Isaiah63

The chapter opens with a dramatic vision of the Lord returning from Edom, His garments stained red from treading the winepress of divine wrath against His adversaries. This act of solitary vengeance is contrasted with a remembrance of God's enduring lovingkindness and past salvation towards Israel, despite their rebellion. The chapter concludes with a lament from the people, appealing to God's fatherhood and mercy, questioning His apparent restraint and the desolation of their sanctuary.
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The Divine Warrior and Vengeance

1
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. ​
2
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat?
3
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. ​
4
For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. ​
5
And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my wrath, it upheld me. ​
6
And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.

A Historical Review of God's Mercy

7
I will make mention of the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah, and the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. ​
8
For he said, Surely, they are my people, children that will not deal falsely: so he was their Saviour.
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; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. ​
10
But they rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, andhimself fought against them. ​
11
Then he remembered the days of old, Mosesandhis people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them? ​
12
that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? that divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
13
that led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they stumbled not?
14
As the cattle that go down into the valley, the Spirit of Jehovah caused them to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

A Prayer for Restoration and Mercy

15
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where are thy zeal and thy mighty acts? the yearning of thy heart and thy compassions are restrained toward me. ​
16
For thou art our Father, though Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel doth not acknowledge us: thou, O Jehovah, art our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is thy name. ​
17
O Jehovah, why dost thou make us to err from thy ways, and hardenest our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. ​
18
Thy holy people possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. ​
19
We are become as they over whom thou never barest rule, as they that were not called by thy name.

Study Notes for Isaiah 63

Verse 1

This dramatic dialogue introduces a powerful figure arriving from Edom (a traditional enemy of Israel) and its capital, Bozrah. The figure is covered in red, signaling a recent, violent conflict.

Verse 3

The imagery of treading the winepress is a common biblical metaphor for executing divine judgment (cf. Revelation 14:19-20). The emphasis here is on God performing this act alone, demonstrating His sovereign power.

Verse 4

God’s action is motivated by a set time for both justice against enemies ('the day of vengeance') and deliverance for His people ('the year of my redeemed'). The two purposes are inextricably linked.

Verse 5

This reinforces the theme of divine autonomy. God looked for human help but found none, demonstrating that salvation and judgment are accomplished solely by His 'own arm' (His power).

Verse 7

The tone shifts abruptly from judgment to remembrance and praise. The prophet recalls God's covenant loyalty (Hebrew: *hesed*, translated 'lovingkindness') and goodness toward Israel throughout their history.

Verse 9

This verse presents a profound theological concept: God suffers alongside His people in their affliction. The 'angel of his presence' refers to a visible manifestation of God’s own saving presence, particularly during the Exodus.

Verse 10

The people’s rebellion ('vexed') against the Lord’s guidance resulted in the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit’s saving presence. This is an early and significant reference to the human capacity to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Verse 11

The people or the prophet recall the foundational acts of salvation during the Exodus, appealing to God’s memory of His past faithfulness embodied in Moses and the shepherd of his flock.

Verse 15

This transition begins a communal lament. The people implore God to look down from heaven and reactivate His 'bowels' (a Hebrew idiom referring to deep, gut-level compassion and pity).

Verse 16

The community asserts God’s immediate fatherhood, claiming a relationship that supersedes even the foundational patriarchs (Abraham and Israel/Jacob), who are viewed as distant or 'ignorant' of the current generation's plight.

Verse 17

The lament uses the rhetorical question common in distress, asking why God has allowed them to wander from His path and become hardened. This reflects the deep theological struggle of understanding divine judgment.

Verse 18

This verse likely refers to the destruction of the Temple (the 'sanctuary') and the short duration of time the covenant community was able to possess the land securely, appealing to God to restore their inheritance.

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