1. Context: (BKC) The prayer of the nation (63:7–64:12)...the righteous remnant's two requests-that God be compassionate toward them (vv. 15–19) and that He punish their enemies (64:1–7)
2. Structure: (NICOT)
v.1-3 Oh, if you had just broken in on us, shaking the mountains—like fire burning brush or boiling water—revealing your nature to the nations, doing wonders we never dreamed of, coming down and shaking the mountains
it is a wish that he had already intervened long ago. Isaiah knows God, he thinks he knows God’s heart, and it is hard for him to understand why God would let the situation get so desperate without having done something about it.
b.4-5a What have God’s actions over the years taught the people about their God? They have taught them that there is no God like him...But what one thing is it that puts the Holy One beyond compare? He is the only one who will act on behalf of those who wait for him
“to wait” is to manifest the kind of trust that is willing to commit itself to God over the long haul. It is to continue to believe and expect when all others have given up. It is to believe that it is better for something to happen in God’s time than for it to happen on my initiative in my time.
If we wonder where God is in our lives, the key is to begin doing what we know, allowing him to manifest himself when and where he chooses. According to Isaiah, the lesson of sacred history is that he will meet those who wait for him in this way.
v.5b-7 If joyfully doing righteousness is the key to meeting God and having him work on our behalf, but we are fundamentally unable to do righteousness...They cannot somehow produce enough righteousness to mollify God, because they are helpless before their sin, as vv. 5–6 (Eng. 6–7) show so graphically
3. R. W. the mountains trembled before you v.1, 3
Summary: The revealing of God would have be an impression to the nations and the remanent situation would have changed. However, God's intervention was tied to the people who waited for Him, but they were not and could not be part of them. What a big loss.
Opposite word: who delight in doing what is right, who observe your commandments. v.5a vs we violated them continually v.5b
R. W.: unclean v.6, our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight v.6, our sins, v. 6, No one invokes your name, or makes an effort to take hold of you v.7
4. Reflection: Many times we look forward for miraculous relieve from our troubles, but why would have God done that? He intervenes for those who wait for Him. Am I one of them?
For the righteous remanent they were unable to join in this group for they violated God's commands continually and lives in sins, but thank God, believers of Jesus Christ are different. Jesus is my righteousness before God.
The sin of the people was seen in their failure to invokes His name and makes an effort to take hold of Him. Am I like that? Do I just let my time go by or wasting them and not getting hold of God? Is getting myself recovered the most important thing in my life or is taking hold of God and growing in Jesus the most important thing in my life?
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