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Notes on Isaiah 63(Isa 63:1 KJV) 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 that is described in this verse? He is coming from the direction of Edom. He is glorious and has great strength. The last sentence in the verse is the main clue. He speaks in righteousness and he is mighty to save. I believe this describes the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who first passes over Edom and continues to the Mount of Olives where he descends and causes the mountain to split. He comes to redeem Israel from her enemies and save their souls from sin. Israel will finally recognize their true Messiah and realize that the anti-christ was a deceiver. The man who claimed to bring them peace brought them destruction instead. He seems to be a person who promises peace and prosperity but brings in war and persecution against Israel. (Isa 63:2 KJV) 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. When Jesus Christ comes to set up his kingdom, there will be peace on earth, but before that happens there is a time of vengeance. Those that persecuted and killed the saints of God will be destroyed. They are not going to get away with it. I believe He will also take vengeance on those who have mistreated Israel and tried to destroy them. Israel does not recognize their Messiah at this time but they will and God will save them. They will no longer be a despised and weak nation. (Isa 63:5 KJV) 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. It looks as if there will be no one to help Israel except Jesus himself. The armies of the earth and wicked nations will surround Israel when Jesus comes to save them. This is called the Battle of Armageddon. (Isa 63:7 KJV) 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. No matter how people have tried to substitute the church in the place of Israel, we do not take their place. Israel means Israel in the bible. We can become adopted Israel by receiving the Lord as Savior but when bible prophecy deals with Israel, it means Israel. The church does not replace them. Israel is only temporarily out of fellowship with God. They will be restored in the latter days and they along with the believing church will reign with Christ at his Second Coming. I said believing church. I don't mean just anyone who claims Christianity and have persecuted Israel. A true Christian will not lift up his or her hand against Israel or any race, tongue and nation. A true Christian desires to save not to kill and destroy. Amen. We do not take vengeance ourselves. This is only done by God at the coming of Jesus Christ. Yes, we can defend our country against an enemy attack and serve in the armed forces if that is what our conscience allows but we are not to take personal vengeance on anyone. Jesus commands us to go into the entire world and preach the gospel. Vengeance belongs to the judgment of the Lord. Why is that? One, because it is now the day of grace when the Lord wants all to hear the gospel and have a chance to be saved. Two, if we take vengeance on those who refuse the gospel, we would probably get it wrong. There is no way we can see inside the hearts of men and make righteous judgments as long as we are in the flesh. Only God can do that. To be safe, seek to love enemies and those that hurt. Jesus told us to do that and leave vengeance and judgment to him at his coming. (Isa 63:8 KJV) 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. They may have at times forsaken God but God has not forsaken them. He is their savior. When they are afflicted, he is afflicted. I believe when the children of Israel faced the gas chambers of Nazi Germany; God was right there with them. He will redeem Israel again. This is true of anyone who belongs to God by faith in Christ also. If a child of God is persecuted it is the same and persecuting the Lord himself. (Isa 63:10 KJV) But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. God would have blessed Israel way back in the days after they came out of Egypt but they rebelled against him and forsook him for other gods who were not true gods. Judgment came when they forsook God. When God lifts his hand of protection from a nation, there is much to fear. (Isa 63:11 KJV) 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? 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. They could have had everything. The very presence of God was in their midst. He delivered them from their enemies; he healed their sicknesses. The soles of their shoes did not wear out. He gave them water to drink and food to eat. He was their God and they were His chosen people. They could have ruled the world. Yet they gave that all up for the pleasures of this world and the lure of false gods and attractions. We can do the same thing today by forsaking the teaching of the word and choosing to do everything else but serve the Lord. (Isa 63:15 KJV) 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? 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; 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. Someone probably Isaiah seems to be pleading for the Lord to remember them and restore them to the way they were before. Seems like the person is trying to blame God for making their hearts hard. They are moaning the fact that the enemies have trodden down the sanctuary and taken over their land. To this day many desire to take over the land of Israel, especially Jerusalem. Jerusalem must really be a special place. It will one day be the capital of the world under the reign of Jesus Christ. No matter how much they talk of peace, there will be no peace until Jesus comes and defeats all enemies and reigns with His saints. Even so come Lord Jesus. Verse 19 recognizes the fact that they, Israel belonged to the Lord as opposed to other nations in that day who served idols and false gods. The writer seems to be longing for the presence of God among them again. We too can have the presence of God with us. All we have to do is to seek Him. |