Isaiah 26

Isaiah 26:1

Consider - His wise, and just, and powerful government of all events, which is proposed as the last and best remedy against all murmurings. For who - No man can correct or alter any of God’s works; and therefore all frettings at the injuries of men, or calamities of times, are not only sinful, but also vain and fruitless. This implies that there is an hand of God in all mens actions, either effecting them, if they be good, or permitting them, if they be bad, and ordering and over - ruling them, whether they he good or bad.

Isaiah 26:2

Be joyful - Enjoy God’s favours with thankfulness. Consider - Consider that it is God’s hand, and therefore submit to it: consider also why God sends it, for what sins, and with what design. God also - Hath wisely ordained, that prosperity and adversity should succeed one another. That - No man might be able to foresee, what shall befal him afterwards; and therefore might live in a constant dependance upon God, and neither despair in trouble, nor be secure or presumptuous in prosperity.

Isaiah 26:3

All - All sorts of events. My vanity - Since I have come into this vain life. Perisheth - Yea, for his righteousness, which exposes him to the envy, anger, or hatred of wicked men. Wickedness - Notwithstanding all his wickedness.

Isaiah 26:4

Be not - This verse and the next have a manifest reference to ver.15, being two inferences drawn from the two clauses of the observation. Solomon here speaks in the person of an ungodly man, who takes occasion to dissuade men from righteousness, because of the danger which attends it. Therefore, saith he, take heed of strictness, zeal, and forwardness in religion. And the next verse contains an antidote to this suggestion; yea, rather saith he, be not wicked or foolish overmuch; for that will not preserve thee, as thou mayest imagine, but will occasion and hasten thy ruin.

Isaiah 26:6

Take hold of - Embrace and practise this counsel. Shall come - Shall be delivered from all extremes, and from all the evil consequences of them.

Isaiah 26:7

Strengthen - Supports him in, and secures him against troubles and dangers.

Isaiah 26:8

Sinneth not - Who is universally and perfectly good.

Isaiah 26:9

Also - Do not strictly search into them, nor listen to hear them.

Isaiah 26:11

Proved - I have found to be true, by the help of that singular wisdom which God had given me. I said - I determined that I would attain perfection of wisdom. But - I found myself greatly disappointed.

Isaiah 26:12

It - God’s counsels and works, and the reasons of them.

Isaiah 26:13

And seek - He useth three words signifying the same thing, to intimate his vehement desire, and vigorous, and unwearied endeavours after it. The reason - Both of God’s various providences, and of the counsels and courses of men. The wickedness - Clearly and fully to understand the great evil of sin.

Isaiah 26:14

I find - By my own sad experience. Shall escape - Shall be prevented from falling into her hands.

Isaiah 26:15

To find - That I might make a true and just estimate.

Isaiah 26:16

Yet seeketh - I returned to search again with more earnestness. I find not - That it was so, he found, but the reason of the thing he could not find out. One man - A wise and virtuous man. A woman - One worthy of that name; one who is not a dishonour to her sex. Among - In that thousand whom I have taken into intimate society with myself.

Isaiah 26:17

Lo, this - Though I could not find out all the streams of wickedness, and their infinite windings and turnings, yet I have discovered the fountain of it, Original sin, and the corruption of nature, which is both in men and women. That - God made our first parents, Adam and Eve. Upright - Heb. right: without any imperfection or corruption, conformable to his nature and will, after his own likeness. They - Our first parents, and after them their posterity. Sought out - Were not contented with their present state, but studied new ways of making themselves more wise and happy, than God had made them. And we, their wretched children, are still prone to forsake the certain rule of God’s word, and the true way to happiness, and to seek new methods of attaining it.

Isaiah 26:19

Who is wise - There are few wise men in this world. Who knoweth - How few understand the reasons of things and can rightly expound the word and works of God. Wisdom - Makes a man venerable, chearful, mild, and amiable. The face is put for the mind, because the mind discovers itself in the countenance. Boldness - The roughness or fierceness. Changed - Into gentleness and humility.

Isaiah 26:20

The oath - Because of that oath which thou hast taken to keep all God’s laws, whereof this of obedience to superiors is one.

Isaiah 26:21

To go - In discontent, withdrawing thyself from the king’s service or obedience. Stand not - if thou hast offended him, persist not in it. For - His power is uncontrollable.