Advent · First Sunday in Advent · Year B
Isaiah 64:1-9
Praise and Prayer
November 29, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down.” (Isaiah 64:1)
As the chiasm in chapters 56–66 treads its return path, the vision of the battling warrior (63:1–6) paired with the one in 59:15b–20. This prayer, then, pairs with the prayer in 59:9–15a. As the new vision was bloodier, the new prayer is much longer and more urgent. It has the features of a lament on the part of the community such as those that appear in the Psalms and in Lamentations, but like some of them (and like chapter 62) it unfolds as more of a stream of consciousness and closes with a question. It does suggest an alternating between confrontation (63:7–14, 17–19; 64:5–7) and plea (63:15–16; 64:1–4, 8–12), but elements of confession, questioning, prayer, appeal, and accusation interweave and repeat without forming a consistent pattern.
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Commentary
Commentary on Isaiah 64:1-9 | Working Preacher Working Preacher
The Lutheran voice, reused because this Advent 1 (Year B) reading matches the live RCL page.
Isaiah 64:1-9 Commentary | Center for Excellence in Preaching Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed reading of the 'tear open the heavens' cry as the mood of Advent.
Isaiah 64 | Enduring Word Bible Commentary (David Guzik) Enduring Word · David Guzik
Verse-by-verse evangelical exposition of the prayer for God to come down.
Isaiah 64:1 Commentaries | Bible Hub BibleHub
Classic pulpit and critical commentaries assembled at the opening plea.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah 64 | Sefaria Sefaria
The Hebrew text with JPS translation and linked Jewish commentary.
Isaiah 64:1 Hebrew Interlinear | Bible Hub BibleHub
Hebrew-English interlinear with parsing and Strong's numbers for the potter-and-clay imagery.
Isaiah | Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Background on Isaiah's setting and the post-exilic voice of chapters 56-66.
Isaiah 40-66 Overview | BibleProject BibleProject
An animated overview of Isaiah's second half, where this lament sits.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is the cry of Isaiah 64?
It is Advent's deepest prayer: that God would tear open the sky and come. The people confess their sin and appeal to the potter, “we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
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