13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
13 The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts.
13 But the people paid no mind to him who hit them, didn't seek God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts.
13 For after all this punishment, the people will still not repent. They will not seek the Lord of Heaven's Armies.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
6 So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
(Read 1 Peter 5:5-9)
Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian churches and societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness. To be humble, and subject to our reconciled God, will bring greater comfort to the soul than the gratification of pride and ambition. But it is to be in due time; not in thy fancied time, but God's own wisely appointed time. Does he wait, and wilt not thou? What difficulties will not the firm belief of his wisdom, power, and goodness get over! Then be humble under his hand. Cast "all you care;" personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God. These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God. The remedy is, to cast our care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious disposal. Firm belief that the Divine will and counsels are right, calms the spirit of a man. Truly the godly too often forget this, and fret themselves to no purpose. Refer all to God's disposal. The golden mines of all spiritual comfort and good are wholly his, and the Spirit itself. Then, will he not furnish what is fit for us, if we humbly attend on him, and lay the care of providing for us, upon his wisdom and love? The whole design of Satan is to devour and destroy souls. He always is contriving whom he may insnare to eternal ruin. Our duty plainly is, to be sober; to govern both the outward and the inward man by the rules of temperance. To be vigilant; suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, watchful and diligent to prevent his designs. Be stedfast, or solid, by faith. A man cannot fight upon a quagmire, there is no standing without firm ground to tread upon; this faith alone furnishes. It lifts the soul to the firm advanced ground of the promises, and fixes it there. The consideration of what others suffer, is proper to encourage us to bear our share in any affliction; and in whatever form Satan assaults us, or by whatever means, we may know that our brethren experience the same.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 9:13
Commentary on Isaiah 9:8-21
(Read Isaiah 9:8-21)
Those are ripening apace for ruin, whose hearts are unhumbled under humbling providences. For that which God designs, in smiting us, is, to turn us to himself; and if this point be not gained by lesser judgments, greater may be expected. The leaders of the people misled them. We have reason to be afraid of those that speak well of us, when we do ill. Wickedness was universal, all were infected with it. They shall be in trouble, and see no way out; and when men's ways displease the Lord, he makes even their friends to be at war with them. God would take away those they thought to have help from. Their rulers were the head. Their false prophets were the tail and the rush, the most despicable. In these civil contests, men preyed on near relations who were as their own flesh. The people turn not to Him who smites them, therefore he continues to smite: for when God judges, he will overcome; and the proudest, stoutest sinner shall either bend or break.