For the general scope and design of this chapter, see the remarks at the commencement of Isaiah 24 and Isaiah 25:1. It is a song of praise supposed to be sung by the Jews on their return to their own land, and in the re-establishment of the government of God with the ordinances of worship on Mount Z... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY SHALL THIS SONG BE SUNG - By the people of God, on their restoration to their own land. WE HAVE A STRONG CITY - Jerusalem. This does not mean that it was then strongly fortified, but that God would guard it, and that thus it would be strong. Jerusalem was easily capable of being strongl... [ Continue Reading ]
OPEN YE THE GATES - This is probably the language of a chorus responding to the sentiment in Isaiah 26:1. The captive people are returning; and this cry is made that the gates of the city may be thrown open, and that they may be permitted to enter without obstruction (compare Psalms 24:7, Psalms 24:... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WILT KEEP HIM - The following verses to Isaiah 26:11, contain moral and religious reflections, and seem designed to indicate the resignation evinced by the ‘righteous nation’ during their long afflictions. Their own feelings they are here represented as uttering in the form of general truths to... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUST YE IN THE LORD FOR EVER - The sense is, ‘Let your confidence in God on no occasion fail. Let no calamity, no adversity, no persecution, no poverty, no trial of any kind, prevent your reposing entire confidence in him.’ This is spoken evidently in view of the fact stated in the previous verse,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LOFTY CITY, HE LAYETH IT LOW - The city of Babylon (see the note at Isaiah 25:12; compare Isaiah 13, note; Isaiah 14:1, note)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOOT SHALL TREAD IT DOWN, EVEN THE FEET OF THE POOR - That is, evidently, those who had been despised by them, and who had been overcome and oppressed by them. The obvious reference here is to the Jews who had been captives there. The idea is not necessarily that the ‘poor’ referred to here I wo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF THE JUST IS UPRIGHTNESS - The Hebrew is literally, ‘The way to the just is uprightness;’ the word ‘way’ probably refers to God’s way, or his dealings with the righteous. The sentiment is, that his dealings with them are just; that though they are afflicted and oppressed, yet that his ways... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, IN THE WAY OF THY JUDGEMENTS - The word ‘judgments’ often refers to the statutes or laws of God. But it may also refer to the afflictions and trials with which he visits or judges people; the punishments which they endure for their sins. In which sense the word is used here it is not easy to de... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH MY SOUL ... IN THE NIGHT - By desiring God in the night, and by seeking him early, is meant that the desire to seek him was unremitted and constant. The prophet speaks of the pious Jews who were in captivity in Babylon; and says that it was the object of their unremitted anxiety to please God,... [ Continue Reading ]
LET FAVOR BE SHOWED TO THE WICKED - This is designed as an illustration of the sentiment in the previous verse - that judgments were needful in order that wicked people might be brought to the ways of righteousness. The truth is general, that though wicked people are favored with success in their en... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, WHEN THY HAND IS LIFTED UP - This is an explanation of the sentiment expressed in the former verse. The lifting up of the hand here refers, doubtless, to the manifestations of the majesty and goodness of the Lord. THEY WILL NOT SEE - They are blind to all the exhibitions of power, mercy, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WILT ORDAIN PEACE - The word ‘peace’ here seems to stand opposed to the evils of various kinds which they had experienced in the captivity at Babylon; and to refer net only to peace, but also to prosperity, and to the continued divine favor. FOR THOU HAST WROUGHT ALL OUR WORKS IN US - Or rathe... [ Continue Reading ]
OTHER LORDS BESIDE THEE HAVE HAD DOMINION - The allusion here is to the kings of Babylon who had subdued and oppressed them, and who in their long captivity had held them in subjection to their laws. BUT BY THEE ONLY WILL WE MAKE MENTION OF THY NAME - This may be better rendered, ‘but only thee, th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE DEAD - That is, the kings and tyrants to whom reference is made in Isaiah 26:13. The principal enemies of the Jews, who had oppressed them, were slain when Babylon was taken by Cyrus (see the notes at Isaiah 13; Isaiah 14) THEY SHALL NOT LIVE - They shall not again live, and be permitted t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST INCREASED THE NATION - That is, the Jewish nation (see the note at Isaiah 9:3). The nation was not only enlarged by its regular increase of population, but many converts attended them on their return from Babylon, and probably many came in from surrounding nations on the rebuilding of thei... [ Continue Reading ]
POURED OUT A PRAYER - Margin, ‘Secret speech.’ The Hebrew word לחשׁ _lachash_ means properly a whispering, muttering; and thru a sighing, a calling for help. This is the sense here. In their calamity they sighed, and called on God for help.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE AS A WOMAN WITH CHILD ... - This verse is designed to state their griefs and sorrows during the time of their oppression in Babylon. The comparison used here is one that is very frequent in the sacred writings to represent any great suffering (see Psalms 48:6; Jeremiah 6:24; Jeremiah 13:21; Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE BEEN ... - This refers to sorrows and calamities which they had experienced in former times, when they had made great efforts for deliverance, and when those efforts had proved abortive. Perhaps it refers to the efforts of this kind which they had made during their painful captivity of seven... [ Continue Reading ]
THY DEAD MEN SHALL LIVE - Very various interpretations have been given of this verse, which may be seen at length by comparing Vitringa, Rosenmuller, Gesenius, and Poole’s Synopsis. In Isaiah 26:14, the chorus is represented as saying of the dead men and tyrants of Babylon that had oppressed the cap... [ Continue Reading ]
COME, MY PEOPLE - This is an epilogue (Rosenmuller), in which the choir addresses the people, and entreats them to be tranquil during that convulsion by which their oppressors would be punished, and the way made for their deliverance. The image is taken from seeking a shelter when a storm rages, unt... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMETH OUT OF HIS PLACE - That is, from heaven, which is the dwelling-place or residence of God Psalms 115:3; Ezekiel 3:12; Micah 1:3. When God executes vengeance, he is represented as coming from his abode, his dwelling-place, his capitol, as a monarch goes forth to war to des... [ Continue Reading ]