Isaiah / Remembering God's Mercy and Plea for Restoration

Remembering God's Mercy and Plea for Restoration

Isaiah 63:7-64:12

Chapter 63

⁷ The steadfast loves of the LORD I will mention, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has done for us, and the great good to the house of Israel that he has done for them, according to his compassions and according to the greatness of his steadfast loves. ⁸ He said, "Surely they are my people, children; they will not deceive." And he became their savior. ⁹ In all their distress, it was distress to him, and the angel of his face saved them. In his love and in his mercy he redeemed them, and he took them up and carried them all the days of eternity. ¹⁰ They rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit, and he turned to become their enemy; he fought against them. ¹¹ Then he remembered the days of Moses and his people: "Where is the one who brought them up out of the waters, the shepherd of his flock? Where is the one who put his holy Spirit within them?" ¹² who led at the right hand of Moses his arm of תפארת, splitting waters before them to make for him a name of eternity. ¹³ Leading you through the primordial deeps like a horse in the wilderness—they will not stumble. ¹⁴ Like livestock in the valley, the wind of the LORD will go down; it will give him rest. In this way you have led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. ¹⁵ Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious dwelling. Where is your zeal and your might, the stirring of your compassion? They restrained themselves toward me. ¹⁶ For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer from of old; this is your name. ¹⁷ Why, LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart so we do not fear you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance. ¹⁸ For a mere moment your holy people possessed it; our adversaries have trampled your sanctuary. ¹⁹ We were from eternity not ruled in them, not called by your name over them; you did not tear open the heavens, you did not descend; from your face mountains did not flow down.

Chapter 64

¹ As the boiling of fire makes waters boil, fire—to make known your Name to your adversaries; nations will tremble before you. ² When you did awesome deeds we did not expect, you came down; mountains flowed down from your presence. ³ And from eternity they have not heard, they have not given ear—an eye has not seen a God besides you, who will do for the one waiting for him. ⁴ You met the fine twisted linen for the tabernacle and did righteousness/justice in your ways; he will remember you. Behold, you were angry and we sinned in them, the everlasting covenant, and he will be saved. ⁵ And we have become like an unclean thing, all of us, and like a garment of betrayals, our witnesses, all our righteousnesses. And we have withered like a leaf, all of us, and our iniquities like a wind bear us away. ⁶ And there is no one calling on your name, stirring himself to hold fast in you, for you have hidden your face from him and melted us by the hand of our iniquity. ⁷ And now, LORD, you are our father; we are the clay, and you are our potter, and we all are the work of your hand. ⁸ Do not be angry, LORD, to excess, and do not remember iniquity forever. Look now, please, upon your people—all of us. ⁹ Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. ¹⁰ The house of our holy things and our glory, which our fathers praised you for, has become a burning fire, and all our precious desires have become ruins. ¹¹ Will you restrain yourself against these things, LORD? Will you keep silent and afflict us so severely?