Isaiah 63:1-6
The Lord is depicted as coming from the south in deliverance of Israel. It is from the south the people came as led by the Lord to the promised land from Egypt. They would have passed through the wilderness of Edom. The dyed garments remind us of the blood stained garments of Rev 19:13.
The Lord answers the question, beginning in verse three. The Lord trod the winepress. The vision is that of a farmer who crushed the grapes and was splattered by the juice as he trampled in fury and anger. But this is no regular famer, the Lord came back to claim His vineyard. This farmer is a warrior treading and trampling in judgment as His garments are sprinkled and stained with blood.
There was no one to help.
Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. (Rev 5:2)
But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." (Rev 5:5)
The Lamb that was slain was worthy. He alone could do this work. No one else could claim credit, there could be no doubt that He acted alone. It was His arm that saved.
Isaiah 63:7-14
It is easy to arrive at praise when we remember all the Lord has done. That's what is pictured, the lovingkindness, goodness and care for His people when He delivered them from Egypt. The coming salvation will be no different. What an amazing truth; "He became their Savior." The Lord has always been their Savior and always will be. He was right there with them in their affliction. Isaiah had no idea what this would look like in the future, nor did the Jews when Jesus came in a manger and arrived some time later riding on a donkey to the praises. Yet He was soon afflicted on their behalf. God came to earth as a man and joined them in their own predicament, becoming a man to deliver mankind.
The 'Angel of His presence' is the picture of the pillar and cloud leading the children out of Egypt. It wasn't long at all before they rebelled against Him. The Lord is unchanging. They departed from the Lord in rebellion. When they look to Him again, they will come to remember He is mighty to save. As He led them through the Red Sea, as He led them though the valley like a herd and as he led them through the Jordan river to the Promised Land, He would do so again.
Our God is Mighty to Save!
Isaiah 63:15-19
This prayer of penitence is driven by a longing for salvation, for redemption, for a move of the Lord. It comes from the eternal longing that is in every person that rises to prominence as we are overwhelmed by the weariness of sin and the fallenness of this world. The prayer cries out to God to move to them and move them toward Him. They are broken in the realization that they have become those godless people like those of old. They long to once again be called by His name.
What a glorious truth that we can bear the name of Christ. It is by Jesus we find this same hope amidst a dark and dying world. All around us is a godless world that refused to acknowledge His name. Be clothed in Christ, steadfast and immovable as we wait on Him.
©2018 Doug Ford
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