Isaiah 26:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 26:5-11

Here the prophet further encourages us to trust in the Lord for ever, and to continue waiting on him; for, I. He will make humble souls that trust in him to triumph over their proud enemies, Isa. 26:5, 6. Those that exalt themselves shall be abased: For he brings down those that dwell on high; and wherein they deal proudly he is, and will be, above them. Even the lofty city Babylon itself, or Nineveh, he lays it low, Isa. 25:12. He can do it, be it ever so well fortified. He has often done it.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 26:9

With my soul have I desired thee in the night ,.... Either literally, when others were asleep: or figuratively, in the captivity; which, as Jarchi says, was like unto the night; or in the time of Jewish and Gentile darkness, preceding the coming of Christ; or rather in the time of latter day darkness, when the church is represented as heartily desirous of, and importunately praying for, the latter day glory, the rising of the sun of righteousness, the spiritual reign of Christ, the spread of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 26:9

Have I desired thee - Forty-one MSS. of Dr. Kennicott's and many of De Rossi's, (nine ancient), and five editions read אויתיך invithicha . It is proper to note this; because the second י yod being omitted in the text, the Vulgate and many others have rendered it in the third person. When thy judgments, etc. - It would be better to read, When thy judgments were in the earth, the inhabitants of the world have learned ( למדו lamedu ) righteousness. Men seldom seek God in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 26:1-18

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 26:1-18

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 26:8-9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 26:9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 26:9

Seeking God in the night. "With my soul have I desired thee in the night." When God's judgments are in the earth, even the righteous become more earnest. They need the quickening of spirit which comes from marking "the way," the sure way, and sometimes the swift way, of God's judgments. But the night must be taken in a personal sense as well as in a national sense. I. WE DESIRE GOD IN THE NIGHT OF OUR SORROWS . Thick clouds come over the heart. We are no longer... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 26:9

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, and to do his will.For when thy judgments are in the earth - This is given as a reason for what had just been said, that in their calamity they had sought God without ceasing. The reason is, that the... read more

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