64:1-6God's appearance is so intense that it is like a consuming fire that burns everything in its path. If we are so impure, how can we be saved? Only by God’s mercy. The Israelites had experienced God’s presence at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19). When Ged met with Moses, there was a thunderstorm, smoke, and an earthquake. If God were to meet us today, his glory would overwhelm us, especially when we look at our “filthy rags” (64:6).
Life Application Study BibleIsaiahChapter 64
Isaiah 64
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1191, 1192
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
64Isaiah 64
1Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!
3When you came down long ago,you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations.And oh, how the mountains quaked!
4For since the world began,no ear has heard,and no eye has seen a God like you,who works for those who wait for him!
5You welcome those who gladly do good,who follow godly ways.But you have been very angry with us,for we are not godly.Weare constant sinners;how can people like us be saved?
6Weare all infected and impure with sin.When we display our righteous deeds,they are nothing but filthy rags.Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
7Yet no one calls on your nameor pleads with you for mercy.Therefore, you have turned away from usand turned us over* to our sins.
8And yet, O LORD, you are our Father.Weare the clay, and you are the potter.We ail are formed by your hand.
9Don’t be so angry with us, LORD.Please don’t remember our sins forever.Look at us, we pray,and see that we are all your people.
10Your holy cities are destroyed.Zion is a wilderness;yes, Jerusalem is a desolate ruin.
11The holy and beautiful Templewhere our ancestors praised youhas been burned down,and all the things of beauty are destroyed.
12After all this, LORD, must you still refuse to help us?Will you continue to be silent and punish us?
Textual footnotes
- 64:1 Verse 64:1 is numbered 63:20 in Hebrew text.
- 64:2 Verses 64:2-12 are numbered 64:
- 64:7 As in Greek, Syriac, and Aramaic versions; Hebrew reads melted us,
Life Application Notes 2 notes
64:6Sin makes us unclean so that we cannot approach God (6:5; Romans 3:23) any more than a beggar in filthy rags could dine at a king’s table. Our best efforts are still infected with sin.