Isaiah 26:19 Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust… I. THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODIES OF BELIEVERS. "Thy dead men shall live," etc. II. THE EFFICIENT CAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION. "Thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." In Eastern countries the dew is extremely heavy and almost entirely supplies the place of rain. It is frequently referred to in Scripture (Psalm 133:3; Hosea 14:5). The "dew" means the influence of the Holy Spirit, which is the great efficient cause of the raising of the bodies of believers; not the primary cause — that is the atonement made by our Lord Jesus. But the text adds, "The earth shall cast out the dead." The word "cast out" means to travail. The earth shall put forth them that are now buried. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together; but when the Spirit shall come forth with His mighty influence, the earth shall be no longer able to retain its dead. III. THE JOY OF THIS RESURRECTION. Without doubt the joy of departed saints is exceeding great; but the joy will be so much greater at the resurrection that the Church may with propriety sing in concert, "Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust." They will then see the full glory of Christ established; they will see sin and Satan in chains; they will see hell subdued, death quite swallowed up. (R. W. Sibthorp.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. |
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