Isaiah 29:15

“Woe unto them, &c.] Or, “O ye”, that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord; which they consulted against Christ, to take away his life, to persecute his apostles, and hinder the spread of his Gospel; which though they consulted in private, and formed deep schemes, imagining they were not observed by the Lord, yet he that sits in the heaven saw them, and laughed at their vain imaginations, (<190201>Psalm 2:1-4): and their works are in the dark; in the dark night, as if the darkness could conceal them from the all seeing eye of God; such works are truly works of darkness, but cannot be hid, though they flatter themselves they will: and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? as no…”

“seek deep to hide--rather, "That seek to hide deeply," &c. (compare Isa 30:1-2). The reference is to the secret plan which many of the Jewish nobles had of seeking Egyptian aid against Assyria, contrary to the advice of Isaiah. At the same time the hypocrite in general is described, who, under a plausible exterior, tries to hide his real character, not only from men, but even from God.”

“Seek deep - A metaphor from men, who use to dig deep into the earth, that they may hide any thing there. To hide - Vainly imagining, that they can deceive, not only men, but God, by their external professions. Who - Neither God nor man can discover us. Isaiah 29:16”

“29:15-24 This threat of coming judgment is the third of the six woes (see study note on 28:1–33:24). It begins with judgment but moves to a vision of creation being renewed and of the wicked coming to an end. 29:15 Their plans might refer to the advice that royal counselors were giving Hezekiah, who at first attempted to free himself from Assyria by making alliances with Egypt (715 or 701 BC). • The people were conspiring to commit evil deeds in secret, but God saw everything.”

“seek: Isa 5:18, Isa 5:19, Isa 28:15, Isa 28:17, Isa 30:1; Job 22:13, Job 22:14; Psa 10:11-13, Psa 64:5, Psa 64:6; Psa 139:1-8; Jer 23:24; Eze 8:12, Eze 9:9; Zep 1:12; Rev 2:23 and their works: Job 24:13-17, Job 34:22; Luk 12:1-3; Joh 3:19; Co1 4:5; Co2 4:2 Who seeth: Isa 47:10; Psa 59:7, Psa 73:11, Psa 94:7-9; Mal 2:17 Isaiah 29:16”

“Their hypocrisy, which was about to be so wonderfully punished according to the universal law ( Psa 18:26-27), manifested itself in their self-willed and secret behaviour, which would not inquire for Jehovah, nor suffer itself to be chastened by His word. "Woe unto them that hide plans deep from Jehovah, and their doing occurs in a dark place, and they say, Who saw us then, and who knew about us? Oh for your perversity! It is to be regarded as potters' clay; that a work could say to its maker, He has not made me; and an image to its sculptor, He does not understand it!" Just as Ahaz had carefully kept his appeal to Asshur for help secret from the prophet; so did they try, as far as possible,…”