Isaiah 63

Isaiah 63:1

Who 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. Who is this, shall my wondering Church say concerning her God and Saviour, who is this, that comes out from among the troops of his enemies, with garments distained with blood; even this, that is decked with the glory of his victory and triumph! Dost thou ask, who I am. O my Church, shall he say, I am thy righteous and holy Redeemer; mighty to save and deliver mine elect.

Isaiah 63:2

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

Wherefore then, O Saviour, art thou thus suited in crimson, and dyed red with blood! If thou be so powerful to save us, how hast thou not delivered thyself from this effusion of thine own blood! Or is it the blood of enemies, that hath thus drenched thy robes; so that thou lookest as one, that hath been treading in the wine-press, all tainted with the blood of the grape?

Isaiah 63:3

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.

It is true, O my Church, I have been indeed treading the wine-press of my Father’s wrath: I have been crushing and trampling upon all the clusters of mine enemies; even I alone, by my mighty power, have trod them under my feet, without the supply of all other helps: the victory is mine alone, which I will, in my good time, fully accomplish; for I will, in my just anger, be exquisitely avenged of all those, that maliciously rise up against me, and will give proofs to the world of my vengeance and their sufferings.

Isaiah 63:4

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

For I have eternally decreed and set the day, wherein I shall be perfectly revenged of the proud and wicked enemies of my Church, and wherein I shall fully redeem my faithful people.

Isaiah 63:5

And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: &c.

I saw there was no help to be expected from any finite creature; and, being much affected to see so remediless a desolation of my Church, I addressed myself to the work, and by my own power wrought their deliverance: &c.

Isaiah 63:8

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

For he said, Surely, these are my chosen ones, my peculiar people; they will stick fast to me, and will not degenerate into wicked and lewd courses: so he, who expected this holiness and perseverance from them, was a Saviour unto them. ISAIAD, CHAP. LXIII.

Isaiah 63:9

In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them.

In all their afflictions he pitied them, and did, as it were, suffer with them; and the Angel of his covenant, who still appears before his face to intercede for his Church, saved them from the dangers of manifold destructions.

Isaiah 63:11

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 shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his Holy Spirit within him?

Then he remembered the days of old; and those ancient passages, that were betwixt Moses and his people, whose posterity, in their present distresses, are ready to say; Where now is that God, that did so powerfully bring his people through the sea, by the hand of Moses their leader? Where is he, that did then put his Holy Spirit into that faithful guide of his people?

Isaiah 63:13

That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, &c.

He, that led them through the Red Sea, with no less security and confidence, than a horse walks in an even and smooth down, &c. So verse 14.

Isaiah 63:15

The sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me, are they restrained?

The yearning of thy bowels, and thy tender compassions toward thy people.

Isaiah 63:16

Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: &c.

O God, how boldly may we sue to thee, since thou art our Father! nothing in the world can strip us of this relation to thee: whatever become of all these terms of cognation and consanguinity, which the world can afford, surely nothing can hinder this our challenge of interest in thee; and, however we have made ourselves by our sins unworthy to be owned by our father Abraham, if he could take notice of these earthly things, yet do not thou cast us utterly off, from the benefit of that covenant, which thou madest with him and his seed: &c.

Isaiah 63:17

O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear?

O Lord, we know, if thou guide us not, we cannot but err: why hast thou withdrawn thy Spirit from us, upon the just desert of our sins, so as we have thereupon gone astray from thy laws? why hast thou, in the punishment of our wickedness, given us over to the hardening of our own hearts before thee?

Isaiah 63:18

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

It is but a little while, in comparison of the promise and covenant made to thy people, that thy peculiar and select nation have possessed this good land; and now our adversaries have destroyed thy holy temple.

Isaiah 63:19

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

They can challenge no part in thee: we are thine own charge, and chosen inheritance; thou hast given laws to us, and hast exercised a special sovereignty over us: thou hast not done so to them; they were never so endeared to thee, never so much graced by thee.