Isaiah 63:15 - Exposition

Look down from heaven (comp. Deuteronomy 26:15 ; Psalms 80:14 ; 2 Kings 8:1-29 :30). "The Lord's seat" was "in heaven." While the temple lay in ruins, the Jews would naturally address their prayers to God in his heavenly abode. From the habitation of thy holiness . Mr. Cheyne translates, from the height of thy holiness," taking the meaning of the rare word z'bul from the Assyrian. "Height" certainly suits well most of the other places where the word z'bul occurs ( 1 Kings 8:13 ; 2 Chronicles 6:2 ; Psalms 49:14 ; Habakkuk 3:11 ). Where is thy zeal? i.e. What has become of it? Has it ceased altogether, or is it only in abeyance for a time? Will not God "stir it up" once more ( Isaiah 42:13 )? And thy strength; rather, and thy great acts (comp. Psalms 106:2 ; Psalms 145:4 ; Psalms 150:2 ). The sounding of thy bowels ; i.e. their thrilling or vibration—an indication of sympathy (see Isaiah 16:11 ). Jeremiah has a similar expression ( Jeremiah 31:20 ). Are they restrained? rather, they are restrained. They no longer show themselves. There was no room for questioning the fact.