      and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

      (n) Meaning that the reprobate even in this life will have
          the beginning of everlasting death.

Isa 26:15
26:15 Thou hast increased {o} the nation, O LORD, thou hast
      increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst
      removed [it] far [to] all the ends of the earth.

      (o) That is, the company of the faithful by the calling of
          the Gentiles.

Isa 26:16
26:16 LORD, in trouble have they {p} visited thee, they poured
      out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them.

      (p) That is, the faithful by the rods were moved to pray
          to you for deliverance.

Isa 26:17
26:17 As a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her
      delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so
      have we been in thy {q} sight, O LORD.

      (q) That is, in extreme sorrow.

Isa 26:18
26:18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as
      it were brought forth {r} wind; we have not wrought any
      deliverance on the earth; neither have the inhabitants of
      {s} the world fallen.

      (r) Our sorrows had no end, neither did we enjoy the
          comfort that we looked for.
      (s) The wicked and men without religion were not
          destroyed.

Isa 26:19
26:19 {t} Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead
      body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in
      dust: for thy {u} dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the
      earth shall cast out the dead.

      (t) He comforts the faithful in their afflictions, showing
          them that even in death they will have life and that
          they would certainly rise to glory, the contrary would
          come to the wicked, as in Isa 26:14.
      (u) As herbs dead in winter flourish again by the rain in
          the springtime, so they who lie in the dust will rise
          up to joy, when they feel the dew of God's grace.

Isa 26:20
26:20 Come, my people, {x} enter thou into thy chambers, and
      shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a
      little moment, until the indignation shall be past.

      (x) He exhorts the faithful to be patient in their
          afflictions and to wait on God's work.

Isa 26:21
26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish
      the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth
      also shall disclose her {y} blood, and shall no more cover
      her slain.

      (y) The earth will vomit and cast out the innocent blood,
          which it has drunk, that it may care for vengeance
          against the wicked.