O Lord, be gracious unto us— In this apostrophe to God, the first part contains the supplication; the other, the salvation obtained in consequence thereof. In the supplication there is that difference of persons which shews that they prayed both for the present and absent: for the present and the whole community in these words, Be gracious unto us; for the absent, Be thou their arm every morning. They who pour forth this supplication suppose part of their community to be absent; that is to say, according to our hypothesis, the zealous, who under the command of the Maccabees went forth to fight in defence of their state and religion, while the weaker part of the true worshippers of God remained in desarts, and caves, and other hiding-places. The meaning of the next verse is, that upon the display of God's interposing power, and wonderful succour granted to his people, their enemy fled, and they obtained the victory. There is a remarkable passage in Zechariah 9:13-14 respecting the Maccabees, which well explains this; and very agreeable to it are the words of Judas, The victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven: see Genesis 3:19; Genesis 4:32. 1 Samuel 7:10 and Vitringa.
Related Commentaries of Isaiah 33:2
Isaiah 33:2-3
2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.