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Read Isaiah 63
God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption
63 Who is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, proclaiming victory,
mighty to save.”
2 Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress?
3 “I have trodden the winepress alone;
from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;
their blood spattered my garments,
and I stained all my clothing.
4 It was for me the day of vengeance;
the year for me to redeem had come.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm achieved salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me.
6 I trampled the nations in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk
and poured their blood on the ground.”
Praise and Prayer
7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,
the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things
he has done for Israel,
according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
8 He said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will be true to me”;
and so he became their Savior.
9 In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old.
10 Yet they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy
and he himself fought against them.
11 Then his people recalled the days of old,
the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,
with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is he who set
his Holy Spirit among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm of power
to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters before them,
to gain for himself everlasting renown,
13 who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in open country,
they did not stumble;
14 like cattle that go down to the plain,
they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is how you guided your people
to make for yourself a glorious name.
15 Look down from heaven and see,
from your lofty throne, holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal and your might?
Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.
16 But you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us
or Israel acknowledge us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17 Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways
and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes that are your inheritance.
18 For a little while your people possessed your holy place,
but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
19 We are yours from of old;
but you have not ruled over them,
they have not been called by your name.
Go Deeper
Commentator Warren Wiersbe explains, “Whenever a prophet foretold the future, it was to awaken the people to their responsibilities in the present. Bible prophecy isn’t entertainment for the curious; it’s encouragement for the serious.” This is a great explanation of what’s happening in Isaiah 63.
In the first six verses of this chapter, Isaiah gives a prophecy of the great Second Coming, and it seems to have done its job in awakening the Israelites to their situation. Isaiah reminds them that not only will their Messiah come to save them through His birth and resurrection, He will come again in vengeance to proclaim ultimate and eternal victory.
We see in the verses following this prophecy that the Israelites begin to recount all of the ways that God has provided and cared for them. This was the God that redeemed them, saved them from Egypt, and brought them across the depths of the Red Sea. This was the God that called them His children and who guided them safely through enemy territory. And yet, they had “rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit.” (v. 10).
Isaiah’s prophetic words and warnings seem to awaken their love for God and encourage their devotion to Him, because the chapter concludes with a prayer to Him in recognition of His glory. They acknowledge the need for His mercy and grace and beg for Him to no longer withhold His tenderness and compassion from them.
We will see this prayer continue through Isaiah 64 tomorrow and then read how God answers the Israelites in Isaiah 65. But for today, we can learn by putting ourselves in their shoes. We can spend time thinking about the future Second Coming and ultimate victory that we are promised, so that it awakens us to our current responsibilities. Instead of curiously reading this for entertainment, we can recognize the encouragement it provides. The very same God that brought the Israelites across the desert, also has a promised land for us.
He is still capable of making the impossible possible. He is still able to and delights in moving the unmovable. He forgives the unforgivable, and He loves the unlovable. He finds joy in making the unknown known. He is the Father to the fatherless, and Hope for the hopeless. Today as we focus on His character, ask Him to realign your heart with His and awaken your love and devotion to Him just as He did for the Israelites.
Questions
- What characteristics of God mean the most to you?
- What sea do you need God to part for you right now? Spend time being honest with Him about this need.
- How has God shown you His steadfast love (Isaiah 63:7), and how can you offer your gratitude to Him?
A Quote
“It is good to pause in our lives and just recount the steadfast love of the Lord. The praises of the Lord according to all the Lord has granted us.” – David Platt
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3 thoughts on “Isaiah 63”
One of the very hardest things for me to do is to be still. I am almost 60 years old and if my mom were still living she would still be putting her fingernails in my leg to make me sit still during church I am sure, LOL! It is also hard for my mind to to be still. I believe this is what God is wanting me to work on this year for my life. To be still for Him and in that still meditate on Him, listen better to Him, lean into Him, rest in Him, learn to empty the world and put Him in my swirling brain. I know this will grow my love for Him with far greater understanding as well. BUT GOD has shown me His steadfast love faithfully even when I have only been playing “church”. His Love has been swirling through my heart wanting a permanent attachment. I praise God that He does not nor did not give up on me.
Thank You God for Your steadfast Love. Thank You for never giving up. Thank You for showing me how to pursue You that will grow our relationship. Thank You for “hesed” love. Once again I know not enough adjectives to be able to give You the praise, adoration, thanksgiving, worship, blessing, honor, that You are beyond words to receive. I Love You!! in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!! WOOHOO!!! WOOHOO!!!
A characteristic of God that resonates in my heart is that “he is Lord and is mighty to save”. He’s no impotent, imposter god, but One who brings eternal salvation. He pulls back the curtain of darkness and in his great love, goodness and mercy delivers the Savior to personally rescue an undeserving and rebellious people. He steps into our messy, broken places to be with us and give us rest. V10 piercingly describes grieving the Holy Spirit by willful disobedience. Paul in Ephesians 4:30 instructs “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” The presence of the Holy Spirit in us validates that we belong to God, that our faith is genuine, and a transformation is taking place in our hearts that mirrors his likeness. Reflecting and repenting must mark our days, for surely we are guilty of grieving his spirit.
In this passage, I read how human Isaiah was. Isn’t it like us during confusion and sorrow that we reflect on the days of old? Or that we recall wonderful, happier recollections of our past to comfort us? I see Isaiah doing that here by not reminding God, but reminding himself maybe to regain strength, faith, or hope, or just simply to have a real, intimate conversation with God. By Isaiah’s example, I’m reminded that prayer with God is expressing the realness of our feelings even though He already knows them. Isaiah clearly calls out God and His reasons for making the Israelites wander and have hardened hearts. Tony Evans mentioned yesterday the meaning of prayer is to bring down God’s will to earth. I see that in v 15 when Isaiah pleads with God to look down from His throne on them.
My eyes still focus on the arm of God that is repeated in Isaiah (v 5 & 12). How to have that arm of power and love wrapped around me one day will surpass anyone’s hug! To be greeted in death, or by the coming of Jesus, with those arms open wide is just unimaginable! That feeling of being finally safe, and at home, in the arms of Jesus! That longing right there gives me the will to stay the course in front of me. And just maybe, this is why some hugs are miraculously given to people. 🤗🙌🏻🙏🏻