Isaiah 26:11

“Lord, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see, &c.] Or, “thy high hand they will not see”f510; when it is exalted, and become glorious in power, in punishing wicked men; though the punishment is visible, yet they will not consider that it comes from the hand of God, but attribute it to chance, misfortune, or second causes, (<192805>Psalm 28:5) or when the hand the Lord is manifest in doing good to his own people, in delivering them out of their oppressions, and the hands of their oppressors; in reviving his cause and interest, and enlarging the kingdom of his Son; they will not see, own, and acknowledge the power and glory of it. The Targum favours this latter sense, “Lord, when thou…”

“lifted up--to punish the foes of God's people. They who will not see shall be made to "see" to their cost (Isa 5:12). their envy at the people--that is, "Thy people." LOWTH translates, "They shall see with confusion Thy zeal for Thy people." fire of . . . enemies--that is, the fire to which Thine enemies are doomed (Isa 9:18).”

“Will not see - And they are guilty of the same obstinate blindness when thou dost smite and punish them, which is commonly signified by lifting up the hand. They shall see - They shall know that by sad experience, which they would not learn by easier ways. These - Such fire or wrath as thou usest to pour forth upon thine implacable enemies. Isaiah 26:12”

“26:11 An upraised fist expresses anger and the threat of judgment (see also 19:16). • Fire was often an image for God’s judgment.”

“when: Psa 10:12; Mic 5:9 will: Isa 18:3; Sa1 6:9; Job 34:27; Jer 5:3; Act 28:27 they shall: Exo 9:14; Sa1 5:6-11; Jer 44:28; Luk 16:23 be: Isa 11:13, Isa 60:14; Psa 86:17; Pe1 3:16; Rev 3:9 at the: or, towards thy fire: Isa 5:24; Psa 21:8; Mal 4:1; Mat 25:41; Th2 1:8; Rev 19:20 Isaiah 26:12”

“The situation still remains essentially the same as in Isa 26:11-13 : "Jehovah, Thy hand has been exalted, but they did not see: they will see the zeal for a people, being put to shame; yea, fire will devour Thine adversaries. Jehovah, Thou wilt establish peace for us: for Thou hast accomplished all our work for us. Jehovah our God, lords besides Thee had enslaved us; but through Thee we praise Thy name." Here are three forms of address beginning with Jehovah, and rising in the third to "Jehovah our God." The standpoint of the first is the time before the judgment; the standpoint of the other two is in the midst of the redemption that has been effected through judgment. Hence what the…”