Man Not Heard, Nor Perceived

[Isa. 64:4] For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Men have not heard nor seen what G-d has prepared for those that wait for Him. Observe the character of G-d's people; they are such as wait for Him in the way of duty, wait for the salvation He has promised and designed for them.
It is all that goodness which G-d has laid up for those that fear Him, and wrought for those that trust in Him, Psalms 31:19. Of this it is here said that since the beginning of the world, in the most prying and inquisitive ages of it, men have not, either by hearing or seeing, the two learning senses, come to the full knowledge of it.
It cannot be fully comprehended by the human understanding, no, not when it is revealed; it is spiritual, and refined from those ideas which our minds are most apt to receive in this world of sense; it is very great, and will far outdo the utmost of our expectations. Even the present peace of believers, much more their future bliss, is such as surpasses all conception and expression, Philippians 4:7. None can comprehend it but G-d Himself, whose understanding is infinite.
6] But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
We are all as an unclean thing, or as an unclean person, as one overspread with a leprosy, who was to be shut out of the camp, or like one laboring under some loathsome disease, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot nothing but wounds and bruises, 1:6. We have all by sin become not only obnoxious to G-d's justice, but odious to His holiness; for sin is that abominable thing which the L-rd hates, and cannot endure to look upon. Even all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Our performances, though they be ever so plausible, if we depend upon them as our righteousness and think to merit by them at G-d's hand, are as filthy rags--rags, and will not cover us--filthy rags, and will but defile us.
When we would do good evil is present with us; and the iniquity of our holy things would be our ruin if we were under the Law.
8] But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Foolish and careless as we are, poor and despised and trampled upon as we are by our enemies, yet still thou art our Father; to thee therefore we return in our repentance, as the prodigal arose and came to his father; to thee we address ourselves by prayer; from whom should we expect relief and succor but from our Father?
“We are all as an unclean thing, but we are all the work of His hands, therefore do away our uncleanness that we may be fit for His use, the use we were made for. We are the work of His hands, therefore forsake us not," Psalms 138:8.
It is a sore affliction to good people to see G-d's sanctuary laid waste and nothing done towards the raising of it out of its ruins. But G-d has said that He will not contend for ever, and therefore His people may depend upon it that their afflictions shall be neither to extremity nor to eternity, but light and for a moment.
This was not only intended for the use of the captive Jews, but may serve for direction to the church in other times of distress, what to ask of G-d and how to plead with Him. Are G-d's people at any time in affliction, in great affliction? Let them pray, let them thus pray for the Divine Presence!
They plead what G-d had been used to do, and had declared His gracious purpose to do, for His people in general. The provision He has made for the safety and happiness of His people, even of all those that seek Him, and serve Him, and trust in Him, is very rich and very ready, so that they need not fear being either disappointed of it, for it is sure, or disappointed in it, for it is sufficient.