Isaiah 64
The speaker longs for God to reveal Himself in power, causing the mountains to melt and the nations to tremble. They acknowledge that God has performed miracles in the past, but now He seems distant and angry due to the people's sin. The people have become unclean and their attempts at justice are worthless, and they cry out to God as their Father and Maker, asking Him not to be angry and to remember that they are His people. The city of Jerusalem lies in ruins, and the people ask if God will continue to restrain Himself and afflict them.
I wish that you would rend the heavens, and then descend! The mountains would flow away before your faceThey would melt, as if thoroughly burned by fire. The waters would burn with fire, so that your name might be made known to your enemies, so that the nations would be stirred up before your faceWhen you will perform miracles, we will not be able to withstand them. You descended, and the mountains flowed away before your presenceFrom ages past, they have not heard it, and they have not perceived it with the ears. Apart from you, O God, the eye has not seen what you have prepared for those who await youYou have met with those who rejoice in doing justice. By your ways, they will remember you. Behold, you have been angry, for we have sinned. In this, we have continued, but we will be savedAnd we have all become like the unclean. And all our justices are like a rag of menstruation. And we have all fallen away, like a leaf. And our iniquities have carried us away, like the windThere is no one who calls upon your name, who rises up and holds fast to you. You have concealed your face from us, and you have crushed us with the hand of our own iniquityAnd now, O Lord, you are our Father, yet truly, we are clay. And you are our Maker, and we are all the works of your handsDo not be so angry, O Lord, and no longer call to mind our iniquity. Behold, consider that we are all your peopleThe city of your sanctuary has become a desert. Zion has become a desert. Jerusalem is desolateThe house of our sanctification and of our glory, where our fathers praised you, has been completely consumed by fire, and all our admirable things have been turned into ruinsShould you restrain yourself, O Lord, concerning these things? Should you remain silent, and afflict us vehemently
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