ISAIAH 63
Introduction of victorious Messiah verse 1
Who is this that comes from Edom – with dyed garments from Bozrah?
this that is glorious in HIS apparel
traveling in the greatness of HIS strength?
I that speak in righteousness – mighty to save
Second question for the Messiah verse 2- 6
Wherefore are YOU red in YOUR apparel
and YOUR garments like him that treads in the winevat?
I 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 garment
and I will stain all MY raiment
FOR the day of vengeance is in MINE heart
and the year of MY redeemed is come
AND I looked – there was none to help
and I wondered that there was none to uphold
THEREFORE MINE OWN arm brought salvation to ME
and MY fury – it upheld ME
And 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
Isaiah praises the LORD verse 7
I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the LORD
and the praises of the LORD
according to all that the LORD
has bestowed on us
and the great goodness toward the house of Israel
which HE has bestowed on them according to
HIS mercies and according to
the multitude of HIS
loving-kindnesses
Messiah responses verse 8
FOR HE said
Surely they are MY people – children that will not lie
so HE was their Savior
Israel rebels against the LORD verse 9- 10
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
BUT they rebelled
and vexed HIS Holy Spirit
THEREFORE HE was turned to be their enemy
and HE fought against them
History under Moses reviewed verse 11- 14
THEN 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?
That led them by the right hand of Moses with HIS glorious arm
dividing the water before them
to make HIMSELF an everlasting name?
That led them through the deep – as a horse in the wilderness
that they should not stumble?
As a beast goes down into the valley
the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest
so did YOU lead YOUR people
to make YOURSELF a glorious name
Prayer for mercy verse 15- 16
LOOK down from heaven
and BEHOLD from the habitation of YOUR holiness
and of THY glory where is YOUR zeal
and YOUR strength
the sounding of YOUR bowels
and of YOUR mercies toward me?
are they restrained?
Doubtless YOU are our father – though Abraham be ignorant of us
and Israel acknowledge us not
YOU O LORD – are our Father – our Redeemer
YOUR name is from everlasting
Prayer for defeat of enemies verse 17- 19
O LORD – why have YOU made us to err from YOUR ways
and hardened our heart from YOUR fear?
Return for YOUR servants’ sake – the tribes of YOUR inheritance
the people of YOUR holiness have possessed it
but a little while
our adversaries have trodden down YOUR SANCTUARY
We are YOURS – YOU never bare rule over them
they were not called by YOUR name
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His lovingkindneses. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982)
DEVOTION: God’s judgment is a terrible thing to behold and it is even difficult to read about. The Lord mighty in power and great in conquest is pictured in the first six verses of this chapter. Now He turns and declares His acts of love and great goodness for his people. In remembering this he rejoices and also is grieved over the rebellion that these people chose.
Repeatedly the Scriptures reveal to the reader that the Lord loves His people and is available to deliver them in their hour of need. Repeatedly the Scriptures also remind us that we are rebellious and want to do our own thing! The Israelite nation knows these truths and even reminds the Lord of them before stating their two requests!
How like the people of Israel we are today. We review the wonderful works of God in our lives and remind the Lord of His promises yet refuse to obey and yield to His word. We ask with sin in our lives knowing that the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Like the children of Israel we plead with the Lord for one more chance and then we will correct the wrongful life style or attitude that we know is hindering our relationship with Him. But first, Lord answer our cry and then we will change.
CHALLENGE: Instead of boldly coming into the throne room and asking for something from the Lord today why not stop and examine your life and see if there be any wicked thing in you! Paul’s words to the Corinthians are appropriate today, “But let a man examine himself…” (1 Cor. 11:29) and John’s words, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” 2 John 6 (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 10 But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. (6087 “vexed” [atsab] means grieved, displeased, hurt, afflict, offend, twist, or distort.)
DEVOTION: In the New Testament we are told that we can grieve the Holy Spirit by our sin and quench the Holy Spirit by our inaction. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. Each person of the Godhead is equal but has different responsibilities.
