By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 64

THE PRAYER AND ASPIRATION OF THE REMNANT

    This is a continuation of the note of discouragement on which Chapter 63 ended. So discouraged are the people of God that they feel as though God never bare rule over them, or claimed them as His own. Verse 1 of this chapter should actually be attached to the end of Chapter 63 - being a spontaneous prayer springing out of their deep perplexity and affliction.

   Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways:

    1. Here is an appeal for God's help; in the midst of sore trouble, they pray for revival; in His wrath, they desire that He remember to be merciful, (vs. 1-2; Hab. 3:2; Ezek. 39:7).
    2. Because the enemy has so sorely tried them, they yearn for the Lord to manifest His marvellous power, and visible presence, in their behalf, (comp. Psa. 18:19; 144:5-8).
      a. It is for judgment that they want Him to come down - judgment upon their oppressors by direct intervention, (Mic. 1:3-4; Hab. 3:13).
      b. Though the people of God are ever to walk by faith, rather than sight (II Cor. 5:7), there is always a temptation to urge God to act more quickly! "How long" inquire the afflicted, from age to age, (Psa. 13:1-2; 35:17; 79:5; 89:46; 90:13; etc.).
    3. Though the nations mock and rage against God, they will all tremble before the brilliant manifestation of His glorious and holy body-presence, (vs. 2b; Psa. 2:1-3; 99:1-3; 106:22; Jer. 33:9; II Thess. 2:8).
    4. As Mt. Sinai shook at His presence; so kings and kingdoms will be humbled, and reduced to trembling, before Him at His coming, (Ex. 19:18; Psa. 66:3-5).
    5. The God of Israel waits to bless; nor has man ever seen, perceived or heard what He has prepared for those who wait for Him, (vs. 4; Psa. 31:19-21; I Cor. 2:9; Isa. 25:9; 30:18-21; 40:31).
    6. He ever blesses those who, remembering His ways, rejoice to walk uprightly before Him, (vs. 5a; Ex. 20:24; Isa. 26:12-13; 63:7; 56:1; 40:8).
      a. Joy in the Lord's fellowship is the secret of effective Christian service, (comp. Neh. 8:10).
      b. The Lord takes great delight in those who joyfully reverence His name, (Mal. 3:16-18).
      c. And it should ever be the desire of the Lord's people to know Him more intimately, (Phil. 3:7-11).

   Behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

    1. In the midst of verse 5 Isaiah identifies himself with his people who have long continued in sin, (comp. Dan. 9:3-11; Neh. 9:16-27).
      a. Sin has brought the wrath of God upon the nation, (63:10).
      b. "Shall we be saved?" suggests the prophets recognition that the people have no right to expect deliverance on the basis of any action or merit of their own.
    2. Then he confesses the uncleanness of the entire nation; what they have assumed to be "righteousness" is as "filthy rags" in the sight of God, (vs. 6; 6:5; Job 15:14-16; Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Isa. 46:12; 48:1; Eph. 2:3) - nor will the flesh-righteousness of ANY man find acceptance before Him! (Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8-10).
      a. Thus, do they "fade as a leaf", wilt, or turn pale, even in their own eyes, (1:30; Psa. 90:5-9).
      b. Their iniquities, like the wind, have carried them away from God, (Psa. 1:4; Isa. 50:1; 59:2; comp. Jer. 4:11-14).
    3. No longer does any among them really pray, (59:4; comp. Ezek. 22:30), or lay hold on God through faith, (vs. 7a; 27:5; Heb. 11:6; I John 5:4).
    4. Therefore, God has hidden His face from them (1:15; 54:8; comp. Deut. 31:18) - delivering them to the mastery of such iniquities as they have deliberately chosen, (9:19; Ezek. 22:18-22; comp. I Cor. 5:4-5).

   But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

    Though this may have reference to the attitude of the nation in the midst of the Babylonian captivity, its ultimate fulfillment is to be found at the end of this age - just prior to the return of our Lord to establish a rule of justice, righteousness and equity on the earth.
    1. Finally recognizing the tragic end of walking in their own way, they appeal to Jehovah as their Father; they are but clay in the hands of the Divine Potter - whom they now desire to fashion them into what He wants them to be, (vs. 8; 63:16; 29; 16; 45:9; 60:21; Psa. 100:3).
    2. Declaring themselves to be His people (comp. 64:8; Psa. 79:13), they plead with the Lord not to remember their iniquities (43:25; Mic. 7:18) and to temper His wrath toward them with mercy, (57:16-18; 60:10).
    3. Jerusalem, the holy city, has become a wilderness and a desolation; the beautiful temple, where the fathers of Israel once worshipped the true and living God, is now burned with fire - as are all the objects of desire associated with it, (vs. 10-11; 1:7; 3:8; 6:11; 63:18; Psa. 74:5-8; Lam. 1:7, 10-11).
    4. Will God still refuse His aid - in spite of all the heart-rending calamities that have befallen His erring people? (vs. 12; Psa. 74:10-11, 18-19; Isa. 63:15).
      a. The implication is that they are yearning for divine forgiveness, and restoration to divine favor.
      b. Nor will He forever hide his face from their cries; He will remember His covenant and extend His mercy - not for their sake, but for His own name's sake! (41:14-16; Psa. 105:6-12; 106:43-48).