Isaiah 63:15

“Look down from heaven, &c.] Here begins the prayer of the church and people of God, which continues to the end of the chapter, goes through the next, and the answer to which begins at (<236501>Isaiah 65:1). Aben Ezra calls it the prayer of the wise in captivity: it seems to be the petition of some converts among the Jews, either in the first times of the Gospel, or in the latter day; who entreat that the Lord would “look down from heaven”, the third heaven, the seat of his majesty, where is his throne of glory, and his presence is most visible to angels and glorified saints; this is on high, as the phrase imports; and the persons below, on earth, at his footstool, whom he is desired to look…”

“Here begins a fervent appeal to God to pity Israel now on the ground of His former benefits. habitation of . . . holiness-- (Isa 57:15; Deu 26:15; Ch2 30:27; Psa 33:14; Psa 80:14). zeal . . . strength--evinced formerly for Thy people. sounding of . . . bowels--Thine emotions of compassion (Isa 16:11; Jer 31:20; Jer 48:36; Hos 11:8).”

“Look down from heaven - This commences an earnest appeal that God would have mercy on them in their present calamities and trials. They entreat him to remember his former mercies, and to return and bless them, as he had done in ancient times. And behold from the habitation - (See the notes at Isaiah 57:15). Where is thy zeal - That is, thy former zeal for thy people; where is now the proof of the interest for their welfare which was vouchsafed in times that are past. And thy strength - The might which was formerly manifested for their deliverance and salvation. The sounding of thy bowels - Margin, ‘Multitude.’ The word rendered ‘sounding’ (המון hâmôn), means properly a noise or sound, as…”

“Look - Now the prophet begins to expostulate with God, and to argue both from the goodness of his nature, and from the greatness of his works. God sees every where, and every thing, but he is said to look down from heaven, because there is his throne whereon he sits in majesty. Behold - Not barely see, but behold with regard, and respect thy poor people. Where - What is become of that love, which of old would not let thee suffer thy people to be wronged? Strength - That power of thine manifested in those great acts? The founding - This is spoken of God after the manner of men. Isaiah 63:16”

“63:15–64:12 The prophet’s reflections on the past (63:7-14) inspire him to pray that God would now rescue his people as he has done before.”

“down: Deu 26:15; Psa 33:14, Psa 80:14, Psa 102:19, Psa 102:20; Lam 3:50 the habitation: Isa 57:15, Isa 66:1; Kg1 8:27; Ch2 30:27; Psa 113:5, Psa 113:6, Psa 123:1 where: Isa 51:9, Isa 51:10; Psa 89:49 sounding: or, multitude thy bowels: Isa 63:9, Isa 49:15; Psa 25:6 \*marg. Jer 31:20; Hos 11:8; Luk 1:78 \*marg. Phi 2:1; Jo1 3:17 Are: Psa 77:7-9 Isaiah 63:16”

“The way is prepared for the petitions for redemption which follow, outwardly by the change in Isa 63:14, from a mere description to a direct address, and inwardly by the thought, that Israel is at the present time in such a condition, as to cause it to look back with longing eyes to the time of the Mosaic redemption. "Look from heaven and see, from the habitation of Thy holiness and majesty! Where is Thy zeal and Thy display of might? The pressure of Thy bowels and Thy compassions are restrained towards me." On the relation between הבּיט, to look up, to open the eyes, and ראה, to fix the eye upon a thing. It is very rarely that we meet with the words in the reverse order, והביט ראה (vid.,…”