18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
18 For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
18 Your holy people held possession for a little while;
18 For a while your holy people had it good, but now our enemies have wrecked your holy place.
18 Your holy people have possessed it but a little while; Our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary.
18 How briefly your holy people possessed your holy place, and now our enemies have destroyed it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 63:18
Commentary on Isaiah 63:15-19
(Read Isaiah 63:15-19)
They beseech him to look down on the abject condition of their once-favoured nation. Would it not be glorious to his name to remove the veil from their hearts, to return to the tribes of his inheritance? The Babylonish captivity, and the after-deliverance of the Jews, were shadows of the events here foretold. The Lord looks down upon us in tenderness and mercy. Spiritual judgments are more to be dreaded than any other calamities; and we should most carefully avoid those sins which justly provoke the Lord to leave men to themselves and to their deceiver. "Our Redeemer from everlasting" is thy name; thy people have always looked upon thee as the God to whom they might appeal. The Lord will hear the prayers of those who belong to him, and deliver them from those not called by his name.