Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 6:11-12

"Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste, and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land." — Isaiah 6:11-12 (ASV)

Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

So it happened, as you know, the people were carried away captive; they still refused and would not even believe until Christ came. Then the destruction of Jerusalem and the sweeping clear of their country was the final stroke of God.

But yet in it shall be a tenth. There is always a gleam of light from God's grace in the thickest darkness of his justice. God has his tithe.

Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the Cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

This was a heavy task for the prophet; he had no news of God's relenting, no signs of divine mercy.