Isaiah 64:8-12 - Homiletics

Pleas for mercy.

Israel had three main grounds on which they could rely in pleading to God for mercy.

I. GOD WAS THEIR MAKER . The framer of a work cannot see without dissatisfaction the destruction of his work, or its deterioration, or its depravation to purposes lower. than those intended for it. This dissatisfaction is the greater, the more considerable the labour and the thought that has been expended upon the work, the greater the care that has been taken of it, the longer that it has been watched over. Israel, as far as earth was concerned, was God's master-work, that in which God's creative efforts had culminated. He had created the world for mankind, and mankind (in a certain sense) for Israel. He had loved and cherished Israel, watched over his work, protected and guarded it, for well-nigh a millennium. Israel might well feel that it had a tower of strength in the plea, "We are the work of thy hand" ( Isaiah 64:8 ).

II. GOD WAS THEIR FATHER . God had condescended to reveal himself as their "Father" at the time of the Exodus ( Deuteronomy 32:6 ); and ever since had constantly addressed them, through his prophets, as his "children" ( Exodus 3:22 ; Deuteronomy 32:19 , Deuteronomy 32:20 ; Psalms 80:15 ; Psalms 82:6 ; Psalms 103:13 ; Proverbs 3:12 ; Proverbs 8:32 ; Isaiah 1:2 , Isaiah 1:4 ; Isaiah 30:1 , Isaiah 30:9 ; Isaiah 43:6 ; Isaiah 45:11 ; Isaiah 63:8 ; Hosea 1:10 ; Hosea 11:1 , etc.). Rebellious, backsliding children, indeed, had they been; yet still not wholly renounced, not wholly cast off, not deprived of the name or of the rights of children. Thus they could plead with God his fatherhood ( Isaiah 63:16 ; Isaiah 64:8 ), and therewith claim his tender care, and kind consideration, and merciful forgiveness, and gracious protection, and powerful aid against their enemies. A Father could not but pity his children, could not but be ready, on their turning to him with true penitence and humble confession of sin ( Isaiah 64:5-7 ), to receive them and reinstate them in his favour.

III. GOD WAS THEIR KING . The Israelites were not only God's "children"—they were "his people." He had acknowledged them as such from the days of Moses ( Exodus 3:7 , Exodus 3:10 ; Exodus 7:16 ; Exodus 8:1 , etc.). He had taken them to himself to be his "peculiar treasure—a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" ( Exodus 19:5 , Exodus 19:6 ). He had actually directed the policy of their state, as king, for several centuries ( 8:23 ; 1 Samuel 8:7 ; 1 Samuel 10:19 ; 1 Samuel 12:12 ). They had rejected him, when they insisted on having a king "like the nations" ( 1 Samuel 8:5 ); but, with the Captivity, his kingly right had revived ( Hosea 13:10 ), and they could properly appeal to him as "his people" ( Isaiah 64:9 ).

The Christian Church, "Israel after the Spirit," is equally entitled to make these pleas with "Israel after the flesh." God is their Maker; God is their Father ( Matthew 5:45 , Matthew 5:48 ; Matthew 6:1-9 , etc. ) . Christ is their King ( John 18:36 ). But they have also a further plea; Christ is their Redeemer; he has borne their sins—he has suffered in their stead—he has made atonement for them. In his Name they can "go boldly to the throne of grace" ( Hebrews 4:16 ), secure that they will "obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."