Isaiah 26:17

Like 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 sight, O LORD. LIKE AS A WOMAN WITH CHILD - an image of anguish accompanied with expectation, to be followed by joy that will cause the anguish utterly to be forgotten. Zion is meant, looking for deliverance, seemingly in vain, but really about to be gloriously saved (Micah 4:9; Micah 5:1; John 16:21)....

17._As a woman with child. _Here two things ought chiefly to be remarked. First, he compares believers to women in labor, who, we know, endure exquisite pain; and, accordingly, he says that their anguish breaks out into loud and violent cries. Hence we infer that the Prophet does not only speak of that sorrow which arises from outward distresses and annoyances, but rather describes that dreadful anguish by which the hearts of the godly are sorely and dreadfully tormented, when they perceive that God is angry with them, and when their consciences reprove them. There is no bodily pain so acute that it can be compared to that anguish, and this is plainly expressed by the phrase _in thy sight _...

12-19 Every creature, every business, any way serviceable to our comfort, God makes to be so; he makes that work for us which seemed to make against us. They had been slaves of sin and Satan; but by the Divine grace they were taught to look to be set free from all former masters. The cause opposed to God and his kingdom will sink at last. See our need of afflictions. Before, prayer came drop by drop; now they pour it out, it comes now like water from a fountain. Afflictions bring us to secret prayer. Consider Christ as the Speaker addressing his church. His resurrection from the dead was an earnest of all the deliverance foretold. The power of his grace, like the dew or rain, which causes the herbs that seem dead to revive, would raise his church from the lowest state. But we may refer to the resurrection of the dead, especially of those united to Christ....

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; Jeremiah 22:23; Jeremiah 49:24; Jeremiah 50:43; Micah 4:

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 26:1 A SONG OF THE REDEEMED IN MOUNT ZION. The prophet, having (in Isaiah 25:1.) poured forth his own thankfulness to God for the promise of the Church's final redemption and triumph, proceeds now to represent the Church itself in the glorified state as singing praise to God for the same. ISAIAH 26:1 IN THAT DAY. In the "day of God" (2 Peter 3:12), the period of the "restitution of all things" ...

LIKE AS A WOMAN WITH CHILD,.... By this simile are set forth the great distresses and afflictions the church of Christ will be in, before redemption and deliverance from the antichristian yoke comes: [THAT] DRAWETH NEAR THE TIME OF HER DELIVERY; when her burden is great and very troublesome: [IS] IN PAIN, [AND] CRIETH OUT IN HER PANGS; for her friends to come about her, and give her all the help and assistance they can: SO HAVE WE BEEN IN THY SIGHT, O LORD; in great distress and trouble, and crying to him for salvation and deliverance, all which were well known unto him....

Isaiah 26:1. _In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah;_ God would have his people to be a singing people. They often sigh; they should oftener sing. God makes their songs, and appoints the song for the day, and so helps them to cheer the darkest day with some melodious music. Isaiah 26:1. _We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks._ Jerusalem may fall, her walls may be destroyed till not one stone is left upon another; but still, «we have a strong city.» In the salvation of God, we live and are safe. Our place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks. The eternal purposes of God shall guard the safety of his people. Isaiah 26:2.

CHAPTER 26 JUDAH'S GLORY SONG 1. _Praise for Jehovah's faithfulness and mercies (Isaiah 26:1)_ 2. _The experiences of waiting during the night (Isaiah 26:7)_ 3. _The assurance of peace and deliverance (Isaiah 26:12)_ 4. _Assurance of restoration and preservation (Isaiah 26:19) _ We call attention to verses 12-21. Annihilationists base upon these words the evil doctrine that the wicked are not raised, but destroyed. The fact, however, is that Isaiah 26:13 and...

MEMORIES AND ANTICIPATIONS. The poem, which is a very elaborate composition, seems to have been written in confident expectation of deliverance, though the actual situation is still one of distress. Jerusalem has been made impregnable, let the righteous enter in. The unwavering mind is kept by God in unbroken peace (_cf. mg.)._ He is worthy of trust, for He is an everlasting rock; He has laid low the exalted city, the afflicted Jews trample it under foot. The way of the just is made smooth. The manifestation of Yahweh's judgment has been eagerly awaited, for the world's inhabitants will learn righteousness when Yahweh's judgments are in the land. The unrighteous shall not find favour, for they have not learnt righteousness. Though Yahweh's hand is lifted, they fail to see it. See it they shall, and be confounded and destroyed. He alone has secured their peace. Other masters have ruled th...

LIKE AS. WOMAN. &C. These refer to the birth-pangs of the Great Tribulation, which issue in the new nation....