View Isaiah 64 in the note window.
The church's prayer continued, for the illustration of God's glory,
ver. 1 - 5.
With a confession of their sins, and complaint of their afflictions,
ver. 6 - 12.
1: Rent - A metaphor taken from men, that when they would resolutely
help one in distress, break and fling open doors and whatever may hinder.
Flow down - That all impediments might be removed out of the way: possibly
an allusion to God's coming down upon mount Sinai, in those terrible
flames of fire.
2: Fire - Come with such zeal for thy people, that the solid mountains
may be no more before thy breath, than metal that runs, or water that
boils by the force of a vehement fire. Known - That thine enemies may
know thy power, and that thy name may be dreaded among them.
3: Terrible things - This may relate to what he did among the
Egyptians, tho' it be not recorded, and afterward in the wilderness.
Looked not for - Such things as we could never expect.
Mountains - Kings, princes, and potentates, may metaphorically be
understood by these mountains.
4: Besides thee - This is to be applied to all the wonderful works,
that God at all times wrought for his people: and thus they are a plea
with God, that they might well expect such things from him now, that had
done such wonderful things for their fathers. Waiteth - This may be taken
with reference both to the state of grace and glory, those incomprehensible
things that are exhibited through Christ in the mysteries of the gospel.
5: Meetest - As the father the prodigal. Worketh - That rejoices
to work righteousness. Continuance - To those that work righteousness.
Be saved - In so doing, in working righteousness.
6: Unclean - Formerly there were some that feared thee; but now we
are all as one polluted mass, nothing of good left in us by reason of
an universal degeneracy. And all - The very best of us all are no better
than the uncleanest things. Taken - Carried away to Babylon, as leaves
hurried away by a boisterous wind.
7: That calleth - That call upon thee as they ought.
Take hold - Either to stay thee from departing from us,
or to fetch thee back when departed.
8: Our father - Notwithstanding all this thou art our father both
by creation, and by adoption, therefore pity us thy children.
9: Thy people - Thou hast no people in covenant but us, and wilt thou
not leave thyself a people in the world?
11: Pleasant things - The king's palace, and the houses of the
nobles, and other pieces of state and magnificence.
12: Wilt thou - Do none of these things move thee to take vengeance?
Thy peace - Wilt thou be as one that regards not?
