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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.

The Divine Warrior and Vengeance

1
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” ​
2
Why are you red in your clothing, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?
3
“I have trodden the wine press alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. ​
4
For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. ​
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; and my wrath, it upheld me. ​
6
I trod down the peoples in my 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 loving kindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. ​
8
For he said, “Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely:” so he was their Savior.
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 bore 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, and he himself fought against them. ​
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 in their midst? ​
12
who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
13
who led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble?
14
As the livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused them to rest; so you led your people, to make yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer for Restoration and Mercy

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. ​
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. ​
17
O LORD, why do you make us to err from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance. ​
18
Your holy people possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary. ​
19
We have become as they over whom you never bear rule, as those who were 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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