Prayer For Mercy And Help

Topic: Prayer
Passage: Isaiah 64:1–12

October 21, 2022

Commentary

Realizing their uncleanness (vv. 5-7), they ask God to smite their enemies (vv. 1–4). They prayed that the Lord tear the heavens like a piece of cloth, come down (vv. 1-2) and execute judgment on the nations. Fire and boiling water picture judgment (Jer. 1:13–14). The awesome things (v. 3) probably refer to the phenomena of fire, darkness (Deut. 4:11–13), and earthquakes (Ex. 19:16–19) when God gave the Mosaic Law. This revealing God, the only God (v. 4) acts on behalf of those who believe in Him and who therefore willingly do what is right. Recalling this, the remnant would ask that God work on their behalf. They would confess their sin (v. 5b), spiritual uncleanness (v. 6a), weakness (v. 6b, like a shriveled leaf), and lack of prayer (v. 7). However, they would not blame God for their dreadful condition; they would know that their wasting away was because of their sins. Therefore they would have to count on God’s faithfulness and promises.
This final part of this beautiful prayer (vv. 8-12) by the righteous remnant is a confession of trust in the Lord. The remnant would address God as their Father and as the Potter. Israel was to be like obedient children and as submissive as clay. Therefore the remnant would obediently and submissively ask the Lord to withhold His anger and to look on them as His own. The remnant would remind God that Israel’s cities including Jerusalem had been destroyed and that even the temple had been burned. The nation would urge God to do something about the situation (v. 12), thereby breaking His silence and withholding His punishment on her.

Application

Sometimes it seems that it takes a catastrophe or something that brings desperation to our life to get us to turn to God in prayer. My desire is to keep the communication lines open with the Lord every day and to be in constant communion with Him. 

Isaiah 64:1– 12 (NET)

1 (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?