Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 64:1-5

"Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence, as when fire kindleth the brushwood, [and] the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence. For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God besides thee, who worketh for him that waiteth for him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou wast wroth, and we sinned: in them [have we been] of long time; and shall we be saved?" — Isaiah 64:1-5 (ASV)

They desire that God would manifest Himself to them and for them, so that all may see it. This is applicable to the second coming of Christ, when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. They plead what God had previously done, and had declared His gracious purpose to do, for His people.

They need not fear being disappointed by it, for it is sure; or finding it lacking, for it is sufficient. The happiness of His people is bound up in what God has designed for them, is preparing for them, and is preparing them for—what He has done or will do. Can we believe this, and then think anything too great to expect from His truth, power, and love?

It is spiritual and cannot be comprehended by human understanding. It is always ready. See what communion there is between a gracious God and a gracious soul. We must make it a matter of conscience to do our duty in everything the Lord our God requires. You meet him; this speaks His freeness and readiness in doing them good.

Though God has been angry with us for our sins, and justly, yet His anger has soon ended; but in His favor is life, which goes on and continues, and on that we depend for our salvation.