Isaiah 64:12

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore? WILT THOU REFRAIN THYSELF FOR THESE (THINGS), O LORD? - Wilt thou, notwithstanding these calamities of thy people, still refuse thy aid? (.) Remarks: In this appeal of Israel to God we have an admirable sample of what should be our prayer in times when seemingly all things go against us, and God has forsaken us. First, we must beseech God to open the "heavens," which are apparently shut against our cry, and to "come down" by His Spirit to our help, so that "mountains" of opposition may melt away at His presence. Next, we must appeal to His concern for the honour of His "name," which is at stake in the case of all who cry to Him. God's "terrible" doings, exceeding all expectation, are another strong ground of the believer's expectation that H...

12._Wilt thou restrain thyself for these things, O Jehovah? _The people strengthen themselves by assured confidence, that God will not permit his glory to be trampled under foot, though men provoke him by innumerable transgressions. This can yield no consolation of any kind to hypocrites, but relates solely to those who are moved by a true sense of the mercy of God. Such persons believe and are fully persuaded, though death threaten them, that God will nevertheless have regard to his own glow, and will at least be gracious to the remnant, that the seed may not perish. _And wilt thou afflict us beyond measure? _(197) He shews that it is impossible for God not to be mindful of his mercy; for “he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13.) But our salvation is connected with his glory. This ought to be carefully observed; for, after having spoke

6-12 The people of God, in affliction, confess and bewail their sins, owning themselves unworthy of his mercy. Sin is that abominable thing which the Lord hates. Our deeds, whatever they may seem to be, if we think to merit by them at God's hand, are as rags, and will not cover us; filthy rags, and will but defile us. Even our few good works in which there is real excellence, as fruits of the Spirit, are so defective and defiled as done by us, that they need to be washed in the fountain open for sin and uncleanness. It bodes ill when prayer is kept back. To pray, is by faith to take hold of the promises the Lord has made of his good-will to us, and to plead them; to take hold of him, earnestly begging him not to leave us; or soliciting his return. They brought their troubles upon themselves by their own folly. Sinners are blasted, and then carried away, by the wind of their own iniquity...

WILT THOU REFRAIN THYSELF - Wilt thou refuse to come to our aid? Wilt thou decline to visit us, and save us from our calamities? WILT THOU HOLD THY PEACE - Wilt thou not speak for our rescue, and command us to be delivered? Thus closes this chapter of great tenderness and beauty. It is a model of affectionate and earnest entreaty for the divine interposition in the day of calamity. With such tender and affectionate earnestness may we learn to plead with God! Thus may all his people learn to approach him as a Father: thus feel that they have the inestimable privilege, in times of trial, of making known their needs to the High and Holy One. Thus, when calamity presses on us; when as individuals or as families we are afflicted; or when our country or the church is suffering under long trials, may we go to God and humbly confess our sins, and urge his promises, and take hold of his strength,...

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 64:1 ISRAEL'S PRAYER CONTINUED AND CONCLUDED. Not content with praying God to look upon them once more with favour (Isaiah 63:15), Israel now asks for a theophany, or manifestation of the Divine Presence, such as they have experienced in the times of old, and such as shall suffice to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies (Isaiah 64:1). With profound humility confessing their manifold and grievous iniquities, they beseech God once more, as their Father and Maker, to have pity upon them, reminding him of the desolate condition of Judaea and Jerusalem, and urging him no longer

WILT THOU REFRAIN THYSELF FOR THESE THINGS, O LORD?.... From delivering us out of our troubles and miseries, and taking vengeance on our enemies, and showing thy zeal for thine own glory; or, as Kimchi paraphrases it, "how canst thou contain thyself for these things, and not have mercy?'' how canst thou bear to see Judea, and all its cities, a wilderness; Jerusalem, and the temple of it, in ruins? WILT THOU HOLD THY PEACE? or, "be silent"; and not plead thine own cause, and the cause of thy people? AND AFFLICT US VERY SORE? exceedingly, even to extremity; or for ever, as the Targum, thinking it long, as well as heavy. Jerom observes, that the Jews say these words in their synagogues every day; which show that they look upon this prophecy to respect their present case....

Isaiah 64:1. _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,_ Or, much better, «as when the brushwood burneth»; for if God does but come to his people, they are ready to catch the flame, like the dry heather which is soon ablaze; and his enemies also shall be like brushwood before the fire. Isaiah 64:2. _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 comest down, the mountain flowed down at thy presence._ O Lord, come again! Thou didst come in the past; repeat thy former acts, and let us see what thou canst do for the a

CHAPTER 63:7-19-64:12 The Great Intercessory Prayer 1. _Jehovah's loving kindness and power in the past remembered (Isaiah 63:7) _ 2. _Their deepest need (Isaiah 63:15) _ 3. _The cry of faith, Thou art our Father (Isaiah 63:16) _ 4. _The increasing plea (Isaiah 63:17) _ 5. _The prayer for Jehovah's manifestation (Isaiah 64:1) _ 6. _Confession and humiliation (Isaiah 64:5) _ 7. The cry for mercy and help ...

These verses, which describe the Temple as not merely desecrated but actually burned, seem to be a late addition from a period of which we have no exact information. The cities of the holy land are become a desert, Jerusalem a curse (LXX and Latin). The Temple, which has existed long enough to have exchanged its simplicity for adornment, and to be hallowed by memory, is burned. All that the people took delight in is ruined. Can Yahweh refrain from action on behalf of his people?...

REFRAIN THYSELF: i.e. refuse to give way in compassion, &c. Compare Genesis 43:1; Genesis 45:1.Genesis 42:14. Gen 63:15....