Isaiah 64
DortThe people of God go on as in their prayer which they began in the end of the sixty third chapter, verse 1 beseeching God to deliver them as he had done formerly; 3 confessing and acknowledging their abominable sins, 6 and their own unworthiness, 8 praying especially for the building of Jerusalem, 10.
1. Oh that thou wouldst rent the heavens that thou wouldest come down, [this dependeth yet on the last verse of the sixty third chapter, being a continuation of the prayer of the church that God would manifest his help from heven, for the destruction of their enemies, and for the redemption of his church, especially by the coming of the Messiah in the flesh, whereunto respect is had verse 4. (oh that thou wouldest rent the heaven,) to wit, being kindled with zeal and indignation, as the words next following do further shew, all tending thereunto, to intreat God, that he would be placed to manifest in glory and power as he did when he gave his law, Exod. Chapter 19.] that the mountains might flow at thy face, [That is, that they might melt and flow away like water, being as it were astonished at the presence of thy majesty. See the like allegorical phrase, Deut.32.2 Judg. Chap 5 verse 4.5, Psal.18.8 and 97.5.]
2. As melting fire burneth, (and) the fire causeth the waters to bubble up, [Heb. A fire of melting’s; that is, as fire causeth a thing to melt, which men intend to cast: and as fire causeth the water to bubble up] to make thy name[that is, thy power, whereby thou avenges thy self on thine enemies] known to thine adversaries [that is, to the persecutors of thy church whom thou holdest for thine enemies. Compare Acts 9:4.] let the heathen (so) tremble at thy face.
3. When thou didst terrible things, [to wit, in the time of our fathers both in Egypt and the wilderness] (which) e looked not for: thou comest down, the mountains flowed way at thy face, [others, that thou mightiest come down, the mountains might flow down at thy]
4. yea of old men have not heard it, nor perceived (it) with (their) ears, neither hath any eye seen it, besides thee, O God, (what) he will do for him that waiteth upon him. [this is principally to be understood of the mysteries so the Gospel, unknown and incomprehensible to the wisdom and understanding of men, save to those to whom God revealeth them by hi spirit as the Apostle Paul sheweth from this place, 1 cor.2 ver.9, 10. Neither hath any seen it) yea it never entered into the heart or thought of any man, as the Apostle testifieth, 1 Cor.2.9. (what he will do) for what thou wilt do, that is, what mercies thou wilt bestow. The Apostle saith what God hath prepared; to wit, the Kingdome of heaven, which is so great a glory, that it far excelleth all humane understanding. (for him that waiteth upon him) the Apostle expoundth these words thus, for them that love him. For to wait upon God is a fruit of love. Compare with this place Psal. 13.20]
5. Thou meetest him that is joyful, and that doth righteousness, [to wit, with thy grace and mercy, and help of them, as the Angels met Jacob, Gen. 32. In other place it signifies a meeting for damage and hurt, as Exodus 5:3. (him that is joyful) them that apply themselves with joy to thee, or them that i.e. Joyce in thee] those that remember the in thy way: [that is, those that praise and glorifie thee fourthly wonderful providence and protection] behold thou wast wroth [and consequently thou hast smitten us] because we have sinned in them; [to wit, in thy ways, laws, & will, or in thy grace and mercy which thou continually shewest unto thy people] is eternity that we may be saved[that is, if we had walked in them we should have been saved. Others, behold thou wast wroth because we always sinned against those (to wit ways) yet we are saved.]
6. But we are all as an unclean person, (thing) and all our righteousness [That is, all our best works, or whatever good we might have done] a rasa call garment: understand withal, if thou shouldst examine them according to the rigour of thy justice, beholding us in our own nature out of Christ. See Philippians 3:8. Heb. As a garment of casting away or as a filthy stained garment: or a garment made up of rags and patches. See on the contrary what we are in Christ Jesus, Revel 19.8] and we do all fall off, or we wither or fade, [to wit, by reason of thine anger kindled against us, which we have occasioned by our sins. See Psal. 90.5, 6.] as a leas,[compare this place with Jude ver. 12. The contrary is, Psal.1.3] and our offences, [This word comprehended not only the offence, but also the punishment of them] like a wind carry us away.
7. And there i none [That is, very few] that calleth upon thy name, [To wit, with true faith and repentance, at it becometh them to do] that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: [to wit, to keep the back from going on to punish us in thine anger. Others that holdeth fast on thee] for thou hidest thy face from us, see Deut.13.17] and thou causeth us to melt by the means of our iniquities. [or by the strength of our iniquities. The meaning is, our sins have kindled the fire of thy wrath, whereby we are melted and consumed]
8. But now, Lord, thou art our father: [God is the Father of all men in regard that he hath created them. But he is the father of his elect for this cause also, because he hath adopted them as for children by grace. See Rom.8.15,16.] we are the clay and thou art the potter,[or former, or he that formed us, forming our heart as a potter formeth a vessel of clay or earth] and we all are the work of thine hands.
9. LORD, be not so exceedingly wroth, neither remember iniquity for ever: [compare Psal. 79.8.] lo, behold, we beseech thee, we all thy people.
10. thy Holy cities [the cities of thy holiness, to wit, Zion and Jerusalem. And understand here by Zion the city of David, which was the upper part of the city of Jerusalema, built upon mount Zion: and by Jerusalem is understood the lower part of the city. Or by the holy cities may be understood in general the cities of Juda, as being cities of the holy land, and of the holy people of God: and consequently Zion and Jerusalem as followeth] Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem, desolation. [that is, Jerusalem is made desolate. See Psal.79.1.].
11. Our holy and our glorious house,[to wit, the temple wherein the holy service of God was performed, and where God manifested his glory and presence. See 1 Kings 8:13] wherein our fathers praised the i burnt with fire:[to wit, by the Babylonians. For it seemeth that this prayer was prescribed by the Prophet unto the people, to be used in the time of the Babylonian captivity. Others, i (dedicated) to the fire. Heb. Is becoming a burning of fire. The first Temple was burnt by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 25:9. the second by the Emperor Titus, See Matth.24.2] and all our desirable things are become a desolation.
12. LORD shouldst thou refrained thy self [Or cease to wit, without executing vengeance upon our enemies, and without bringing us again to Jerusalem, to build up the temple again and restore thine holy worship] at these things? [to wit, at this sad condition of thy Church] shouldst thou hold thy peace, and assist [or cast down] as so sore?