Isaiah 26–30
The Holy Bible interpreted through Divine Principle insight and the words of True Father.
This study page continues Isaiah with chapters 26 through 30. Commentary is attached where the text strongly reflects Divine Principle themes such as the strong city, perfect peace, resurrection hope, purging of iniquity, the remnant trumpet, the cornerstone in Zion, formal religion without heart, spiritual blindness, and the danger of trusting Egypt rather than waiting for the LORD.
26:1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. 26:2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
26:7 The way of the just is uprightness... 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee... 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night... 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. 26:13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us...
26:19 Thy dead men shall live... awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust... 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers... hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity...
27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan... and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. 27:2 In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. 27:3 I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment... 27:5 Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me...
27:6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. 27:8 In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it... 27:9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged... 27:12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river... and ye shall be gathered one by one... 27:13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown... and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
Isaiah 27 moves from the judgment of the dragon-like enemy to the care of God’s vineyard. Divine Principle strongly resonates because Heaven first subdues the hostile power and then restores fruitfulness to Jacob and Israel.
The chastening is measured, and the goal is the purging of Jacob’s iniquity. This strongly fits restoration through indemnity, where discipline is not meaningless destruction but cleansing aimed at removing idolatry and restoring right relation.
The great trumpet and gathering one by one are beautiful remnant images. True Father often emphasized that Heaven gathers not only masses in the abstract, but real persons one by one into restored worship before God.
28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim... 28:3 The crown of pride... shall be trodden under feet: 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory... unto the residue of his people. 28:7 But they also have erred through wine... the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink...
28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge?... 28:10 For precept must be upon precept... 28:14 Hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men... 28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death... 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation... 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet...
28:23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice... 28:26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion... 28:29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 28 exposes the pride and intoxicated error of Ephraim, priests, and prophets. Divine Principle strongly resonates because when central leaders lose sobriety and truth, the whole field becomes unstable and corrupt.
The contrast is powerful: the people make a covenant with death, but God lays a sure cornerstone in Zion. This strongly resonates with the providential need for a true foundation stone or central figure through whom Heaven establishes secure order against false agreements and death-bound systems.
The farming imagery reminds us that God instructs with order and discretion. True Father often emphasized that providence has method and sequence, not arbitrary action.
29:1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt!... 29:4 And thou shalt be brought down... 29:9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry... they are drunken, but not with wine... 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep...
29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth... but have removed their heart far from me... 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people... 29:15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD... 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay...
29:17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field... 29:18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book... 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD... 29:24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding...
Ariel, the city of David, comes under woe because spiritual sleep has overtaken the people. Divine Principle strongly resonates because chosen status alone cannot prevent judgment if the heart and word are no longer aligned with Heaven.
“This people draw near me with their mouth... but have removed their heart far from me” is one of the clearest condemnations of formal religion without heart. Divine Principle strongly resonates because God’s primary concern is not outward speech or inherited form by itself, but the actual heart relationship and obedient life.
The chapter turns toward restoration: the deaf hear, the meek rejoice, and those who erred come to understanding. True Father often emphasized that God’s marvellous work overturns blindness and restores those who become teachable again.
30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me... 30:2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth... 30:3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame... 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table... 30:9 That this is a rebellious people... 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not... speak unto us smooth things...
30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD... In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you... blessed are all they that wait for him. 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity... yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more... 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it...
30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images... 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun... 30:27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far... 30:31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down...
Isaiah 30 rebukes rebellious children who take counsel but not from God and seek Egypt instead of Heaven. Divine Principle strongly resonates because the repeated failure of central people is to form human alliances and chase easy reassurance rather than unite with God’s word.
“In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” is one of the great trust verses in Isaiah. This strongly resonates with the providential principle that salvation is not secured by frantic worldly maneuvering but by returning to Heaven’s center and waiting for God.
The people are promised teachers and a guiding word: “This is the way, walk ye in it.” True Father often emphasized that when people truly repent, Heaven restores guidance, teaching, and the clear path forward.
The chapter ends with blessing, brighter light, and the downfall of Assyria by the voice of the LORD. Divine Principle strongly resonates because once the people return rightly, idols are cast away, provision is renewed, and oppressive powers are struck down by Heaven.
Isaiah 26 gives one of the great trust-and-peace passages in Scripture. Divine Principle strongly resonates because true peace does not come from political arrangement alone, but from a mind stayed on God and a people that keep the truth within Heaven’s strong city.
The people wait in the way of God’s judgments and confess that other lords had dominion over them. True Father often emphasized that restoration includes recognizing false dominions and returning exclusive loyalty to Heaven.
The resurrection language and the call to hide until indignation passes strongly resonate with Heaven’s power to preserve and raise up life beyond judgment. This points toward a hope larger than national survival alone.