1 Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence, 2 as when fire kindles the brushwood, (and) the fire causes the waters to boil; to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome things which we didn't look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him. 5 You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time; and shall we be saved? 6 For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities. 8 But now, Yahweh, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand. 9 Don't be furious, Yahweh, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste. 12 Will you refrain yourself for these things, Yahweh? Will you hold your peace, and afflict us very severely?
For an analysis of this chapter, see the Analysis prefixed to Isaiah. 63. This chapter is closely connected with that in its design, and should not have been separated from it. This is one of the many instances where the division seems to have been made without any intelligent view of the scope of the sacred writer.
The whole of this chapter, which is very pathetic and tender, may be considered as a formulary of prayer and humiliation intended for the Jews in order to their conversion, Isaiah 64:1-12.
INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 64
The prayer of the church is continued in this chapter; in which she prays for some visible display of the power and presence of God, as in times past, Isaiah 64:1, and the rather, since unheard of and unseen things were prepared by the Lord for his people; and it was his usual way to meet those that were truly religious, Isaiah 64:4, and she acknowledges her sins and transgressions; the imperfections of her own righteousness, and remissness in duty, Isaiah 64:5, pleads relation to God, and implores his mercy, Isaiah 64:8, represents the desolate condition of Judea, Zion, Jerusalem, and the temple, and entreats divine commiseration, Isaiah 64:10.
(Isaiah 64:1-5) The church prays that God's power may be manifested.
(Isaiah 64:6-12) A confession of sin, and afflictions bewailed.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.