The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

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- Chapter 63 -

I ask, “Who is this who is coming from the city of Bozrah in Edom, whose clothes are stained red from blood? Who is this who is wearing beautiful robes?” He replies, “It is I, Yahweh, declaring that I have defeated your enemies, and I am able to rescue you!”

I ask him, “What are those red spots on your clothes? It appears that you have been treading on grapes to make wine.”

He replies, “I have been treading on my enemies, not on grapes. I did it myself; no one helped me. I punished them because I was very angry with them, and my clothes became stained with their blood.

I did that because it was time for me to get revenge; it was time to rescue my people from those who had oppressed them.

I searched for someone who would enable me to help my people, but I was amazed that there was no one to help me. So I defeated their enemies with my own power; I was able to do that because I was very angry.

Because I was extremely angry, I punished the nations; I caused them to stagger like drunk men, and I caused their blood to pour out on the ground.”

God’s Mercies Recalled

I will tell about all the things that Yahweh has done for his people because of his faithful love for them, and I will praise him for all that he has done. Yahweh has done good things for us people of Israel; he has acted mercifully toward us and he has steadfastly and faithfully loved us.

Yahweh said, “These are my people; they will not deceive me”; so he rescued us.

When we had many troubles, he was sad also. He sent his angel from before his presence to rescue us. Because he loved us and was merciful to us, he saved us; it was as though he had picked our ancestors up and carried them all those years during which they were oppressed in Egypt.

But we rebelled against him, and we caused his Holy Spirit to be sad. So he became like an enemy who fought against us.

Then we thought about what happened long ago, during the time when Moses led our ancestors out of Egypt. We cried out, “Where is the one who brought our ancestors through the Sea of Reeds while Moses led them? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among our ancestors?

Where is the one who showed his glorious power and caused the water to separate when Moses lifted his arm above it, with the result that he will be honored forever?

Where is the one who led our ancestors while they walked through the seabed? They were like horses that were racing along and never stumbled.

They were like cattle that walk down into a valley to rest, and the Spirit of Yahweh enabled them to go to a place where they could rest. Yahweh, you led your people, and you caused yourself to be praised.”

A Prayer for Mercy

(Jeremiah 14:19–22)

“Yahweh, look down from heaven; look down on us from your holy and glorious home. You were previously very concerned about us, and you acted powerfully to help us. But it seems that you do not act mercifully and zealously for us anymore.

You are our father, even if Abraham does not know what is happening to us, and Jacob is not concerned about us, either, but Yahweh, you are our father; you rescued us long ago.

Yahweh, why did you cause us to wander away from your road? Why did you cause us to be stubborn in our inner beings, with the result that we no longer honor you? Help us like you did previously, because we are the people who serve you and belong to you.

We, your holy people, possessed your sacred temple for only a short time, and now our enemies have destroyed it.

Now it seems as though we never were ruled by you, as though we never belonged to you.”

Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”

Why is your clothing red, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?

“I have trodden the wine press alone. Of the peoples, no one was with me. Yes, I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing.

For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.

I looked, and there was no one to help; and I wondered that there was no one to uphold. Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me. My own wrath upheld me.

I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath. I poured their lifeblood out on the earth.”

God’s Mercies Recalled

I will tell of the loving kindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has given to us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has given to them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

For he said, “Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely;” so he became their Savior.

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. He bore them, and carried them all the days of old.

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them.

Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among them?”

Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

Who led them through the depths, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble?

As the livestock that go down into the valley, the LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest. So you led your people to make yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer for Mercy

(Jeremiah 14:19–22)

Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. Where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.

For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, LORD, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.

O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance.

Your holy people possessed it but a little while. Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.

We have become like those over whom you never ruled, like those who were not called by your name.