Lord, in trouble have they visited thee
This, and the two following verses ( Isaiah 26:17
Isaiah
26:18 ) , represent the troubles and disappointments of the
church and people of God, before the destruction of antichrist;
in which time of trouble they will visit the Lord, frequent the
throne of grace, as saints in afflictions are wont to do; and
sometimes this is the end to be answered by afflictions, (
Hosea 5:15 ) :
they poured out a prayer;
or "muttering" F5; they will pray with a low voice, in
an humble and submissive way, as persons in dejected
circumstances; not a few words, but many, will they use; their
petitions will be numerous; they will continue praying, and be
constant at it, and out of the abundance of their hearts their
mouth will speak; and they will pour out their souls and their
complaints to the Lord, though privately, and with a low voice,
and with groans unutterable: [when] thy chastening [was]
upon them;
the afflicting hand of God, not as a punishment, but as a
fatherly chastisement upon them; so all their persecutions from
men are considered as permitted by the Lord for their instruction
and correction; and these will not drive them from God, but bring
them to him to seek him by prayer and supplication.
F5 (vxl) "mussitationem", Montanus; "submissam orationem", Junius & Tremellius.