Isaiah 63:1-19
1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is gloriousa 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.
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 shepherdb 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.
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 soundingc 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;d 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.
The last section of Isaiah (63-66) sets forth anew the operation of the principle of discrimination. All the blessing which has been described can result only from holiness, and ere that can be established there must be the period of judgment.
In the first section the prophet describes the Warrior returning from the conflict. While that conflict is described, it is from the standpoint of its completion. One is seen returning with crimson garments, marching in the greatness of His strength. In answer to the prophet's inquiry as to who this is, the Warrior declares, "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." This answer reveals the method and the purpose. Again the prophet asks for explanation, and then the conflict is described. It has been one of vengeance, in which all opposing forces have been swept away in order to establish righteousness and bring salvation.
The prophet's sense of the absolute justice of the judgment described is manifest in that he immediately breaks forth into praise of the loving-kindnesses of the Lord. In language full of beauty he describes Jehovah's faithfulness to His people. His description looks back to the days in which, in spite of their rebellion and their grieving of His Holy Spirit, through which He was necessarily made their enemy, He nevertheless carried them, and remembered them, and delivered them.