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, travelling 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 winefat?
3
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. ​
4
For the day of vengeance is in mine 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 fury, it upheld me. ​
6
And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

A Historical Review of God's Mercy

7
I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD 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 lie: 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 vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. ​
11
Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? ​
12
That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
13
That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?
14
As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him 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 is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? ​
16
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. ​
17
O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. ​
18
The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. ​
19
We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they 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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