Isaiah 64:5

Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

Thou meetest {H6293} him that rejoiceth {H7797} and worketh {H6213} righteousness {H6664}, those that remember {H2142} thee in thy ways {H1870}: behold, thou art wroth {H7107}; for we have sinned {H2398}: in those is continuance {H5769}, and we shall be saved {H3467}.

You favored those who were glad to do justice, those who remembered you in your ways. When you were angry, we kept sinning; but if we keep your ancient ways, we will be saved.

You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?

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 64:5 is a powerful verse from a prayer of lament and confession, reflecting the prophet's deep understanding of God's character and humanity's fallen state, yet clinging to hope.

Context

This verse is part of a communal prayer found in Isaiah 63:7–64:12, where the prophet Isaiah intercedes on behalf of a sinful Israel. The people are in a state of distress, likely facing the consequences of their disobedience, and they are crying out to God for intervention and restoration. They recall God's mighty acts of salvation in the past and contrast His holiness with their own deep-seated sinfulness. The prayer acknowledges God's righteous anger but appeals to His enduring mercy and covenant faithfulness.

Key Themes

  • God's Favor for the Righteous: The verse begins by highlighting God's positive response to those who live righteously and joyfully obey Him. God "meetest" (or meets, welcomes, favors) such individuals, indicating His pleasure and blessing upon them. This emphasizes that God rewards faithfulness.
  • Human Sin and Divine Wrath: In stark contrast, the prophet then confesses the nation's pervasive sin, which has provoked God's "wrath." This acknowledges that God's anger is a just response to rebellion and unrighteousness, a necessary consequence for those who stray from His ways.
  • Hope in God's Enduring Character: Despite the confession of sin and recognition of divine wrath, the verse concludes with a profound statement of hope: "in those is continuance, and we shall be saved." This implies that salvation is rooted not in humanity's fleeting goodness, but in the eternal, unchanging nature of God's ways and His covenant faithfulness. Even when humanity fails, God's character provides the basis for hope and restoration.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "rejoiceth and worketh righteousness" suggests that true righteousness is not merely external adherence to laws but an inner delight in doing what is right, coupled with active obedience. It reflects a heart that genuinely seeks to do what the Lord requires.
  • "Remember thee in thy ways" implies more than just intellectual recollection; it signifies living in active accordance with God's established paths, commands, and character.
  • The word translated "continuance" in "in those is continuance" comes from the Hebrew word ‘olam (עוֹלָם), which often means "eternity," "everlasting," or "long duration." Here, it likely refers to the eternal and unchanging nature of God's ways or His enduring faithfulness. It is because God's character and principles are eternal that there is a basis for salvation, even for a sinful people. This echoes the sentiment that God's mercies never cease.

Practical Application

Isaiah 64:5 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. It calls us to:

  1. Examine Ourselves: We must honestly assess our own lives, acknowledging where we fall short of God's righteous standards.
  2. Confess Sin: True repentance begins with a humble confession of our sins, recognizing that they provoke God's just displeasure.
  3. Trust in God's Character: Our hope for salvation and restoration does not lie in our own merits but in the unchanging, eternal nature of God's mercy and His righteous ways. He remains faithful even when we are not.
  4. Pursue Righteousness with Joy: We are encouraged to live lives that genuinely reflect God's ways, finding delight in obedience, knowing that He favors those who earnestly seek Him.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Philippians 3:13

    Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

  • Philippians 3:15

    ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

  • Hebrews 4:16

    Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

  • Acts 10:35

    But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

  • Exodus 25:22

    And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which [are] upon the ark of the testimony, of all [things] which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

  • Isaiah 63:10

    But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them.

  • Exodus 29:42

    [This shall be] a continual burnt offering throughout your generations [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

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