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Isaiah 63-64
by Samuel E. Ward
Introduction
The last section of Isaiah from chapters 40—66 are given during the reign of Manasseh, the most wicked king ever to sit on the throne of David. Unfortunately for the people, he was also the longest reigning monarch in Judah's history (55 years) having ascended to the throne at the age of twelve. His father had been Hezekiah, a righteous king but with some faults and incidents of faithlessness in his own reign.
Manasseh's penchant for foreign gods resulted in the appearance of altars, high places of worship, along with their perverted and violent rituals. Prophets rebuked Manasseh for his idolatry which resulted in their persecution. The execution of opposing prophets rose to the level of one a day according to the ancient Jewish historian, Josephus. Rabbinic tradition holds that Isaiah was among those executed by being sawn in two.
It is believed that Isaiah wrote this section to be an encouragement to the people of a their ultimate future as the prince among nations in a righteous kingdom ruled by God's Messiah. Until then, they needed to assess the causes of their present despair and discover that they are due to their turning away from the God of their fathers. There is hope but not without hardship. There will be justice but not without judgment. The righteous must persevere and the unrighteous must repent.
Let's review . . .
VI. God's Message Concerning His People's Future, Isa 40-66
We have seen .. . .
A. God's Plan to Restore, Isa 40-48
B. God's Servant's Plan to Redeem, Isaiah 49-53
C. God's Plan to Reconcile, Isa 54-57
D. God's Demand for the People's Repentance, Isa 58
E. God's Description of the People's Ruthlessness, Isaiah 59
F. God's Declaration of the People's Future Restoration, Isa 60
G. God's Promise to Renew His People, Isa 61-62
We continue with . . .
H. God's Proud Return from Battle, Isa 63:1-6
1. The Executor of God's Vengeance, Isa 63:1
Isaiah 63:1 (NIV) 1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."
2. The Explanation of His Appearance, Isa 63:2-4
Isaiah 63:2-4 (NIV) 2Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? 3"I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. 4For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come.
3. The Explanation of His Battle, Isa 63:5-6
a. No one else was inclined to fight against sin and evil, Isa 63:5.
Isaiah 63:5 (NIV) 5I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.
b. No one else was incensed enough to fight against sin and evil in the world, Isa 63:6.
Isaiah 63:6 (NIV) 6I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground."
I. The Prophet's Request for God's Intervention, Isa 63:7-64:14
1. Recalling the Lord's Kindnesses, Isa 63:7-10
a. Kindness in the form of adoption, Isa 64:7-8
Isaiah 63:7-8 (NIV) 7I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. 8He said, "Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me"; and so he became their Savior.
b.. Kindness in the form of empathy, Isa 64:9a
Isaiah 63:9a (NIV) 9aIn all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
c. Kindness in the form of redemption, Isa 64:9b
Isaiah 63:9b (NIV) 9b In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
d. Contention due to rebellion, Isa 64:10
Isaiah 63:10 (NIV) 10Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
2. Requesting the Lord's Intervention, Isa 63:11-17
a. Where is the God Who Guided Moses and His People?, Isa 63:11-14
1) He brought them through the sea, Isa 63:11a,b
Isaiah 63:11a,b (NIV) 11a,bThen his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people—where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock?
2) He set His Holy Spirit among them, Isa 63:11c
Isaiah 63:11c (NIV) 11cWhere is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,
3) He placed His power at the right hand of Moses, Isa 63:12-14
Isaiah 63:12-14 (NIV) 12who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, 13who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; 14like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.
b. Where is the zeal God once had for His People?, Isa 63:15-17
1) Where is your power, tenderness and compassion, Isa 63:15-16?
Isaiah 63:15-16 (NIV) 15Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. 16But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
2) Why have you allowed us to stray from you, Isa 63:17a?
Isaiah 63:17a (NIV) 17aWhy, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?
3) Return for the sake of your servants, Isa 63:17b
Isaiah 63:17 (NIV) 17Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.
3. Where Is the Hope for Salvation? Isa 64:1-`2
a. The plea for God's engagement, Isa 64:1-2
Isaiah 64:1-2 (NIV) 1Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble before you! 2As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
b. The rationale for God's engagement, Isa 64:3-4
(It's been a long time since God has shown His power to the nations.)
Isaiah 64:3-4 (NIV) 3For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
c. The reality of Israel's extreme wickedness, Isa 64:5-7
Isaiah 64:5-7 (NIV) 5You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? 6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.
The all-important question appears in verse 5 (How then can we be saved?) and seems meant to convey the idea that since Israel had fallen so deep into sin and turned their backs so completely upon God, how can they ever hope to be saved.,
d. The yearning for God's mercy, 64:8-12
1) Mercy is sought on the basis of Israel's relationship to God as their Father, Isa 64:8a.
Isaiah 64:8a (NIV) 8aYet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
2) Mercy is sought on the basis of Israel's relationship to God as a vessel being formed by His hand for His glory, Isa 64:8b.
Isaiah 64:8b (NIV) 8bWe are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
3) Mercy is sought on the basis of Israel's relationship to God as being His people, Isa 64:9.
Isaiah 64:9 (NIV) 9Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people.
4) Mercy is sought on the basis of Israel's desire to see His honor restored as in the days of old, Isa 64:10-11.
Isaiah 64:10-11 (NIV) 10Your sacred cities have become a desert; even Zion is a desert, Jerusalem a desolation. 11Our holy and glorious temple, where our fathers praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins.
5) Mercy is sought on the basis of Israel's belief that their punishment has been enough, Isa 64:12.
Isaiah 64:12 (NIV) 12After all this, O LORD, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?
Relevance
1. A day of reckoning is forthcoming. It will come on a day when man's desire for wickedness far exceeds His desire for righteousness, Col 3:4-6; Rev 19:11-16.
Colossians 3:4-6 (NIV) 4When Christ, who is your£ life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV) 11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."£ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
2. A day is coming when revivals will cease and the love of most will grow cold as the persecution of the faithful grows hotter, Mat 24:9-14.
Matthew 24:9-14 (NIV) 9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
3. Any day is a day of mercy for those who cry out to God for salvation and deliverance from sin and the judgment it brings, Eph 2:4-10; 1 John 1:9.
Ephesians 2:4-10 (NIV) 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
