Isaiah 30:18

The Lord Will Not Abandon His People

30:18 For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy;

he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. ¹ 

Indeed, the Lord is a just God;

all who wait for him in faith will be blessed. ² 

Isaiah 8:17

8:17 I will wait patiently for the Lord,

who has rejected the family of Jacob; ³ 

I will wait for him.

Isaiah 64:4

64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, ⁴ 

no eye has seen any God besides you,

who intervenes for those who wait for him.

[30:18]  ¹ tn Heb “Therefore the Lord waits to show you mercy, and therefore he is exalted to have compassion on you.” The logical connection between this verse and what precedes is problematic. The point seems to be that Judah’s impending doom does not bring God joy. Rather the prospect of their suffering stirs within him a willingness to show mercy and compassion, if they are willing to seek him on his terms.

[30:18]  ² tn Heb “Blessed are all who wait for him.”

[8:17]  ³ tn Heb “who hides his face from the house of Jacob.”

[64:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “from ancient times they have not heard, they have not listened.”