The Holy Spirit was sent after Christ returned to heaven to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. HE was to be a teacher to those who were followers of Jesus Christ. HE gave gifts to those who were involved in the local church. HE gives direction to all those who seek HIS guidance.
Here we find that the Holy Spirit was active in the Old Testament. HE is first mention in Genesis chapter one as HE moves over the waters of the earth. Throughout the Old Testament we find HIM filling the lives of those who are to serve the LORD.
We also learn that HE leaves Old Testament saints at times when they chose to disobey the LORD. David prayed that the Holy Spirit would not leave him after he had sinned.
The children of Israel in Isaiah’s day were rebellious. They didn’t want to follow the LORD. They wanted to go their own way. They wanted to blame God for all their problems.
So instead of confessing their sins they continued to act out in sin against the LORD with no regard for the consequences. Isaiah tried to warn them but they would not listen.
The consequence was going to be captivity in Babylon in the future. HE would fight for the children of Israel when they were obedient but when they were disobedient HE left them to fight on their own.
When they repented of their sins HE would again come to their aid. This is true today. We need to keep short accounts with the LORD. The Holy Spirit will convict us of our sin and we need to confess those sins to regain fellowship with the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Work on not grieving the Holy Spirit by our actions. Ask HIM to fill you with knowledge of your wrong actions and turn in another direction.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 16 Doubtless YOU are our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not, YOU, O LORD, are our father, our redeemer YOUR name is from everlasting. (1350 “redeemer” [ga’al] means avenger, act as kinsman, buy back, to require blood, to bring into safety, conceived of as redeeming something, deliverer, kinsman, or do the part of next of kin.)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel had a hard time remembering all the LORD had done for them in the past. They were typical believers. They loved the blessings but didn’t want to go through hard times.
It is a good description of our relationship with the LORD. We have to realize that God is the only one who can redeem us from a path heading to hell for eternity.
In the Old Testament many didn’t realize that they needed to have a better relationship with the LORD but some did and here we find that they are to realize that good works were not going to get them to heaven but only a proper relationship with the LORD.
Today we know that this relationship is established through Jesus Christ. HE is our redeemer. HE is the one that brought us through HIS blood on the cross.
We need to worship HIM in spirit and in truth each day. This takes having a proper relationship through confession of sin and continuing to walk close to HIM each day. It is not a easy path but it is the only path to heaven for eternity.
Each generation has to know that God is working HIS plan in this world and we have to follow HIS plan to receive blessings from HIM.
CHALLENGE: Have you acknowledged Jesus as your Savor and LORD of our live. If not, pray to HIM and ask for this relationship. If you have, keep short account with HIM. Each day is a new day of going to HIM in prayer for direction and forgiveness.
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: 17 O LORD, why have YOU made us to err from YOUR ways, and hardened our heart from YOUR fear? Return for YOUR servants’ sake, the tribes of YOUR inheritance. (8582 “err” [ta’ah] means to vacillate, mislead, lead astray, reel or stray, deceive, dissemble, seduce, stagger, or wander.)
DEVOTION: The book of Isaiah is called the fifth gospel. This chapter shows us why it can be called a book of good news. Isaiah reviews the history of Israel from Abraham through Moses.
He mentions how the LORD showed loving-kindnesses to HIS people. He mentions the LORD’S mercy. He mentions the ministry of the Holy Spirit during their wilderness wanderings. He mentions the LORD’S holiness. Isaiah said all this to tell us the LORD treated them well but they rebelled against HIM.
The children of Israel wandered from God and then blamed God for their wandering. Can we blame God for our sins? James tells us NO. The book of Romans chapter one instructs us that God is long-suffering but there comes a point where HE gives them over to their own desires.
The children of wanted to worship false gods. The children of Israel continually disregarding the prophets the LORD sent to them. HE didn’t cause them to wander; HE let them go their own way. HE is never the author of our sin.
