Isaiah 63King James Version
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? The image of a conquering warrior, treading the winepress alone. Then a prayer of remembrance: in all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them.
A striking vision: who is this coming from Edom in red-stained garments? God answers: I have trodden the winepress alone; none of the peoples was with me. My fury upheld me. Then a long historical meditation: God's lovingkindnesses toward Israel in the wilderness, how he carried them, how they grieved his Spirit. A prayer: where is your zeal? You are our father; we are yours.
God's judgment is solitary, and his past mercy is the ground from which Israel begs him to return. The warrior stained with enemy blood is also the shepherd who carried his flock.
verse: "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", the divine co-suffering is the theological heart of the chapter's appeal.
The traveler from Edom appearing on the horizon is a literary device that opens into a divine monologue. Then the scene shifts entirely to the wilderness: God as shepherd carrying a lamb. The prayer rises from people who have run out of anything to offer except the record of what God has done before.
God as the warrior returning from Edom, stained with the blood of enemies. Israel recalling the Exodus and the angel of God's presence. Moses and the people referenced as historical witnesses. God as father, the one who saved them from Egypt.
The winepress-alone image (v. 3) is applied in Revelation 14:20 and 19:15 to Christ as the divine warrior. The God-afflicted-in-Israel's-affliction verse (v. 9) is a foundational text for the theology of divine suffering and empathy. The prayer beginning in verse 15 runs into chapter 64 and is the most extended communal lament in Isaiah.
For when you feel that God is distant and needs to be reminded of what he has done before. The historical recital is not a lecture but a plea: you did this once; we are asking you to do it again.
1Who 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.
2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
3I 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.
4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7I 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.
8For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
9In 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.
10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
11Then 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?
12That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
13That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?
14As 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.
15Look 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?
16Doubtless 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.
17O 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.
18The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
19We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.