Isaiah 63
63
1Who is this coming from Edom, from the town of Bozrah#63:1. Bozrah was an important Edomite town. with clothes stained crimson? Who is this wearing robes of splendor, leaning forward in his great strength as he marches?#63:1. Once again, quotation marks are avoided in translating the books of the prophets due to the problems of deciding which are the prophet's own words and which are the Lord's. Since the prophets were speaking for the Lord, the distinction is a minor one. In this passage where there appears to be a dialogue going on, the change in speaker is represented by a new paragraph.
It is me, the one who always speaks goodness and truth, the one who has the power to save.
2Why are your clothes red, like you've been treading grapes in a winepress?
3I've been treading the winepress by myself; from the nations around no one came to help me. So in my anger I trod them down as if they were grapes, in my fury I trampled them. It's their blood that has stained my clothes. 4For I decided this was the day of my vengeance; the year of my redemption has come. 5I looked around, but no one came to help; I was shocked that there was no one to assist me. So I saved them through my own strength alone, and my own anger kept me going. 6I trampled down the nations in my anger; in my fury I made them drunk, and spilled their blood upon the ground.
7I want to tell everyone about the Lord's trustworthy love. I will praise the Lord for everything he's done for us—all the good things he has done for the descendants of Israel because of his kindness and his infinite trustworthy love. 8He said, “Aren't they my people, children who wouldn't lie to me?” So he became their Savior. 9He suffered with them in all their suffering, and the angel of his presence#63:9. “The angel of his presence”: the exact implications of this phrase have been debated so is left as usually translated. Angel means messenger. In whatever case, it is God who is the “agent of salvation.” saved them. In his love and kindness he redeemed them. He picked them up and carried them all throughout those years long ago. 10But they rebelled against him, and caused his Holy Spirit grief, so to them he became like an enemy and he fought against them.
11Then they#63:11. “They”: the Hebrew text reads “he” at this point, and so could refer to the Lord. However, in the context of what follows, it is more likely that this refers to the Israelites. thought back to the days of old when Moses led his people out of Egypt. They shouted out, “Where is the one who took Israel through the sea, along with the shepherds of his flock? Where is the one who placed his Holy Spirit among his people? 12Where is the one who lifted Moses' right hand, and who used his amazing power to divide the sea in front of them, giving him such a wonderful, enduring reputation? 13Where is the one who led them through the depths of the sea?” They were like a horse running through the desert, they didn't stumble. 14Like cattle descending into a valley, the Lord's Spirit gave them rest. This is how you led your people, earning a glorious reputation for yourself.
15Lord, look down on us from heaven! Watch from your high home, in your holiness and glory! Where is your enthusiasm and power? You're not showing me your feelings of sympathy and kindness! 16But you are still our Father, even though Abraham wouldn't know us and Israel wouldn't acknowledge us. You, Lord, are our Father; you have always been called our Redeemer from long ago. 17Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways, and make us stubborn so we don't respect you? Come back to us for the sake of your servants, the tribes that belong to you. 18Your Temple belonged to us for a little while, but then our enemies invaded and destroyed it. 19We were yours from ancient times, but we've ended up like people you've never ruled, never identified as yours.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Isaiah 63
63
Judgment against the Lord’s Enemies
1Who is this who comes from Edom,
from the city of Bozrah,
with his clothing stained red?
Who is this in royal robes,
marching in his great strength?
“It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation!
It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”
2Why are your clothes so red,
as if you have been treading out grapes?
3“I have been treading the winepress alone;
no one was there to help me.
In my anger I have trampled my enemies
as if they were grapes.
In my fury I have trampled my foes.
Their blood has stained my clothes.
4For the time has come for me to avenge my people,
to ransom them from their oppressors.
5I was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.
So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm,
and my wrath sustained me.
6I crushed the nations in my anger
and made them stagger and fall to the ground,
spilling their blood upon the earth.”
Praise for Deliverance
7I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love.
I will praise the Lord for all he has done.
I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel,
which he has granted according to his mercy and love.
8He said, “They are my very own people.
Surely they will not betray me again.”
And he became their Savior.
9In all their suffering he also suffered,
and he personally#63:9 Hebrew and the angel of his presence. rescued them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them.
He lifted them up and carried them
through all the years.
10But they rebelled against him
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he became their enemy
and fought against them.
11Then they remembered those days of old
when Moses led his people out of Egypt.
They cried out, “Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea,
with Moses as their shepherd?
Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit
to be among his people?
12Where is the one whose power was displayed
when Moses lifted up his hand—
the one who divided the sea before them,
making himself famous forever?
13Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea?
They were like fine stallions
racing through the desert, never stumbling.
14As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley,
the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.
You led your people, Lord,
and gained a magnificent reputation.”
Prayer for Mercy and Pardon
15 Lord, look down from heaven;
look from your holy, glorious home, and see us.
Where is the passion and the might
you used to show on our behalf?
Where are your mercy and compassion now?
16Surely you are still our Father!
Even if Abraham and Jacob#63:16 Hebrew Israel. See note on 14:1. would disown us,
Lord, you would still be our Father.
You are our Redeemer from ages past.
17 Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path?
Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?
Return and help us, for we are your servants,
the tribes that are your special possession.
18How briefly your holy people possessed your holy place,
and now our enemies have destroyed it.
19Sometimes it seems as though we never belonged to you,
as though we had never been known as your people.
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