Isaiah in his prayer asked the LORD why HE allowed them to go their own way. Why HE allowed them to harden their heart. It is a question that has been asked for generations. God gave man free will. What that means is hard to understand.
HE had foreknowledge regarding our lives before we were born. Before the foundation of the world HE knew the direction we would take. Does that mean we had no choice? NO!! The Bible continually tells us that “whosoever” calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. We have a choice. We live in time and God lives outside of time. Comprehending these concepts is beyond our pay grade. We have to take things by faith. God is not our enemy. God is the Savior of all those who turn to HIM. HE allows everyone to make their own choice for eternity.
Hopefully, all those receiving these devotions have called on the name of the LORD. If not, you can still do it today. Today is called the day of salvation. If you have any questions please write or call.
CHALLENGE: Don’t blame God for your sins. HE provides salvation first and a way to escape after that for all those who turn to HIM.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Isaiah’s prayer verse 15- 19
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Praise verse 7
Sanctuary verse 18
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Anger of the LORD verse 3, 6
Fury of the LORD verse 3, 5, 6
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 7, 14, 16, 17
Lovingkindness verse 7
Praises verse 7
Great goodness verse 7
Savior verse 8
Glorious name verse 14
Look down from heaven verse 15
Holiness verse 15
Glory verse 15
Father verse 16
Redeemer verse 16
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Vexed HIS Holy Spirit verse 10
Holy Spirit put within Moses verse 11
Spirit of the LORD verse 14
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angel of HIS presence verse 9
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Edom verse 1
Bozrah verse 1
Adversaries verse 18
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Lie verse 8
Rebelled verse 10
Vexed the Holy Spirit verse 10
Err verse 17
Hardened hearts verse 17
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Speak in righteousness verse 1
Salvation (Deliverance) verse 1, 5, 9
Redeemed verse 4, 9
Praise verse 7
Goodness verse 7
Mercy verse 7, 15
Lovingkindness verse 7
Savior verse 8
Love verse 9
Rest verse 14
Lead verse 14
Fear of the LORD verse 17
Servants verse 17
Inheritance verse 17
Called verse 19
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
House of Israel verse 7, 16
God’s people verse 8, 11
Moses verse 11, 12
Abraham verse 16
Tribes verse 17
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Day of vengeance verse 4
Year of my redeemed verse 4
Everlasting name verse 12, 16
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
Why does the Lord remain alienated? (63:17–19). 63:17. Make us wander is not an attempt to lay the blame on the Lord, rather a recognition that the guilt of his people is such that the Lord had no option but to drive them from him and into the far country of sin which they had chosen. Likewise harden our hearts does not blame the Lord for our sin. The heart choosing disobedience hardens progressively against God’s way until the moment (known only to God and fixed by him) comes when the point of no return is reached, when the final, decisive choice of sin is made. When this point is passed the situation is humanly irretrievable: only God can change it—if only he will return. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 440). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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Verse 17 makes us think of Isaiah’s commission and the warning he had then (cf. 6:9–13), that through his verbal ministry the people would become hardened in sin. The prayer perhaps alludes also to the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart in the Exodus story, which has provided so much background to the thought here. It recognizes that God has established that moral law in which sin hardens the heart and does so by divine design (cf. Rom 1:18–32). The word “return” may suggest the return of the shekinah glory to the temple as the symbol of God’s dwelling among his people (cf. Ezek 43:6–12). Certainly v.18 implies that their sense of alienation from him is not unconnected with the destruction of their sanctuary. There is a deep sense of special election in v.19. (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 343). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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63:15–19. The remnant would beg God to look down on them and remember their plight in the same way He had remembered the distress of their forefathers in Egypt (cf. v. 9). They would long for a display of both His strength and His love. Though they had not been following in the tradition of Abraham or Israel (i.e., Jacob), God was still their Father (cf. 64:8) and Redeemer (see comments on 41:14). Penitently the remnant would ask that God sovereignly return them, His servants, to Him, reminding Him that the temple (Your sanctuary) was destroyed (63:17–18). (This is one of many places in chaps. 40–66 which shows that Isaiah, living more than 100 years before the Babylonian Captivity, wrote prophetically to prepare that future generation of exiles for it.) Though the nation had belonged to God for centuries (from of old), it had been a long time since the people were in a proper relationship with God and His theocratic rule over them. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1118). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The prophet looks ahead in 63:1–6 and sees Jesus Christ returning from the battle of Armageddon that climaxes the Day of the Lord (Rev. 19:11–21). Edom is named here as a representative of the nations that have oppressed the Jews. Bozrah was one of its main cities, and its name means “grape gathering.” This is significant since the image here is that of the wine press (Joel 3:13; Rev. 14:17–20). The name “Edom” means “red” and was a nickname for Esau (Gen. 25:30).
