Description
This chapter continues the prayer and repentance of the end-time lost tribes of Israel. It calls upon God to intervene in the earthly realm, to deliver Israel, and to make the nations tremble before him as he did in ancient times.
Commentary
This chapter continues the prayer of lost Israelite tribes that began in 63:7 (see my commentary on chapter 63 to identify who are primarily in view here). It calls upon God to tear the sky apart and come down into the earthly realm, to intervene and deliver Israel, and to make the nations tremble before him. Ultimately, the kind of divine intervention that they pray for will be fulfilled by Jesus in the end times. In verses 3 to 4, they remember God's intervention during the Exodus, when God came down upon Sinai and made the mountains tremble. They say of God, "…you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you". In the end times, when Jesus comes down and divides the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:2), the mountains will surely tremble! And the Jews will also be mostly take by surprise, in accordance with what Jesus said in Matthew 24:44, "Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him".
Verses 5 to 9 are a prayer of confession and repentance for Israel's sins and rejection of God. In verse 6a, they confess, "We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight". This is similar to the confession of end-time Israel in Isaiah 53:6, "All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path". In verse 6b, they say, "We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind". This is the confession of Israel's scattered tribes around the world. In verse 8 they appeal again (as in 63:16) to God as their Father, and say, "We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor". The lost end-time tribes identify themselves afresh with their Israelite ancestry.
In verses 10 to 11 they lament the destruction and ruin of Jerusalem and the temple, "Our holy temple, our pride and joy, the place where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire". This refers back to the destruction of the first and second temples, not to the third temple which Antichrist desecrates by setting up the 'abomination of desolation' (Daniel 9:27).
Verse 12 asks how God can hold back and remain silent in the face of such humiliation for Israel. My answer to that question is that at his first coming, Jesus has declared the year of the Lord's favour (Isaiah 61:2a and Luke 4:19). This means that God holds back from punishing sinners, waiting instead for them to repent and be forgiven. But the day of vengeance is coming (Isaiah 61:2b) when God will no longer hold back his wrath, but intervene and punish all who oppose him, as in Isaiah 63:1-6. This is when Israel will be delivered and vindicated by God's spectacular intervention in earthly affairs.
Verses 5 to 9 are a prayer of confession and repentance for Israel's sins and rejection of God. In verse 6a, they confess, "We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight". This is similar to the confession of end-time Israel in Isaiah 53:6, "All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path". In verse 6b, they say, "We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind". This is the confession of Israel's scattered tribes around the world. In verse 8 they appeal again (as in 63:16) to God as their Father, and say, "We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor". The lost end-time tribes identify themselves afresh with their Israelite ancestry.
In verses 10 to 11 they lament the destruction and ruin of Jerusalem and the temple, "Our holy temple, our pride and joy, the place where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire". This refers back to the destruction of the first and second temples, not to the third temple which Antichrist desecrates by setting up the 'abomination of desolation' (Daniel 9:27).
Verse 12 asks how God can hold back and remain silent in the face of such humiliation for Israel. My answer to that question is that at his first coming, Jesus has declared the year of the Lord's favour (Isaiah 61:2a and Luke 4:19). This means that God holds back from punishing sinners, waiting instead for them to repent and be forgiven. But the day of vengeance is coming (Isaiah 61:2b) when God will no longer hold back his wrath, but intervene and punish all who oppose him, as in Isaiah 63:1-6. This is when Israel will be delivered and vindicated by God's spectacular intervention in earthly affairs.
Tags
Places: Israel
Symbols: Filthy rags, God as Father, Potter and clay
Tags: Lost tribes pray for deliverance, Israel repents, Prayer for deliverance, Prayer for God to intervene, God as Father, Temple destroyed, Jerusalem in ruins
Symbols: Filthy rags, God as Father, Potter and clay
Tags: Lost tribes pray for deliverance, Israel repents, Prayer for deliverance, Prayer for God to intervene, God as Father, Temple destroyed, Jerusalem in ruins
(63:19b ) If only you would tear apart the sky and come down! The mountains would tremble before you!
2 (64:1) As when fire ignites dry wood, or fire makes water boil, let your adversaries know who you are, and may the nations shake at your presence!
3 When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who intervenes for those who wait for him.
5 You assist those who delight in doing what is right, who observe your commandments. Look, you were angry because we violated them continually. How then can we be saved?
6 We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.
7 No one invokes your name, or makes an effort to take hold of you. For you have rejected us and handed us over to our own sins.
8 Yet, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor.
9 Lord, do not be too angry! Do not hold our sins against us continually! Take a good look at your people, at all of us!
10 Your chosen cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem, a desolate ruin.
11 Our holy temple, our pride and joy, the place where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire; all our prized possessions have been destroyed.
12 In light of all this, how can you still hold back, Lord? How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?
2 (64:1) As when fire ignites dry wood, or fire makes water boil, let your adversaries know who you are, and may the nations shake at your presence!
3 When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who intervenes for those who wait for him.
5 You assist those who delight in doing what is right, who observe your commandments. Look, you were angry because we violated them continually. How then can we be saved?
6 We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.
7 No one invokes your name, or makes an effort to take hold of you. For you have rejected us and handed us over to our own sins.
8 Yet, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor.
9 Lord, do not be too angry! Do not hold our sins against us continually! Take a good look at your people, at all of us!
10 Your chosen cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem, a desolate ruin.
11 Our holy temple, our pride and joy, the place where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire; all our prized possessions have been destroyed.
12 In light of all this, how can you still hold back, Lord? How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?
(NET)
