Isaiah 63:15-19

``You Are Our Father"

15 1Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious 2habitation; Where are Your 3zeal and Your mighty deeds? The 4stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.
16 For You are our 5Father, though 6Abraham does not know us And Israel does not recognize us. You, O LORD, are our Father, Our 7Redeemer from of old is Your name.
17 Why, O LORD, do You 8cause us to stray from Your ways And 9harden our heart from fearing You? 10Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
18 Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while, Our adversaries have 11trodden it down.
19 We have become like those over whom You have never * * ruled, Like those who were not called by Your name.

Isaiah 63:15-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 63

This chapter contains a prophecy of the vengeance of Christ upon the enemies of his church in the latter day, whereby complete salvation would be obtained for them; and this illustrated by the mercies of God to the people of Israel of old; and is concluded with the church s prayer to him. The account of the vengeance taken by Christ on his enemies is introduced by a colloquy between him and his church; who puts a question, in which he is described by the places from whence he came, by his apparel, and by his manner of walking; to which he returns an answer, Isa 63:1, then a second question is put, about the colour of his garments; for which he gives a reason, Isa 63:2,3 it being the time of his vengeance on his enemies, and of the redemption of his people, Isa 63:4 the manner in which he performed both is observed, Isa 63:5 and the thorough work he would make; and the entire riddance of all his enemies is determined upon, Isa 63:6, which puts the prophet, or the church, in mind of former mercies bestowed upon Israel of old, the peculiar people and children of God, the Lord had a great opinion of, and favour for, whom he dealt very tenderly with, and redeemed, and saved, and preserved, Isa 63:7-9 though they acted an ungrateful part to him, which is aggravated by the various kind steps of Providence, in leading them through the Red sea, guiding them in the wilderness, and bringing them to rest safely in Canaan's land, for his own glory, Isa 63:10-14 and all is closed with the church's prayer to God, imploring his grace and mercy; pleading relation to him; expostulating with him about their present case, and observing the difference between them and their enemies, Isa 63:15-19 and which prayer is continued in the next chapter.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Deuteronomy 26:15; Psalms 80:14
  • 2. Psalms 68:5; Psalms 123:1
  • 3. Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 26:11; Isaiah 37:32; Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 59:17
  • 4. Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 11:8
  • 5. Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 64:8
  • 6. Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 51:2
  • 7. Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 60:16
  • 8. Isaiah 30:28; Ezekiel 14:7-9
  • 9. Isaiah 29:13, 14
  • 10. Numbers 10:36
  • 11. Psalms 74:3-7; Isaiah 64:11
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