Written by Paul J Bucknell on December, 21, 2019

Isaiah 64:1-12, A Bible Study: One Great Desire: Seeking Revival in a Weary World

Even mature believers, like the church of Sardis (Rev. 3:1-3), at times, need wake-up calls. Comfort, ease, and self-absorption with our plans, often preoccupy us. The promises of our wealthy society allure us to sleep while the continual propaganda megaphone repeatedly shouts, “There is no God. God is not relevant.” It is not that we do not go to church or even pray, but God and His Word becomes only part of our lives, rather than the focus of our lives. Isaiah, in chapter 64, calls us to attention on what we so desperately need.

• Name one or two things you like doing the most?

Basic Study Questions on Isaiah 64:1-5

¹ Oh, that Thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Thy presence— 2 As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—To make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Thy presence! 3 When Thou didst awesome things which we did not expect, Thou didst come down, the mountains quaked at Thy presence. 4 For from of old they have not heard nor perceived by ear, Neither has the eye seen a God besides Thee, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. 5 Thou dost meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, who remembers Thee in Thy ways. Behold, Thou wast angry, for we sinned, we continued in them a long time; and shall we be saved?

1. What does Isaiah seek God to do in verse 1? What does that mean?

2. How does he further describe this in verse 2?

3. What does he want to happen when God does those things? See verse 2.

4. Did you ever want God to come down and intervene in some powerful way (3)? When was this? Explain.

5. List three things in the world that you would like “straightened out.”

6. What are several things that might happen if God would more clearly reveal His power in the church?

7. From verse 4, what would you say are the things that Isaiah believes about God.

8. What does Isaiah believe about the way God rewards those who seek Him (see verse 5)?

9. From verse 5, what seemed the spiritual condition of the church at that time?

Basic Study Questions on Isaiah 64:6-12

6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 And there is no one who calls on Thy name, Who arouses himself to take hold of Thee; For Thou hast hidden Thy face from us, And hast delivered us into the power of our iniquities. 8 But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand. 9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, Neither remember iniquity forever; Behold, look now, all of us are Thy people. 10 Thy holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and beautiful house, Where our fathers praised Thee, Has been burned by fire; And all our precious things have become a ruin. 12 Wilt Thou restrain Thyself at these things, O LORD? Wilt Thou keep silent and afflict us beyond measure? (Isaiah 64:1-12)

1. What are two or three descriptions of God’s people given in verse 6?

2. Do you find what Isaiah says in verse 7 is true of the church today? Why or why not?

3. What does Isaiah address in verse 8 after the confession?

4. What about verse 9? Have you ever asked the Lord not to be angry with you or the church? Explain.

5. Instead of being general as above describing the problems that they were encountering, he jumps from addressing the effect of sin on a person’s life to the affect upon society in verses 10-11. List some of these signs of devastation. How would you say that the prevalence of sin has affected our society?

6. What does Isaiah ask the Lord in verse 12? Describe what he means by putting it in your own words.

7. How do his questions in verse 12 compare to what he begins with in verse 1?

8. How important is it to you that God visits our personal lives, our families, our churches, and society?

9. Would you say that our churches as a whole need a wake-up call? Pray together and seek the Lord for revival.