Isaiah 63:9-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 63:7-14

The prophet is here, in the name of the church, taking a review, and making a thankful recognition, of God's dealings with his church all along, ever since he founded it, before he comes, in the latter end of this chapter and in the next, as a watchman upon the walls, earnestly to pray to God for his compassion towards her in her present deplorable state; and it was usual for God's people, in their prayers, thus to look back. I. Here is a general acknowledgment of God's goodness to them all... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 63:15-19

The foregoing praises were intended as an introduction to this prayer, which is continued to the end of the next chapter, and it is an affectionate, importunate, pleading prayer. It is calculated for the time of the captivity. As they had promises, so they had prayers, prepared for them against that time of need, that they might take with them words in turning to the Lord, and say unto him what he himself taught them to say, in which they might the better hope to prevail, the words being of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:9

In all their affliction he was afflicted ,.... That is, God, who said the above words; not properly speaking; for to be afflicted is not consistent with his nature and perfections, being a spirit, and impassible; nor with his infinite and complete happiness; but this is said after the manner of men, and is expressive of the sympathy of God with his afflicted people, and his tender care of them, and concern for them under affliction, as one friend may have for another: afflictions belong to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:10

But they rebelled ,.... Against the Lord, not withstanding he thought so well of them; did so many good things for them; sympathized with them, and showed them so many favours; wretched ingratitude! they rebelled against the Lord in the times of Moses, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, by their murmurings, unbelief, and idolatry; wherefore he calls them a rebellious people, and says they were such from the day he had been with them; and so in later times, in the times of the judges, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:11

Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people ,.... Which may be understood either of the Lord, who remembered his lovingkindnesses towards these people, and his tender mercies which had been ever of old; the covenant he made with their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the wonders he did for them in Egypt, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, by the hand of Moses; his intercession to him on their behalf, and the many great and good things he did for them; and therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:12

That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm ,.... That is, through the Red sea, as the next clause shows: this was done by the right hand of Moses, and the rod in it, to which Kimchi thinks respect is had; who, by divine order, lifted up his rod, and stretched out his hand over the sea, and divided it, and so led the people through it: but, lest this should be attributed to Moses and his rod, the glorious arm of the Lord is made mention of, which held and guided the right... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:13

That led them through the deep ,.... The depths, the bottom of the sea; not through the shallow, but where the waters had been deepest, the descent greatest; and at the bottom of which might have been expected much filth and dirt to hinder them in their passage, yet through this he led them: as an horse in the wilderness ; or rather, "in a plain", as the word F2 במדבר "in planitie", Calvin, Gataker, Vitringa; "in campis", Grotius. sometimes signifies; and so Kimchi renders it a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:14

As a beast goeth down into the valley ,.... Softly and gently, especially when laden; which may have some respect to the descent of the Israelites into the sea, into which they entered without any fear and dread, and without any hurry and precipitation, though Pharaoh's host was behind them; or rather, "as a beast goes along a valley", or "plain" F3 כבהמה בבקעה תרד "sicut jumentum quod in campo, vel valle, vel planitie, graditur", Gataker. ; with ease, and without any... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:15

Look down from heaven ,.... Here begins the prayer of the church and people of God, which continues to the end of the chapter, goes through the next, and the answer to which begins at Isaiah 65:1 . Aben Ezra calls it the prayer of the wise in captivity: it seems to be the petition of some converts among the Jews, either in the first times of the Gospel, or in the latter day; who entreat that the Lord would "look down from heaven", the third heaven, the seat of his majesty, where is his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 63:16

Doubtless thou art our father ,.... Therefore why shouldst thou restrain thy mercies and bowels of compassion from us? or therefore look down upon us, and behold us; the church pleads her relation to God, and in a strong manner; faith of interest continued with her, though he hid his face from her. This relation of father and children, which subsists between God and his people, is not upon the foot of creation, so he is a father to all men; nor on account of national adoption, so he was to... read more

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