Isaiah 63
-There is a question as to who
this one coming from Edom is. This appears to be some sort of watchman on the
wall of Jerusalem. The glowing colors of red apparel portray the lifeblood that
the One coming has taken in His righteous vengeance. He is majestic in
appearance as He comes with victory over the enemy as the One “mighty to save.”
He has trampled the enemy in His anger and wrath, which has stained His raiment
“for the day of vengeance,” He says, “was in My heart, and My year of
redemption has come (Isaiah 63:1-4).” No one was there to help or uphold Him,
but His own Arm was able to bring salvation to Himself as He trod down the
peoples in His wrath and anger. These enemies of the LORD were made drunk on
His wrath, and He poured out their lifeblood on the earth (Isaiah 63:5-6).
*Application* This is the ultimate recompense of the LORD against all those
that oppose Him. Make sure that you get on His good side by faith in His grace
and mercy shown to us by Jesus Christ, the Savior.
-From verses 7 through 14 God’s
ancient mercies are recounted into the present circumstance in which Isaiah was
writing. The prophet does well to make mention of the LORD’s lovingkindnesses
at this point, least we get the notion that He is cruel and a tyrant. God had
granted to Israel all His love, devotion, and goodness over many centuries and
millennia. His abundance of lovingkindnesses demonstrated that surely these
were His covenant people. “He became their Savior. In all their affliction, He
was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His
mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old
(Isaiah 63:8-9).” However, the God of the universe turned on them as they
rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. He fought against them until they would
remember the days of old, of Moses, when He delivered them from their
oppression and slavery by great and mighty miracles and wonders. “The Spirit of
the LORD gave them rest” in these days of old as He led them and made for
Himself a glorious Name (Isaiah 63:14). *Application* God’s favor is shown is
His patient persistence with His people. He gets the glory for His
lovingkindnesses and mercy, even when His people screw up. While His wrath
lasts for a night, His overcoming joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
-The remaining five verses of the
chapter articulate the fact that the LORD is Israel’s Father in every sense. As
He looks down from heaven and sees His holy and glorious habitation, the
questions are asked as to why His zeal and mighty deeds, the stirring of His
heart, and His compassion have been restrained. The Redeemer, which is His
Name, is somehow accused of causing the straying of the people from His ways
and hardening the hearts of people from fearing Him. The plea is sent out to
return His ultimate favor for the sake of His servants, the tribes of His
heritage. Their adversaries had at that time trodden down the LORD’s sanctuary,
whereas the holy people had possessed it for a little while before. At the time
of the prophetic writing the nation of Israel had become like those God had
never ruled and like those who had never been called by His Name. *Application*
What a blessing it is to recall a former glory and repair the breaches in a
current bad situation. God reminds here that what is broke can be fixed as long
as we are children of the King. He is our Father and our Redeemer!
Verse to Memorize: Isaiah 63:10
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