Isaiahchapter 64

12 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 228 cross-references outward and receives 230 — heaviest partner: Psalms.

Chapter summary

Continuing the lament begun in chapter 63, the community pleads for a theophany: "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down," that mountains might quake as when fire kindles brushwood and the nations tremble. No eye has seen a God besides him, who works for the one who waits for him. Confession follows: all have become as one unclean, "all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment"; the people fade like a leaf, iniquities carry them off like wind, and none stirs himself to take hold of God. Yet the plea rests on relationship — "we are the clay, and thou our potter." The evidence of ruin closes the prayer: the holy cities a wilderness, Zion a desolation, the holy and beautiful house burned with fire — ending with the question whether Jehovah will still hold his peace.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence,

2 as when fire kindleth the brushwood, and the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!

3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence.

4 For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God besides thee, who worketh for him that waiteth for him.

5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou wast wroth, and we sinned: in them have we been of long time; and shall we be saved?

6 For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

7 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 by means of our iniquities.

8 But now, O Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

9 Be not wroth very sore, O Jehovah, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, look, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

10 Thy 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 thee, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste.

12 Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Jehovah? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

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