Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 64:6-12

"For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us by means of our iniquities. But now, O Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Be not wroth very sore, O Jehovah, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, look, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. Thy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste. Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Jehovah? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?" — Isaiah 64:6-12 (ASV)

The people of God, in affliction, confess and bewail their sins, acknowledging themselves unworthy of His mercy. Sin is that abominable thing which the Lord hates. Our deeds, whatever they may seem to be, if we think to merit by them from God, are as rags and will not cover us; they are filthy rags and will only defile us. Even our few good works in which there is real excellence, as fruits of the Spirit, are so defective and defiled as we do them, that they need to be washed in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness.

It bodes ill when prayer is withheld. To pray is by faith to take hold of the promises the Lord has made of His goodwill toward us, and to plead them; to take hold of Him, earnestly begging Him not to leave us; or imploring His return. They brought their troubles upon themselves by their own folly. Sinners are blasted, and then carried away, by the wind of their own iniquity; it withers and then ruins them.

When they made themselves like an unclean thing, it is no wonder that God loathed them. Foolish and careless as we are, poor and despised, yet still You are our Father. It is the wrath of a Father we are under, who will be reconciled; and the relief our situation requires is expected only from Him. They commit themselves to God.

They do not say, Lord, do not rebuke us, for that may be necessary; but, Not in Your displeasure. They state their lamentable condition. See what ruin sin brings upon a people; and an outward profession of holiness will be no defense against it. God's people do not presume to tell Him what He shall say, but their prayer is, Speak for the comfort and relief of Your people.

How few call upon the Lord with their whole hearts, or stir themselves to lay hold of Him! God may delay for a time to answer our prayers, but He will, in the end, answer those who call on His name and hope in His mercy.