Isaiah 63

CHAPTER 63

God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption (63:1–6)

1–2 Isaiah envisions a watchman on the city wall calling out to an approaching warrior of great strength and splendor: Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah?²²⁹ The warrior answers: “It is I, the Lord” (verse 1).

In Isaiah’s vision, the Lord has come from Edom where He has been executing judgment upon Edom’s people. His garments are stained with blood; He looks as if He has been treading the winepress²³⁰ (verse 2). The watchman, no doubt, is afraid the Lord is coming to do to Jerusalem what He did to Edom. But the Lord is coming to save, not to judge; He is mighty to save (verse 1).

3–4 The Lord answers the watchman: “I have trodden the winepress alone” (verse 3). In executing judgment, the Lord usually uses one nation to punish another; here, however, He is executing judgment “alone.” This suggests that the judgment in view here will take place at the end of the world, when God’s final judgment will fall.²³¹

In verse 4, the Lord speaks of both vengeance and redemption (see Isaiah 61:2); both are effected through the same events. For example, God’s “vengeance” on Babylon resulted in “redemption” for the Jews. The Old Testament concept of the “kinsman-redeemer” includes both avenging a wrong against a family member and also redeeming a family member from bondage.²³² Thus,with God,vengeance and redemption—judgment and salvation—always exist side by side.

5–6 God found no one who would take the side of justice and relieve the oppressed (see Isaiah 59:16); so He worked salvation by Himself, with His own arm (verse 5). The nations were forced to drink the cup of the Lord’s wrath (Isaiah 51:17), and as a result, they were made drunk (verse 6).

Praise and Prayer (63:7–19)

7–10 In this section, Isaiah offers a prayer on behalf of the people, asking the Lord to bring about the redemption He has promised. Isaiah starts out by reviewing the many good things God has done for His people (verse 7).

God was a Savior to His people (verse 8). He was distressed when they were distressed in Egypt (verse 9); so He saved them through the angel of his presence (see Exodus 14:19–20; 23:20–23; 33:1415). Yet they rebelled in the desert (verse 10) and refused to enter Canaan, the promised land (Numbers 14:1–4). By their disobedience, the people grieved his Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30)—that is, they grieved God Himself, present in their midst. So God turned and became their enemy.

11–14 When God turned away from His people, the people recalled the days of old and asked: Where is he? (verse 11)—where is God? Where is He who brought them through the Red Sea with Moses, their shepherd? Where is He who set his Holy Spirit among them? (see Numbers 11:16–17,24–25). Where is He who divided the waters (see Exodus 14:21–22), and thereby gained everlasting renown? (verse 12). Where is He who led them through the depths of the Jordan River (verse 13) and into the promised land, where they were given rest? (see Deuteronomy 12:10). The rebellious people longed for their God to return to them as in the days of old.

15–19 Here begins Isaiah’s prayer on behalf of Judah’s people, who were at that time being threatened by the Assyrians. They feel that God’s compassion is being withheld from them (verse 15). Isaiah calls God “our Father”; even though Abraham and Israel (Jacob) have “abandoned” their offspring (verse 16), how can God their heavenly Father abandon them?

In verse 17, Isaiah asks: Why, O LORD, do you . . . harden our hearts? Isaiah is almost “blaming” God for the people’s sins. But God only hardens those who have first hardened themselves; God confirms people in their hardness. He “gives them over” to their sins²³³ (Romans 1:24,26,28).

Isaiah pleads with God to return to His people, His inheritance (see Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 4:20). Looking into the future, Isaiah says to God: . . . our enemies (the Babylonians) have trampled down your sanctuary (verse 18). We are yours, Isaiah says (verse 19); why should those who are not yours—who have not been called by your name—be allowed to destroy your sanctuary and your people?

Isaiah’s prayer reflects the feelings of a people who have rebelled against God, lost His protection and blessing, and now recognize their sin. They feel abandoned; they remind God that they are His children and He is their Father. And they ask Him to return to them as before. Many believers have uttered similar prayers, and we know that God hears them; God will never abandon His children, His servants (verse 17), who confess their sins and place their trust in Him.