5 "For He has brought low those who dwell on high , the unassailable city ; He lays it low , He lays it low to the ground , He casts it to the dust . 6 " The foot will trample it, The feet of the afflicted , the steps of the helpless ." 7 The way of the righteous is smooth ; O Upright One , make the path of the righteous level . 8 Indeed , while following the way of Your judgments , O Lord , We have waited for You eagerly ; Your name , even Your memory , is the desire of our souls . 9 At night my soul longs for You, Indeed , my spirit within me seeks You diligently ; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness . 10 Though the wicked is shown favor , He does not learn righteousness ; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness , And does not perceive the majesty of the Lord . 11 O Lord , Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame ; Indeed , fire will devour Your enemies .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 26:5-11
Commentary on Isaiah 26:5-11
(Read Isaiah 26:5-11)
The way of the just is evenness, a steady course of obedience and holy conversation. And it is their happiness that God makes their way plain and easy. It is our duty, and will be our comfort, to wait for God, to keep up holy desires toward him in the darkest and most discouraging times. Our troubles must never turn us from God; and in the darkest, longest night of affliction, with our souls must we desire him; and this we must wait and pray to him for. We make nothing of our religion, whatever our profession may be, if we do not make heart-work of it. Though we come ever so early, we shall find God ready to receive us. The intention of afflictions is to teach righteousness: blessed is the man whom the Lord thus teaches. But sinners walk contrary to him. They will go on in their evil ways, because they will not consider what a God he is whose laws they persist in despising. Scorners and the secure will shortly feel, what now they will not believe, that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. They will not see the evil of sin; but they shall see. Oh that they would abandon their sins, and turn to the Lord, that he may have mercy upon them.