Isaiah 63:1-19

Isaiah: God controls the nations

God’s promises to his special people

Isaiah Chapter s 58 to 66

Norman Hillyer

Chapter 63

The *Lord’s judgement against the nations

v1 Someone is coming from the country called Edom (the name means ‘red’). He comes from Edom’s capital called Bozrah. He is wearing magnificent red clothes. He is very powerful. He is marching along with power and strength.

‘It is I, your *Lord. I am coming to announce complete victory (success). Because of my great power, I have saved you.’

v2 Someone asks why his clothes are all red. They are like the clothes of someone who has been stepping heavily on *grapes to make wine.

v3 The *Lord replies: ‘I have in fact stepped as men step heavily on *grapes. But I acted alone. In my great anger I stepped heavily on my enemies, as if they were *grapes. It is their blood that you see on my clothes.

v4 I selected the day for judgement, when I rescue my people from their enemies. v5 I looked in vain for somebody to come to help me. It astonished me that nobody supported me. So my strong arm alone won the battle. Alone I carried out judgement. My fierce anger made me strong. v6 In my great anger I stepped heavily on the wicked nations. I caused them to become drunks. They trembled greatly and fell to the ground. Their blood poured out upon the earth.’