◄ What Does Isaiah 64:1 Mean? ►

Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Your presence--

Isaiah 64:1(NASB)

Verse of the Day

In this passage, the little remnant of Israel were recalling the faithfulness of God and the wonderful way He led His people in the wilderness. They remembered His compassionate mercy and long-suffering kindness, when their forefathers were subjugated in the land of Egypt and the Lord redeemed them from the hand of their enemy. The grief they were currently going through was translated into a prayerful petition.

Their prayer began in the previous chapter, where they mistakenly blamed God for their backslidden ways! They asked why He permitted His people to fall into sin and harden their heart. They complained they were no different from the pagans, despite their covenant relationship with the Lord. But Scripture shows that when God 'hardens a heart', it is because that man has hardened his own heart.

But as they continued in prayer, they confessed the rebellious-unbelief into which the nation had fallen and acknowledged their disobedience had grieved the Holy Spirit of God. This little remnant of Israel began to bewail the trouble and distress that had come upon the nation, but acknowledged that they were at fault because they had broken their covenant with the Lord.

And so, this little remnant called on God in the day of trouble. They implored Him to look down from heaven on His people with loving kindness and great goodness. They prayed that God would save them in their affliction and deliver them from their enemies, just as He had done in bygone days when He brought them out from the land of Egypt and redeemed them from bondage and enslavement to their Egyptian masters.

As they reflected on God's mighty deliverance from the hand of their wicked enemies, their urgent plea called out for justice to be done. They prayed that God would show His mighty power and rout their enemies, who were waxing worse and worse: "Oh, that You would rend the heavens," was their urgent cry: "If only You would tear open the heavens and come down quickly, so that the mountains might quake at Your presence," was their heartfelt plea.

The urgent cries of the faithful remnant of Israel reflect the increasing urgency that is seen in the book of Revelation, as the weary tribulation saints cry out to the Lord: "How long... how long O sovereign Lord, holy and true. How long until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood."

The blood of many martyrs in the Body of Christ are also crying out today during this Church age. The cries of God's people during this dispensation of grace are also urgently calling for help in these times of trouble. For the times in which we live are waxing worse and worse, and the days are getting darker and increasingly difficult for so many who are called by His name.

But at the appointed time, the Lord has promised to judge the world in righteousness and He will not delay. A day is coming when the prayers of this little remnant in Isaiah 64 will unite with the prayers of tribulation saints, and be answered.

On that day, the heavens will be torn open, the mountains will quake, the Lord will come riding on a white horse, and every eye will see Him. The Lord Jesus Christ will come in righteousness with ten thousands of His saints to judge the wicked and make war with the principalities and powers of evil. On that day, He will tread the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, for the Almighty will comes to save His people, Israel. He will come to answer the prayer offered by this little remnant so many years ago.

But before that day, the Lord will come to take His Church-age saints to be with Him forever. The trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we who are alive and remain will be caught up into the clouds, together with His resurrected saints, and so we shall ever be with the Lord. This truth is a comfort to the heart of every believer in Christ as we unite in the harmonious chorus: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

My Prayer

Father God, thank You that You have promised to be with me, no matter what difficult circumstances invade my life. I lift up my many brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing increasingly hard times. We are all watching and waiting for the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ and join with the Spirit in praying, "Come, Lord Jesus." In these increasingly difficult times, I ask for Your strength and courage to face whatever lies ahead, knowing that the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in me and that nothing can separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. In Jesus' name, AMEN.