.64:1-12.

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A prayer for Israel (Isa 63:7-64:12)

The prophet’s prayer for God’s suffering people begins by recalling God’s great acts of love in the past (Isa 63:7).

Because Israel was his people, God saved them from slavery in Egypt, though when they rebelled against him, they were punished (Isa 63:8-10).

Nevertheless, God forgave them. Therefore, asks the prophet, could not this God of mercy and love, who has done such great things for Israel in the past, also save his people from captivity in Babylon now (Isa 63:11-14)?

It seems as if God has withdrawn into his heavenly dwelling place, for there is no evidence of his mercy upon his people. The prophet realizes that if Abraham and Jacob, Israel’s earthly fathers, saw their descendants in captivity, they would be ashamed of them and want to have nothing to do with them. But he prays that God, their true Father, will not cast them off (Isa 63:15-16).

It seems, however, as if he has. He has allowed the Babylonians to destroy their temple and take them to a foreign land, where there is no evidence that Yahweh is their God or that they are his people (Isa 63:17-19).

God has revealed himself and saved his people with supernatural acts in the past, and the prophet longs that he might do so again. The enemies of God would then be overthrown (Isa 64:1-3).

By contrast, those whose chief pleasure is to please God know that God helps them in the most unexpected ways (Isa 64:4-5a).

They also know that, despite their desire to please God, they are still self-willed sinners. Even their best deeds are polluted by sin. They often forget God and have only themselves to blame for the troubles that result (Isa 64:5b-7).

Although they have failed miserably, the people know that God is still their Father. He may punish them, but he still loves them (Isa 64:8-9).

Therefore, asks the prophet, is not the destruction he has sent upon Judah sufficient punishment? Can God not see the desolation of Jerusalem and take pity on the ruined city?

Will he not now forgive his people and bring them back to their land (Isa 64:10-12)?