THE ABSENCE OF IMPORTUNATE PRAYER DEPLORED
Isaiah 64:7. There is none that … stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee.
THE SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT AND LAMENTATION. Not the neglect of ordinances, or the lack of profession, &c., but the lack of importunate prayer. How wonderful the permission and privilege here implied! The meaning is obvious. Similar expressions occur (Isaiah 27:5; Isaiah 56:6). These are representations of one act—the act of believing with the heart unto righteousness. But this is not mainly intended, but that of those who had taken hold of the covenant for salvation none was stirring up himself to take hold of God by importunate, wrestling, prevailing prayer. It is not every kind of prayer that can be thus designated. There is a holy violence about such supplication. In prayer we take hold of God—
1. By pleading His perfections. These constitute the encouragement of prayer. Thus Jacob, &c. God does nothing contrary to His perfections, but He is pleased to permit His people to plead these, and wait for their illustration.
2. By pleading His relations to His Church. What parent can hear unmoved the cry of his own offspring, &c. (Isaiah 63:15-19). Such pleadings affect our own mind, and put us into a right frame to receive answers.
3. By pleading the promises of His Word.
4. By remembering His former interpositions.
5. By absolute submission to His will.
II. THE FACTS IMPLIED IN THE EXISTENCE OF THE APATHY MOURNED.
1. That few if any were striving after eminent piety.
2. That in taking hold of God we are to use appropriate means.
3. That the work is individual and personal.
4. That extraordinary methods were to be adopted—
(1) Obtain solemn impressions of Divine realities.
(2) Secure extraordinary times for prayer.
(3) Exercise holy watching, &c.
III. THE EVILS TO BE DEPRECATED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEGLECT OF THIS DUTY.
1. In the dishonour done to God.
2. In the advantage withheld from the Church. 3. In the benefit we ourselves lose.
4. In our neglected obligation to benefit the world.—George Smith, D.D.
I. The nature of prayer described. II. The neglect of prayer deplored. III. The encouragement of prayer suggested.—S. Thodey. (See also G. Brooks’ Outlines, p. 229–231.)
Isaiah 64:8. God’s people are distinguished—I. By their childlike confidence. II. Their implicit submission to His will. III. Their grateful acknowledgment of their dependence.
Isaiah 64:9. I. The evil deprecated—God’s anger. Merited. Acknowledged. II. The terms in which it is deprecated. Imply the justice of God’s procedure. Beseech a limitation of its severity. III. The plea by which it is deprecated. Humble. Confident. Founded in God’s covenant relation to His people.
Isaiah 64:10-11. Sin—I. Turns a scene of beauty into desolation. II. Profanes what is most sacred. III. Embitters what is most sacred in the associations of memory. IV. Destroys all that is most pleasant.—J. Lyth, D.D.