Matthew Henry on Isaiah 64:6–end
As we have the Lamentations of Jeremiah, so here we have the Lamentations of Isaiah; the subject of both is the same - the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans and the sin of Israel that brought that destruction - only with this difference, Isaiah sees it at a distance and laments it by the Spirit of prophecy, Jeremiah saw it accomplished. In these verses,
I. The people of God in their affliction confess and bewail their sins, thereby justifying God in their afflictions, owning themselves unworthy of his mercy, and thereby both improving their troubles and preparing for deliverance. Now that they were under divine rebukes for sin they had nothing to trust to but the mere mercy of God an…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 64:12
for these things--Wilt Thou, notwithstanding these calamities of Thy people, still refuse Thy aid (Isa 42:14)?
In Isa 64:9, their plea was, "we are all Thy people." In answer, God declares that others (Gentiles) would be taken into covenant with Him, while His ancient people would be rejected. The Jews were slow to believe this; hence Paul says (Rom 10:20) that Isaiah was "very bold" in advancing so unpopular a sentiment; he implies what Paul states (Rom 2:28; Rom 9:6-7; Rom. 11:1-31), that "they are not all (in opposition to the Jews' plea, Isa 64:9) Israel which are of Israel." God's reason for so severely dealing with Israel is not changeableness in Him, but sin in them (Isa 65:2-7). Yet…
Read the whole note in the consoleAdam Clarke on Isaiah 64:9
Neither remember iniquity - For לעד תזכר laad tizcor, one of my MSS. has לעד תקצף laad tiktsoph, "be not angry," as in the preceding clause. This has been partially obliterated, and תזכר tizcor, written in the margin by a later hand: but this MS. abounds with words of this kind, all altered by later hands.
John Gill on Isaiah 64:12
Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Lord?.... From delivering us out of our troubles and miseries, and taking vengeance on our enemies, and showing thy zeal for thine own glory; or, as Kimchi paraphrases it,
"how canst thou contain thyself for these things, and not have mercy?''
how canst thou bear to see Judea, and all its cities, a wilderness; Jerusalem, and the temple of it, in ruins?
wilt thou hold thy peace? or, "be silent"; and not plead thine own cause, and the cause of thy people?
and afflict us very sore? exceedingly, even to extremity; or for ever, as the Targum, thinking it long, as well as heavy. Jerom observes, that the Jews say these words in their synagogues ever…
