Sovereign God

Isa 64:1 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.
Isa 64:2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!

As the volcano flows as a melting fire making the sea to steam and boil, it is as a reminder of the power and judgement of God. We would all perish if it were not for his mercy. Isaiah speaks of the Lord coming with vengeance and a show of great power. Micah speaks similar words from the LORD.

Micah 1:3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
Micah 1:4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.

Isa 64:3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

Exo 34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

Terrible things or fearful, awesome and terrifying things.

Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is fearful to fall into the hands of God for those not seeking him, but a time of joy for his covenant people of faith.

Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

I always saw this as a great reward for us who await his return; yet if we look at this from the viewpoint of the unsaved, the things coming, the wrath of God, will be greater than anything yet seen or experienced on earth. Those who put off salvation would have waited too long. Those who are saved and are watching and waiting for his return shall be rewarded.

Isa 64:5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

We are sinners and God is angry at sin. The prophet speaks: how can we who continue to sin be saved?

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

We are all unclean, our own righteousness are as under garments: we do fade as a leaf, soon to wither and die in our sins (apart from Jesus Christ); and our iniquities, our thoughts and desires are to do evil. As a dry leaf in a wind, we are taken away and will perish in our sins, if God doesn't help us.

Isa 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

The knowledge of our sinful condition should cause us to cry out to God. The prophet continues to say that none call upon his name, nor are moved within to take hold of God in prayer. For you have hid your face from us, who are sinners without repentance, your vengeance will consume us, because of our iniquities. Who is he speaking of? Judah,? us,? perhaps all humans who are sinners and without hope? Where is hope? In the promised savior, who was not yet revealed. We know that it is the Lord Jesus Christ. How were people saved before Jesus came? Always salvation is by faith in God and his promises. He provides our salvation. Jesus came and when he went to the cross He descended to tell the old testament saints that he had come and that they are soon to be delivered up.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

This verse shows that God is sovereign, our father, our Creator, as the potter shapes the clay for his purpose. He is the designer and the former of individuals, nations and events.

Isa 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

A familiar hymn speaks of God as the potter and we as the clay in his hands. Clay is only wet dust, but God makes us useful, giving us a soul and His Spirit through Jesus our savior. We are made vessels for his use.

Isa 64:9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

Be not be very angry with us LORD, do not hold them against us forever for we are your covenant people. God's justice requires payment for sins. Blood was shed, the blood of Jesus, to remove our sins from our father's memory.

Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Isa 64:10 Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
Isa 64:11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed at the time of the Babylonian captivity. It would be destroyed again after the coming of Christ Jesus, at 70 A.D. by the Romans. The world hates the chosen of God. We are not to set our affections on this world and it's things, but we are of a higher calling..

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Isa 64:12 Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

Will you be silent LORD? Are you going to punish us? He will not forsake those who trust in him.

Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isa 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.