63 1 God shall destroy his enemies for his Church’s sake. 7 God’s benefits toward his Church.

Who is this that cometh [a]from Edom, with red garments from Bozrah? he is glorious in his apparel, and walketh in his great strength. [b]I speak in righteousness, and am mighty to save.

[c]Wherefore is thine apparel red, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winepress?

I have trodden the winepress alone, and of all people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and tread them under foot in my wrath, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the [d]year of my redeemed is come.

And I looked, and there was none to help, and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own [e]arm helped me, and my wrath itself sustained me.

Therefore I will tread down the people in my wrath, and make them [f]drunken in mine indignation, and will bring down their strength to the earth.

I will [g]remember the mercy of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according unto all that the Lord hath given us, and for the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath given them according to his tender love, and according to his great mercies.

For he said, Surely they are my [h]people, children that will not lie: so he was their Savior.

In all their troubles he was [i]troubled, and the Angel [j]of his presence saved them: in his love and in his mercy he redeemed them, and he bare them and carried them always continually.

10 But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore was he turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

11 Then he [k]remembered the old time of Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the [l]shepherd of his sheep? Where is he that put his holy Spirit within [m]him?

12 He led them by the right hand of Moses with his own glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting Name.

13 He led them through the deep, as an [n]horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble.

14 As the beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious Name.

15 [o]Look down from heaven, and behold from the dwelling place of thine holiness, and of thy glory. Where is thy [p]zeal and thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies, and of thy compassion? they are restrained from [q]me.

16 Doubtless thou art our Father: though [r]Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel know us not, yet thou, O Lord, art our Father, and our redeemer: thy Name is forever.

17 O Lord, why hast [s]thou made us to err from thy ways? and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy [t]servant’s sake, and for the tribes of thine inheritance.

18 The people of thine holiness have possessed it, but a little [u]while: for our adversaries have trodden down thy Sanctuary.

19 We have been as they, over whom thou never barest rule, and upon whom thy name was not called.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:1 This prophecy is against the Idumeans and enemies which persecuted the Church, on whom God will take vengeance, and is here set forth all bloody after he hath destroyed them in Bozrah, the chief city of the Idumeans: for these were their greatest enemies, and under the title of circumcision and the kindred of Abraham, claimed to themselves the chief religion, and hated the true worshippers, Ps. 137:7.
  2. Isaiah 63:1 God answereth them that asked this question, Who is this? etc. and saith, Ye see now performed in deed the vengeance which my Prophets threatened.
  3. Isaiah 63:2 Another question, to the which the Lord answereth.
  4. Isaiah 63:4 Showing that when God punisheth his enemies, it is for the profit and deliverance of his Church.
  5. Isaiah 63:5 God showeth that he hath no need of man’s help for the deliverance of his, and though men refuse to do their duty through negligence and ingratitude, yet he himself will deliver his Church, and punish the enemies, read Isa. 59:16.
  6. Isaiah 63:6 I will so astonish them and make them so giddy, that they shall not know which way to go.
  7. Isaiah 63:7 The Prophet speaketh this to move the people to remember God’s benefits in times past, that they may be confirmed in their troubles.
  8. Isaiah 63:8 For I did choose them to be mine, that they should be holy, and not deceive mine expectation.
  9. Isaiah 63:9 He bare their afflictions and griefs as though they had been his own.
  10. Isaiah 63:9 Which was a witness of God’s presence, and this may be referred to Christ, to whom belongeth the office of Salvation.
  11. Isaiah 63:11 That is, the people of Israel, being afflicted, called to remembrance God’s benefits, which he had bestowed upon their fathers in times past.
  12. Isaiah 63:11 Meaning, Moses.
  13. Isaiah 63:11 That is, in Moses that he might well govern the people: some refer this giving of the spirit to the people.
  14. Isaiah 63:13 Peaceably and gentle, as an horse is led to his pasture.
  15. Isaiah 63:15 Having declared God’s benefits showed to their forefathers, he turned himself to God by prayer, desiring him to continue the same graces toward them.
  16. Isaiah 63:15 Thy great affection, which thou barest towards us.
  17. Isaiah 63:15 Meaning, from the whole body of the Church.
  18. Isaiah 63:16 Though Abraham would refuse us to be his children, yet thou wilt not refuse to be our father.
  19. Isaiah 63:17 By taking away the holy Spirit from us, by whom we were governed, and so for our ingratitude didst deliver us up to our own concupiscence, and didst punish sin by sin according to thy just judgment.
  20. Isaiah 63:17 Meaning, for the Covenant’s sake made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob his servants.
  21. Isaiah 63:18 That is, in respect of the promise, which is perpetual: albeit they had now possessed the land of Canaan, a thousand and four hundred years: and thus they lament, to move God rather to remember his Covenant, than to punish their sins.

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