Isaiah 64:4

O God. Better, “a God.” The objective case seems to be required by the context rather than the vocative. The forms are identical in the Hebrew. The passage may be literally translated, “From of old they have not heard, they have not perceived with the ear, eye hath not seen a God beside thee who works for the one waiting for him.” Compare the translation of the ASV as quoted in MH 425. The willingness of God to intervene in crises is here extolled. No other god works for his devotees as does the living God. The reference is not to the unspeakable glories of the future world, though the words as they are quoted in 1 Cor. 2:9 have been applied in that way (see GC 675), as well as to the present (see PP 602; DA 412). The LXX shows slight variations: “From of old we have not heard, neither have our eyes seen a God beside thee, and thy works which thou wilt perform to them that wait for mercy.” Paul’s quotation also reveals some differences. The NT passage may be translated literally, “The things which eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, and upon the heart of man has not come, all of which God has prepared for those loving him.” Paul’s emphasis is upon spiritual understanding. He calls attention to the reason why the “princes of this world” “crucified the Lord of glory.” They did not possess the spiritual understanding that would have caused them to comprehend “the wisdom of God.” Spiritual things are to be “spiritually discerned.”

What the natural senses have not perceived without God, God has revealed by His Spirit to those who love Him. To men who possess spiritual discernment there is opened a new world, a world closed to those whose spiritual sensitivities are dulled.