Isaiah, chapter 63
The final chapters of Isaiah return to themes introduced in the rest of the book. The Lord will bless his people and take revenge on those nations that refuse to worship him. God repeats the promise of a new creation, but reminds the people that this promise depends on their trusting in God and living according to his commands.
The Lord's Victory over the Nations
ho is this coming from Bozrah in Edom
with clothes stained red?
Who is this hero marching in his glorious uniform?
“It's me, the Lord! I have won the battle,
and I can save you!”
2What are those red spots?
Your clothes look stained
from trampling on grapes.
3“I alone trampled the grapes!
None of the nations helped.
I trampled nations in my anger
and stained my clothes with their blood.
4I did this because I wanted to take revenge—
the time had come to rescue my people.
5No one was there to help me or to give support;
my mighty arm won the battle,
strengthened by my anger.
6In my fury I trampled on nations and made them drunk;
their blood poured out everywhere on earth.”
The Lord's Goodness to His People
7I will tell about the kind deeds the Lord has done.
They deserve praise!
The Lord has shown mercy to the people of Israel;
he has been kind and good.
8The Lord rescued his people, and said,
“They are mine. They won't betray me.”
9It troubled the Lord to see them in trouble,
and his angel saved them.
The Lord was truly merciful,
so he rescued his people.
He took them in his arms
and carried them all those years.
10Then the Lord's people turned against him
and made his Holy Spirit sad.
So he became their enemy and attacked them.
11But his people remembered what had happened
during the time of Moses.
Didn't the Lord bring them and their leaders
safely through the sea?
Didn't he give them his Holy Spirit?
12 The glorious power of the Lord marched beside Moses.
The Lord will be praised forever
for dividing the sea.
13He led his people across like horses running wild
without stumbling.
14His Spirit gave them rest, just as cattle find rest
when led into a valley.
The name of the Lord was praised
for doing these things.
A Prayer for Mercy and Help
15Please, Lord, look down from your holy and glorious
home in the heavens and see what's going on.
Have you lost interest? Where is your power?
Show that you care about us and have mercy!
Please, Lord, look down from your holy and glorious home in the heavens and see what's going on. Have you lost interest? Where is your power? Show that you care about us and have mercy!
— Isa 63.15
16Our ancestors Abraham and Jacob have both rejected us.
But you are still our Father;
you have been our protector since ancient times.
17Why did you make us turn away from you, our Lord?
Why did you make us want to disobey you?
Please change your mind! We are your servants,
your very own people.
18For a little while, your temple belonged to us;
and now our enemies have torn it down.
19We act as though you had never ruled us
or called us your people.