Isaiah 26:9

9 At night I long for you with my whole being; my spirit within me watches for you. When your judgments are at work in the earth, those living in the world learn righteousness.

Isaiah 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 26:9

With my soul have I desired thee in the night
Either literally, when others were asleep: or figuratively, in the captivity; which, as Jarchi says, was like unto the night; or in the time of Jewish and Gentile darkness, preceding the coming of Christ; or rather in the time of latter day darkness, when the church is represented as heartily desirous of, and importunately praying for, the latter day glory, the rising of the sun of righteousness, the spiritual reign of Christ, the spread of his Gospel, and the setting up of his kingdom and glory in the world; so the Targum,

``my soul desireth to pray before thee in the night;''

her desires were expressed by prayer: yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early;
she determines to continue seeking the Lord night and day, with the greatest intenseness of spirit, and eagerness of soul, until she obtained and enjoyed what she sought for; namely, the presence of Christ, communion with him, the discoveries of his love, and larger measures of his grace, light, and knowledge; for when thy judgments [are] in the earth;
such as pestilence, famine, sword, and the like; especially the judgments of God on antichrist, and the antichristian states, which will be just and righteous; see ( Revelation 19:2 ) : the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness;
not the wicked inhabitants of the world, for the contrary is suggested in the following verses; but the saints that are in the world, the upright ones, the righteous before mentioned, the church and her members; these, by the judgments of God in the world, learn what a righteous Being he is, how unrighteous men are, on whose account these judgments come, and themselves too, as in his sight; and they learn the insufficiency of their own righteousness to justify them before him, and their need, the worth and value, of the righteousness of Christ: and also learn hereby to live soberly, righteously, and godly, ( Psalms 119:67 Psalms 119:71 ) ( 94:12 ) they learn to ascribe righteousness to God, and to fear and worship him, ( Revelation 15:3 Revelation 15:4 ) ( Revelation 16:5 Revelation 16:6 ) .

Isaiah 26:9 In-Context

7 The way of the righteous is level; you clear a path for the righteous.

8 In the path of your justice, LORD, we wait for you; with all our being, we long for your name and your acclaim.

9 At night I long for you with my whole being; my spirit within me watches for you. When your judgments are at work in the earth, those living in the world learn righteousness.

10 When the wicked are favored, they don't learn righteousness; even among those who do right they do wrong, and they fail to see the LORD's majesty.

11 LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they don't see. Let them see and shrink back because of your zeal for your people; your burning anger that consumes your enemies.