Dave Burnette's Commentary

Isaiah Chapter 63

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Isaiah
Date Penned: (700-681 BC)
Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66)
Theme: Words of Comfort (c 40-66)
Message: God's Judgement and Lovingkindness (v 1-19)

Isaiah 63 Commentary 

(63:1-4) Edom - The people of Edom were a constant enemy of Israel despite their common ancestry through Isaac (Genesis 25:21-23). Edom rejoiced at any trouble Israel faced. The imagery in this passage is of a watchman on the wall of Jerusalem, seeing Edom approaching and fearing that the Edomite king in his red garment was leading an attack. But the person turns out to be the Lord, in bloodstained clothes, who has trampled and destroyed Edom. Bozrah is a city in Edom. (For other prophecies against Edom, see Amos 1:11-12; Obadiah 1:10-11; Malachi 1:2-4.) 

(63:7-14) A Song of Praise - In this song of praise, Isaiah shows three stages the people went through in relation to the Holy Spirit: (1) They rebelled against the Holy Spirit and grieved him (63:10). (2) They cried out to God to send the Holy Spirit when they recognized their error (63:11-13). (3) Finally, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest (63:14). When we recognize that we have drifted away from, forgotten, or rebelled against God, we can call on the Holy Spirit to come to us to bring us rest and hope. He will always come (Luke 11:11-13). 

(63:7) Goodness and Mercy - The Lord is characterized by goodness and mercy throughout Scripture. God described himself to Moses this way: "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6). According to the Psalms, the Lord's goodness fills the earth (Psalm 33:5) and is as vast as the heavens (Psalm 36:5). David said, "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee" (Psalm 86:5). John wrote that God's grace and truth came to us through Jesus (John 1:17). Throw yourself onto God's unfailing love, and he will not let you down. 

(63:10) Grieving the Holy Spirit - Vexing or grieving the Holy Spirit means willfully thwarting his leading by disobedience or rebellion. Isaiah mentions the work of the Holy Spirit more than any other Old Testament writer does. We grieve the Holy Spirit today when we reject his prompting in our lives or refuse to accept what Scripture teaches. (See the note on Ephesians 4:28-32 for more on grieving the Holy Spirit.) 

(63:15) The Faithful Remnant - On behalf of the faithful remnant, Isaiah asked God for two favors: (1) to show mercy and compassion toward them and (2) to punish their enemies. Before making these requests, Isaiah recited the Lord's past favors, reminding him of his compassion in former days (63:7-14). In your devotional life, it can be very helpful to keep a list of the ways God has helped you and answered your prayers. This will help you praise him for what he has done as you bring new requests to him.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Our Lord Cares

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 63. In our text today, we see God's judgment and loving-kindness as the Spirit of God was grieved at the rebellion of His People while he gave rest to the faithful. In making an application, we see a God who cares. Some believe that our decisions only affect us, but the truth is that we serve a God who loves us and cares what decisions we make. His love for us is amazing and shows how much He genuinely cares. How about you? Do you see how much our Lord cares? Let us learn from our text today that our Lord cares and is grieved when we choose to rebel but is delighted and blesses those who obey because He genuinely cares about you.

 

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Isaiah 63

Isaiah 63

 1Who 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.

 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

 3I 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.

 4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

 5And 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.

 6And 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.

 7I 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.

 8For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

 9In 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.

 10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

 11Then 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?

 12That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

 13That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?

 14As 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.

 15Look 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?

 16Doubtless 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.

 17O 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.

 18The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

 19We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.