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 coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” ​
2
Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?
3
“I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ​
4
For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come. ​
5
I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled that no one assisted. So My arm brought Me salvation, and My own wrath upheld Me. ​
6
I trampled the nations in My anger; in My wrath I made them drunk and poured out their blood on the ground.”

A Historical Review of God's Mercy

7
I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion and His praiseworthy acts, because of all that the LORD has done for us— the many good things for the house of Israel according to His great compassion and loving devotion. ​
8
For He said, “They are surely My people, sons who will not be disloyal.” So He became their Savior.
9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. ​
10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them. ​
11
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, ​
12
who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown,
13
who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?
14
Like cattle going down to the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led Your people this way to make for Yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer for Restoration and Mercy

15
Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained. ​
16
Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name. ​
17
Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage. ​
18
For a short while Your people possessed Your holy place, but our enemies have trampled Your sanctuary. ​
19
We have become like those You never ruled, like those not called by Your 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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