By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 63

THE DAY OF GOD'S VENGEANCE

    In the first six verses of this chapter is found the culmination of such judgment as has long been foretold in other parts of the prophets. Even Moses testified of the Lord's coming from Sinai, Sier and Mt. Paran, with ten thousands of His saints to rule in judgment (Deut. 33:1-2). In the book of Habakkuk (3:3) is a similar allusion to God's coming "from Teman" (or the South) "and the Holy One from Mt. Paran". A comparison of many passages suggests considerable activity in "the wilderness" - where the Theocratic rule is re-inaugurated before the Lord marches forth with His saints to face the international confederation of armies in a mighty slaughter at Bozrah, in Edom, (Isa. 35:1; 32:15-16; 35:6; Jer. 31:2; Ezek. 20:35-36; Hos. 2:14).
    Determined to destroy the people of the covenant, the hosts of wickedness encamp against Jerusalem itself - deterred from the final stroke of destruction only by a perplexing report of activity in Edom. Thus, they are turned aside to face Christ, the Mighty Conqueror, at Bozrah, where He tramples them in His fury, and proceeds forward to the Mt. of Olives (Zech. 14:3-9) and to the raising up of the throne of David, in Jerusalem - from whence He will rule with absolute authority for one thousand glorious years.
    Mention is made (in the above-mentioned references, and others) of the Kings' route from Mt. Sinai to Jerusalem: Paran, the wilderness, Mt. Seir, Edom, Teman, Bozrah, etc., northward.

   Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 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. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 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. 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.

    1. Isaiah inquires concerning the identity of the One Whom he sees coming from Edom (specifically from Bozrah) in crimson garments: gloriously arrayed, He marches in stately majesty - manifesting the greatness of His strength.
    2. For answer, the Mighty Conqueror identifies Himself as the One who SPEAKS in righteousness, mighty to save.
      a. Here it is important to consider "the voice of the Lord" as a voice of universal authority and power, by which Gentile nations will be overthrown and Messiah's kingdom established, (Psa. 2:5; 29:1-11).
      b. The sword of the Lord, with which He executes righteous judgment, proceeds out of His mouth, (Rev. 19:21).
    3. The prophet then asks why He wears crimson garments - as one who treads the winefat.
    4. To this the majestic person declares that He HAS INDEED trodden the winefat ALONE, (vs. 3-4).
      a. In wrath and fierce anger He tramples upon the nations-sprinkling, and staining His garments with the blood of their strength.
      b. The "day of vengeance" is in His heart (34:8; 35:4; 61:2b); this is essential to "the year of redemption" that He has come to arrange for His beloved people.
      c. Vine has an interesting comment on the geography of Psalm 29, which I think appropriate to submit at this point. He sees the overthrow of the Gentile nations as beginning in Lebanon (vs. 5-6) and sweeping down to the wilderness of Kadesh (vs. 8), the center of which is Bozrah (Num. 13:26), in swift and complete destruction. Then he adds: "The distance from Sirion Lebanon to Bozrah in Edom is 200 miles, or 100 furlongs" (with which compare; Rev. 14:17-20; 19:15; Joel 3:9-16).
    5. The ultimate deliverance of His people is effected by the Lord's direct judgment upon His enemies and theirs.
      a. Though He looked, He found none of the nations willing, or able, to set His people free.
      b. Thus, though normally working through His providences, He directly intervenes at this point - trampling the enemy in the fury of His wrath, and establishing His own righteous rule upon the earth.

   I will mention the loving kindnesses 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 loving kindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 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.
   But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. 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? That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble? 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.

    1. In verses 7-9 Isaiah praises the faithfulness of Jehovah in identifying Himself with His covenant people, and for sustaining them from ancient times.
      a. He recalls the loving-kindness (54:8-10; Psa. 25:6, 10; 40:11; 92:1-2), great goodness (I Kings 8:56; Neh. 9:24.25,35), and constant mercy (Neh. 9:19, 27-28; Psa. 51:1; 86:5, 15; Lam. 3:22; Dan. 9:9, 18; Eph. 2:4; Rom. 12:1) of the Lord toward His people - all illustrating the incredible love that He manifested toward them!
      b. Having acknowledged Israel as His own people (Ex. 6:6-7; Isa. 3:15; 51:4). He might well expect them to deal faithfully with Him (51:7; Psa. 37:30-31); He was their constant Deliverer (vs. 8; 60:16; 43:3, 11; 45:15, 21).
      c. Bearing their afflictions (Judg. 20:16; 2:18; comp. Heb. 12:5-11; Lam. 3:33), the "angel of His presence" (the form in which He appeared to them in Old Testament times) saved them from destruction at the hands of their enemies, (vs. 9a; Ex. 23:20, 23; 32:34; 33:2, 14-15).
      d. In loving sympathy, He redeemed them, lifted them up, and carried them through all the days of old, (Deut. 7:7-8; 1:31; 32:10-12, 19-25; Isa. 43:1-2; 46:3-4).
    2. When they rebelled (Psa. 78:40-41; 106:33), and grieved the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51; Eph. 4:30; Psa. 51:11), the Lord became the antagonist of His erring people, and fought against them, (vs. 10; Judg. 2:14; Psa. 78:59-64; 106:40).
    3. Then the nation recalls the blessedness of ancient days - when Moses, under the Lord's direction, faithfully led their fathers from bondage and affliction into rest; they finally come to recognize that their own sin has separated them from the manifested presence and protection of the Lord, (vs. 11-14a).
    4. Here Isaiah addresses the Lord directly - recalling His goodness toward His ancient people, and reminding Him of the glorious name He has made for Himself by His faithful guidance and sustenance, (vs. 14b).

   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? Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, 0 LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
   0 LORD, why best 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. The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.

    1. Here is an appeal to God as the Father of Israel, (vs. 15-16); it is the cry (evidently of a faithful remnant) out of deep distress - as the cry of one who feels forsaken, (comp. Psa. 85:5-7).
      a. He is urged to look down, from His holy and glorious habitation, and behold the straits of His people, (Deut. 26:15; Psa. 80:14).
      b. Where is the manifestation of His zeal and power, His sympathy and compassion, toward the present needs of His heritage? (26:11; 37:32; Jer. 31:20; Hos. 11:8).
      c. They claim God as their Father - though Abraham does not know them, and Israel fails to reco~pize them, (1:2; 64:8; 41:8; 51:2).
      d. From of old He has been their Lord, Father and Redeemer, (41:14; 44:6-8; 60:16).
    2. The last section is a plea for the Lord to RETURN for the salvation of His helpless people, (vs. 17-19).
      a. They recognize that, because of their own rebellion, God has given the nation over to a reprobate mind, (vs. 17a; 6:9-10; Rom. 1:28; comp. Ex. 7:13; 8:19, 32; 9:7, 12).
      b. But there is, in Israel, a remnant "according to the election of grace" (Rom. 11:5); it is for their sake that the Lord is asked to intervene according to his great mercy, (vs. 17b; Psa. 90:13-17) - a plea that will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ as "the Consolation of Israel", (Lk. 2:25, 38).
      c. The holy people possessed the land of inheritance but a very short time - their enemies treading down the sanctuary of the Most High, (vs. 18; 64:10-11; Psa. 74:6-8).
      d. Since the adversary has never accepted the Lord's rule, or been called by His holy name; the holy remnant ask Him to recognize them as His own, and to come to their deliverance! (vs. 19; comp. Deut. 4:20; 9:26, 29; Psa. 2:8; Isa. 65:9; Psa. 94:14, etc.).
      e. When the Lord answers they will heartily proclaim: "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord"! (Matt. 23:39).