The ancient wine press was a large, hollowed rock into which the grapes were put for the people to tread on them. The juice ran out a hole in the rock and was caught in vessels. As the people crushed the grapes, some of the juice would splash on their garments. Our Lord’s garments were dyed with blood as the result of the great victory over His enemies (Rev. 19:13).
When Jesus came to earth the first time, it was to inaugurate “the acceptable year of the Lord” (Isa. 61:2; Luke 4:19). When He comes the second time, it will be to climax “the day of vengeance of our God” (Isa. 63:4; 61:2). The enemy will be crushed like grapes and forced to drink their own blood from the cup of God’s wrath (51:17; Jer. 25:15–16). These images may not appeal to sophisticated people today, but the Jews in that day fully understood them. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 158). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Ver. 17. O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? &c.] These are the words, not of wicked men among the Jews, charging all their errors, hardness of heart, and wickedness they were guilty of, upon the Lord, as if he was the author and occasion of them, and led them into them; but of the truly godly, lamenting and confessing their wandering from the ways, commands, and ordinances of God, the hardness of their hearts; their want of devotion and affection for God; and their neglect of his worship; not blaming him for these things, or complaining of him as having done any thing amiss or wrong; but expostulating with him, and wondering at it, that he, who was their loving and tender father, that he should suffer them to err from his ways, and to wander from his worship, by withholding his grace and withdrawing his presence from them; by leaving them to the corruptions and hardness of their hearts; by chastising them sorely, and suffering the enemy to afflict them in such a severe manner as laid them under temptation to desert the worship of God, and cast off the fear of him. The Jews interpret this of their being hardened from the fear of God, and made to err from his ways by seeing the prosperity of the wicked, and their own long captivity, troubles, and distresses: return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance; or turn; turn from thine anger and displeasure to thy people; or, as the Targum, “return thy Shechinah to thy people;” thy gracious and glorious presence, which has been so long withdrawn; or return thy people from their captivity, the twelve tribes, thy portion and inheritance; and do this for thy servants’ sake; for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: or because of the covenant made with them; or for the sake of all thy people, who are thy servants, and which also are the tribes of thine inheritance, return unto them. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, pp. 374–375). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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GENERAL REVELATION
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
Romans 1:19-20
According to the Bible, God has revealed Himself in two main ways. The first is what we call general revelation; the other, obviously, is special revelation. So first let us look at general revelation. What is this? The Bible tells us that God has revealed Himself, in general and first, through creation and nature. Paul made a most important declaration on this subject to the people of Lystra. He said, “[God] left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Immediately before that, Paul had said, “God…made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:17, 15).
The other classic statement on that same point is to be found in Acts 17:24: “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” Again, you find the same thing stated in Romans 1:19-20: “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse”—another momentous passage. All those statements remind us that God, after all, has left His marks, His imprints, in nature and creation; they are “the works of his hands” (Psalm 111:7). “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).
Everything that has been made is in itself a revelation of God. That is the first definition of general revelation.
A Thought to Ponder: Everything that has been made is in itself a revelation of God.
