A SONG OF THE REDEEMED IN MOUNT ZION . The prophet, having (in Isaiah 25:1-12 .) 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. read more
Thanksgiving the employment of the saints in bliss. The prophet, in this sublime passage of his prophecy, carries us with him within the veil, and reveals to us the very words, or, at the least, the general tone and tenor of utterances, which the saints make when they have passed from earth to heaven, and stand in the very presence of God. The words are, as we should have expected, mainly words of praise and thanksgiving. The saints praise God— I. FOR THE BLESSINGS OF THEIR ... read more
(latter half) The righteousness of God's rule. I. ITS APPARENT ABSENCE . We still find on the earth "them that dwell on high"—the arrogant, the presumptuous, the oppressor; there is to be seen" the lofty city," exalted in its pride of power, dealing its blows upon the weak and suffering, fearing not God nor regarding the rights of men. In every age, beneath every sky, these men and these cities have been known. To those who have been humiliated and ill treated, God has seemed... read more
The way of the just is uprightness ; or, the path for the just is straight . It is one of the main blessings of the righteous that God "makes their way straight before their face" ( Psalms 4:8 ), "leads them in a plain path" ( Psalms 27:11 ), "shows them the way they are to walk in" ( Psalms 143:8 ), so that they are for the most part free from doubt and perplexity as to the line of conduct which it behooves them to, pursue. If this is so in the present life, still more will it be... read more
The level path of the good man. This verse would better read, "The way of the just is evenness ; thou, most upright, dost make even the path of the just." This suggests the two topics— I. THE PREVAILING FEATURE OF THE GOOD MAN 'S CONDUCT — EVENNESS . The idea of the word may be expressed in New Testament language as "patient continuance in well-doing." The triumph of the good man's life is steady walking, never running, and never dragging, in the way of... read more
Yea, in the way of thy judgments … have we waited for thee ; rather, we waited . During the long years of our affliction and persecution in the world, we waited in the constant expectation that "thy judgments" would fall upon our persecutors. We were not impatient. We knew that thou wouldst visit us at the tilting time. The desire of our soul is to thy Name ; rather, the desire of our soul was to thy Name . During all the weary time of waiting, we longed for thee, and thy Name, or... read more
Attitude in times of judgment. "In the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee." The connections of this chapter need sonic careful attention. The prophet, in the twelve preceding chapters, has given visions of the judgments that were ready to fall on the nations surrounding Israel—judgments in which Israel itself must share, since Israel had shared in the idolatries and the moral evils which had called those judgments forth. To most of the nations Divine judgments would prove... read more
A thirst for God. "The desire of our soul is to thy Name … with my soul have I desired thee." The primary reference here is to the hope of troubled hearts for Divine deliverance; but the words of the text are suggestive of the general truths— I. THAT MAN IS CONSTITUTED TO CRAVE AFTER GOD . We have many indications of this truth. We find it in the facts that: 1. The noblest spirits among cultivated peoples find their chief joy in communion with him. 2. The... read more
In the night ; i.e. "the long night of their affliction." The sentiment is identical with that of the preceding verse. Will I seek thee early ; rather, did I seek thee . For when thy judgments , etc. It was not a mere selfish desire for the cessation of persecution that caused the righteous to long for the time when God's judgments would be manifested upon the earth, but a conviction that so only would an impression be made on the persecutors, and a certain number of them be... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 26:1-13
The vision of future glory. It seems best to take this as the picture of an ideal spiritual state. I. THE IMPREGNABLE CITY . Its walls and outworks are "salvation." A great word—negatively hinting deliverance from the enemy and the oppressor; positively including all the contents of sacred peace, prosperity, and happiness. But salvation is nothing without a Savior; it is the loving presence of Jehovah who girds about Jerusalem as a wall. In Zechariah 2:9 he is spoken of as a... read more