17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.
17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.
17 While I wait for God as long as he remains in hiding, while I wait and hope for him.
17 And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.
17 I will wait for the Lord, who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my hope in him.
7 Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
7 By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
7 I'm God's favorite. He made me king of the mountain." Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces.
7 Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
7 Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
(Read Psalm 30:6-12)
When things are well with us, we are very apt to think that they will always be so. When we see our mistake, it becomes us to think with shame upon our carnal security as our folly. If God hide his face, a good man is troubled, though no other calamity befal him. But if God, in wisdom and justice, turn from us, it will be the greatest folly if we turn from him. No; let us learn to pray in the dark. The sanctified spirit, which returns to God, shall praise him, shall be still praising him; but the services of God's house cannot be performed by the dust; it cannot praise him; there is none of that device or working in the grave, for it is the land of silence. We ask aright for life, when we do so that we may live to praise him. In due time God delivered the psalmist out of his troubles. Our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when employed in praising God. He would persevere to the end in praise, hoping that he should shortly be where this would be the everlasting work. But let all beware of carnal security. Neither outward prosperity, nor inward peace, here, are sure and lasting. The Lord, in his favour, has fixed the believer's safety firm as the deep-rooted mountains, but he must expect to meet with temptations and afflictions. When we grow careless, we fall into sin, the Lord hides his face, our comforts droop, and troubles assail us.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 8:17
Commentary on Isaiah 8:17-22
(Read Isaiah 8:17-22)
The prophet foresaw that the Lord would hide his face; but he would look for his return in favour to them again. Though not miraculous signs, the children's names were memorials from God, suited to excite attention. The unbelieving Jews were prone to seek counsel in difficulties, from diviners of different descriptions, whose foolish and sinful ceremonies are alluded to. Would we know how we may seek to our God, and come to the knowledge of his mind? To the law and to the testimony; for there you will see what is good, and what the Lord requires. We must speak of the things of God in the words which the Holy Ghost teaches, and be ruled by them. To those that seek to familiar spirits, and regard not God's law and testimony, there shall be horror and misery. Those that go away from God, go out of the way of all good; for fretfulness is a sin that is its own punishment. They shall despair, and see no way of relief, when they curse God. And their fears will represent every thing as frightful. Those that shut their eyes against the light of God's word, will justly be left to darkness. All the miseries that ever were felt or witnessed on earth, are as nothing, compared with what will overwhelm those who leave the words of Christ, to follow delusions.