(From God the Father, God the Son pp. 13-14,.by Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones
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In This Together
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. 2 Timothy 4:16
Kelly was battling brain cancer when the COVID-19 crisis hit. Then fluid developed around her heart and lungs, and she had to be hospitalized again. Her family couldn’t visit because of the pandemic. Her husband, Dave, vowed to do something.
Gathering loved ones together, Dave asked them to make large signs with messages. They did. Wearing masks, twenty people stood on the street outside the hospital holding signs: “Best Mom!” “Love You.” “We are with u.” With the help of a nurse, Kelly made her way to a fourth-floor window. “All we could see was a facemask and a waving hand,” her husband posted on social media, “but it was a beautiful facemask and waving hand.”
Late in his life, the apostle Paul felt alone as he languished in a Roman prison. He wrote to Timothy, “Do your best to get here before winter” (2 Timothy 4:21). Yet Paul wasn’t totally alone. “The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength,” he said (v. 17). And it’s also apparent that he had some encouraging contact with other believers. “Eubulus greets you,” he said to Timothy, “and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters” (v. 21).
We’re created for community, and we feel that most keenly when we’re in crisis. What might you do for someone who may feel entirely alone today?
By Tim Gustafson
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Rhonda Abers Culver writes:
I have a lot on my mind and heart…..so much that I have been praying about for quite a while, and even more currently so, I figure getting an online prayer circle going wouldn’t hurt. Much love to everyone who reads this.
I believe that when someone asks you to pray for them, you pray because prayers are free and should be given wholeheartedly! I decided to do this today because I’m standing in the need of prayer and so many others are as well. Let’s pray for each other today. All prayers needed right now. If I don’t see your name, I’ll understand. I ask my family and friends wherever you might be, to kindly post this status for one hour to whisper a prayer for all of those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, or worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune. I hope to see this on the walls of all my family and friends just for moral support. I did it for a friend and you can too!!
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Nations That Forget God
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)
The subject of hell is widely ignored today, even by evangelical teachers and pastors. Heaven is commonly mentioned at funerals, of course, since almost everyone attending a funeral wants to think that the deceased has gone there (assuming there turns out to be such a place). Hell is rarely acknowledged as even a possibility, on the other hand, even for mobsters or other criminals.
Nevertheless, hell is real and it is going to be more fully populated than heaven. The Lord Jesus said (and He should know!), “Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: . . . narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
But just who are the “wicked” that will be turned into hell? According to the Bible, “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), and “the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). By the principle of Hebrew poetic parallelism, our text would indicate that “the wicked” are those who “forget God,” where the connotation of “forget” is “become oblivious to.”
Can whole nations become oblivious to the true God of creation—and do business and legislate and conduct all their affairs just as though God no longer existed? If so, those nations (or at least those citizens of those nations who practice such wickedness) are in mortal danger. “Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross” (Psalm 119:119).
But “Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6) and “blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:12). We who trust Christ therefore surely need to work and pray earnestly for our nation, and its people, that they return to genuine love of God and His Word. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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If we are going to be able to live courageous live in these chaotic days, we will need to be calm in our hearts, compassionate toward others, constructive in our relationships, challenged to grow, and connected to the church. We were created to live in community, not in isolation. (p. 97)
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Regardless of the stern warning in Hebrews, many believers don’t take church attendance seriously. (p. 101)
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Regardless of the stern warnings in Hebrews, many believers don’t take church attendance seriously. …
Here is his list of reasons for no longer attending professional sports games:
1. Every time I go, they ask me for money
2. The people I sit by aren’t very friendly
3. The seats are too hard and uncomfortable
4. The coach never comes to call on me
5. The referees make decisions I don’t agree with
6. Some games go into overtime, and I’m late getting home
7. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up
8. My kids need to make their own decisions about which sports to follow (p. 102)
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The early church had a wonderful balance between corporate worship in the temple court and dinner meetings in individual homes. (p. 103, Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah)
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