Isaiah chapter 63
The return of the LORD God in splendor and glory. The remnant prays for release from Babylon.
THE RETURN OF THE LORD GOD IN SPLENDOR AND GLORY
VERSE 1. Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
glorious in his clothing. The LORD God is robed in splendor.
That signifies his power and glory.
VERSE 2. Why is your clothing red, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?
your clothing red. The LORD God’s garments are spattered with blood.
VERSE 3. “I have trodden the wine press alone. Of the peoples, no one was with me. Yes, I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic, by Julia Ward Howe, includes this line:
Mine eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Lord: He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
VERSE 4. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.
VERSE 5. I looked, and there was no one to help; and I wondered that there was no one to uphold. Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me. My own wrath upheld me.
my own arm brought salvation. The LORD God personally intervenes.
VERSE 6. I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath. I poured their lifeblood out on the earth.”
THE REMNANT PRAYS FOR RELEASE FROM BABYLON
VERSE 7. I will tell of the loving kindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has given to us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has given to them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
I will tell. This section records a prayer by the remnant. The Bible describes a uniquely faithful group of believers called “the remnant.” Are they Jewish or Christians? Now or in the future? Who are they really? Read more »
the loving kindnesses of the LORD. The hereos of the Old Testament were awed by the mercy of the LORD God.
VERSE 8. For he said, “Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely;” so he became their Savior.
he became their Savior. The LORD God personally intervenes.
VERSE 9. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. He bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
NLT translation. In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.
NAB translation. in their every affliction. It was not a messemger or an angel but he himself who saved them. Because of his love and pity he redeemed them himself, Lifting and carrying them all the days of old.
In all their suffering he also suffered. When other people benefit, we rejoice. When other people suffer, we suffer along with them. Read more »
VERSE 10. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them.
they … grieved his Holy Spirit. Let’s not do that!
Ephesians 4:30. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
VERSE 11. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among them?”
the shepherds of his flock. The Lord Jesus is the great Shepherd. He lays down his life for his people. He knows them, and they know him. Read more »
his Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Spirit is not mentioned often. However, the Spirit was indeed present and interacted with us humans. Read more »
VERSE 12. Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
VERSE 13. Who led them through the depths, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble?
VERSE 14. As the livestock that go down into the valley, the LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest. So you led your people to make yourself a glorious name.
the LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest. The way of Jesus leads to rest. His is a gentle yoke. He longs to lift our burdens and give us rest. Read more »
VERSE 15. Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. Where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.
VERSE 16. For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, LORD, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.
BBE translation. For you are our father, though Abraham has no knowledge of us, and Israel gives no thought to us: you, O Lord, are our father; from the earliest days you have taken up our cause.
You, LORD, are our Father. This might be the very first Old Testament reference to the LORD God as “Father.”
The Lord Jesus Christ called the LORD God his Father. Was he hearkening back to this verse?
VERSE 17. O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance.
harden our heart. Their hearts were hard. They blame the LORD God for it.
Return. They ask the LORD God to cure their hard hearts.
VERSE 18. Your holy people possessed it but a little while. Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.
VERSE 19. We have become like those over whom you never ruled, like those who were not called by your name.
those who were not called by your name. They had been the LORD’s people. They had been called by his name.
But they fell away.
Luke 12:48b. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (NIV translation)
ISAIAH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, True Fasting
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.