Isaiah 64:1-5 Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might flow down at your presence,… Widely yawns the gulf between Israel and her God. A revelation on the widest possible scale is necessary to smite down unbelief and annihilate opposition; God himself must appear. I. FIGURES OF THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD. The rending of the heavens. For the time of trouble is as the hiding of the face of God behind thick clouds (Job 22:13, 14). The word given, rend, is very strong - tear asunder, as garments in grief (Genesis 37:29; 2 Samuel 13:31), or as a wild beast the breast of any one. The faithful firmly believe that he will find a way to show himself through the densest darkness of the most unhappy time. The idea is that of a coming in power to destroy his foes (cf. Psalm 44:5, 6). The shaking mountain, the fire causing the boiling of the waters, the terror of the nations, and the terrible deeds of Jehovah - all this imagery belongs to the memory of the Exodus, where he proved himself to be the living God. II. EVANGELICAL APPLICATION. Ver. 4 is cited by St. Paul as illustrating the effect of the gospel in producing happiness and salvation (1 Corinthians 2:9). If the prophet urges that no god had ever done what Jehovah had done, and no human being had witnessed such manifestations from any other quarter, the apostle applies the thought to the manifestation of God in Christ. For waiting men salvation is prepared. Piety may be defined - is so defined in Scripture - as waiting upon God (Psalm 25:3, 5, 21; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 37:9; Psalm 130:5). God had given manifestations of his existence in the past, of his power and goodness, which had been furnished to none other than his friends. And to those interpositions the suppliants appeal as a reason why he should again interpose and save them in their sore calamities. - J. Parallel Verses KJV: Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, |
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