Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 63:17-18

"O Jehovah, why dost thou make us to err from thy ways, and hardenest our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants` sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. Thy holy people possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary." — Isaiah 63:17-18 (ASV)

O LORD, why have you made us err from your ways, and hardened our heart from your fear? Return for your servants' sake, the tribes of your inheritance. The people of your holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary. We are yours: you never bore rule over them; they were not called by your name.

I pointed out to you, at the beginning of our reading, that this chapter appropriately follows the preceding one. It is itself most suitably followed by chapter 64. Indeed, the first verse of that chapter belongs to this one, and should not have been separated from it.

God's people, in their low estate, recognized that deliverance must come from the Lord alone, so they prayed, Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might flow down at your presence, as when the melting fire burns, the fire causes the waters to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!

God bless the reading of his Word, and give us his presence during the whole of the service, for Christ's sake. Amen!