My soul yearns for you in the night
Isaiah 26:9 - Isaiah’s prophecy points to a future where all nations recognize God as King, and all will live according to His standards of righteousness.
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“My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.”
Isaiah 26:9 NIV
If I had a year or two, I might consider doing an end-to-end study of the Book of Isaiah. Every verse is filled with God-inspired wisdom, and the Messianic prophecies contained in the book are perfect. However, my very human brain likes to jump around to something new every other day, so I’ll just keep asking God to point me to whatever He feels is an appropriate verse to study.
What’s going on in Isaiah chapter 26? This is a song to be sung in the land of Judah, a song of celebration when the Messiah triumphs, reigning over Israel and the world. The previous two chapters (24 and 25) are filled with eschatological symbology very similar to Revelation.
The verse begins with the words “My soul yearns for you in the night”. It’s a very personal and deep yearning for God, and this could be referring to both the literal nighttime (how many times have you lain awake at night pondering the mystery of God?) as well as seasons of spiritual or emotional distress. A deep longing of the soul is indicative of a relationship with God that goes beyond ritual (rote prayer, lighting candles, even daily church attendance) to a point that it is a heartfelt desire for God’s presence and guidance.
Now we see a bit of Scriptural repetition driving home this point — “in the morning my spirit longs for you”. There is a bit more symbolism here; seeking God in the morning shows not only a continuous yearning for the Lord, but also aligns with what we see elsewhere in Scripture where morning prayer and devotion is encouraged.
I must admit that I am guilty of not seeking God’s guidance and strength first thing in the day when it would do the most good. If you’re the same way, perhaps we should both start a new tradition in our walks with God tomorrow morning, seeking to connect with God after awakening and aligning ourselves with His will for the coming day. Lamentations 3:23 says this of God’s mercies: “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Enduring Word points out that true desire for God manifests itself all the time:
ii. The desire is displayed in seeking: With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early. When you desire something, or someone, you seek them all the time, both early and at night.
The next part of the verse — “When your judgments come upon the earth“ — deals with the certainty of God’s judgment. Throughout Scripture, God judges His people to correct their faults, purifying them and bringing them back onto the path of righteousness. In Isaiah’s time, Israel and the surrounding nations were seeing God’s judgment regularly, reminding them that God was (and is) in control. God’s judgments are never made out of hatred or spite, but always with love as a way to fulfill His purposes.
His judgment isn’t a punishment; it’s meant to teach us and redeem us. God’s discipline is meant to lead us to repentance (we are all sinners) and to transform us. Barb’s series on Hebrews will soon cover Hebrews 12:10-11, which illustrates this point:
“They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Isaiah’s prophecy points to a future where all nations recognize God as King, and all will live according to His standards of righteousness. As Enduring Word explains:
c. The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness: The way of the upright will be one day vindicated.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord in Heaven, with all my soul I desire You in the night, longing for Your presence and guidance. Help me to seek You early each day, to fill my heart with Your love and wisdom before getting down to the day’s busyness. May I learn righteousness as I see Your judgments come upon the earth, and may I embody Your truth and reflect Your light in the way I act. I commit to bringing my prayers and intercessions to You more often, approaching Your throne with confidence, and sharing both my joys and burdens with You. AMEN.
Excellent reminder, this study really hit home for me. Thank you!