Isaia 26:16

16 O Eterno, essi, nella distretta ti hanno cercato, si sono effusi in umile preghiera, quando il tuo castigo li colpiva.

Isaia 26:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 26:16

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (vxl) "mussitationem", Montanus; "submissam orationem", Junius & Tremellius.

Isaia 26:16 In-Context

14 Quelli son morti, e non rivivranno più; son ombre, e non risorgeranno più; tu li hai così puniti, li hai distrutti, ne hai fatto perire ogni ricordo.

15 Tu hai aumentata la nazione, o Eterno! hai aumentata la nazione, ti sei glorificato, hai allargato tutti i confini del paese.

16 O Eterno, essi, nella distretta ti hanno cercato, si sono effusi in umile preghiera, quando il tuo castigo li colpiva.

17 Come una donna incinta che sta per partorire si contorce e grida in mezzo alle sue doglie, così siamo stati noi dinanzi a te, o Eterno.

18 Abbiamo concepito, siamo stati in doglie, e, quando abbiamo partorito, era vento; non abbiamo recata alcuna salvezza al paese, e non son nati degli abitanti nel mondo.