CALVARY PANDAN judgement. If they are not judged in BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH this life, they will be judged in the life to come with an even more severe judgement that is eternal. If God were DHW BIBLE CLASS to show mercy to them, He would LESSON 63 judge them now while they are still alive on this earth so that they can ISAIAH repent of their sins and turn to the CHAPTER 63 Saviour. In the case of Israel who had Theme: "The favour of the LORD observed and tasted repeatedly this toward His people!" protection from the Lord, she must never become complacent as if she could do whatever she wanted to THEME VERSES including committing the sin of idolatry Isaiah 63:17-19 (KJV) "O LORD, why and the Lord would not do anything to hast thou made us to err from thy her. This is a most unbiblical thinking, ways, and hardened our heart from thy which will result in a grievous fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the punishment from the Lord. Though it is tribes of thine inheritance. 18 The common to think that since I am a child people of thy holiness have possessed of an important and powerful person, I it but a little while: our adversaries can do whatever I want and my father have trodden down thy sanctuary. 19 will take care of and protect me We are thine: thou never barest rule regardless of my right or wrong doings. over them; they were not called by thy This might be true in many instances name." when it comes to the standard of the world. But when it comes to the Lord, such reasoning is sin. INTRODUCTION In fact, God will deal with His The punishment of God upon people on a higher plane of holiness the enemies of Israel must not cause since His people have been given the Israel to be arrogant or enter into a perfect Word of God to guide them. state of putrefaction whereby Israel When more has been given, more is can do whatever she wants and definitely expected. Israel must live up believes that the Lord will not punish to her expectation and be a godly her! This is not the Lord of the Bible. witness to a whole world that is dying He is no respecter of persons, in sin. Any nation of the world that especially when it comes to His hinders Israel's duty to shine forth the judgement upon all man. Obviously the light of Christ will be dealt with by God enemies of the Lord and God's people as we can see from the first few verses will be justly punished by Him. They on this chapter of Isaiah. But when will never escape from His omnipotent Israel commits sin, Israel too will be DHW LESSON 63 ISAIAH 63 punished. But since Israel is to shine blood of the Edomites that was shed for Christ and the world needs the light because of the LORD's judgement of Christ to shine brightly, the Lord will against her. The LORD is also want Israel to return back to Him and described here as the One who is will never be cast off completely. The glorious in his apparel travelling in the dealing with Israel is more of greatness of His strength. This means restoration i.e. chastisement rather that the judgement of the LORD was than punishment. There is no second swift and no one could stand against Israel. In the New Testament, God will Him. The LORD replied and declared replace Israel (cf. Romans 9-11) when for all that hear that He speaks in Israel rejected the Jesus of Nazareth righteousness and He is mighty to as their Christ. Until then, Israel will save! Every word that proceeds out of still be the only national witness of His mouth is characterised by God's grace and mercies. Hence the righteousness even when sinful man favour of the LORD would still be upon rejects His Word and His judgement! Israel. The words of the LORD will forever be righteous regardless of man's acceptance or rejection. He is mighty OUTLINE to save just as He is mighty to punish! 1. The Enemies of God Punished! He is able to save all and always on (vv.1-6); His terms. 2. The great goodness of The Lord Isaiah asked the LORD why is upon Israel (vv. 7-14); His garment red like the ones who tread in the winefat i.e. winevat or 3. The Lord is the Father of Israel (vv. winepress. The LORD's reply was that 15-19). He has trodden the winepress alone. He did so in His anger and trampled COMMENTARY them in His fury. Their blood was sprinkled on His garment and all His The enemies of God punished! raiment was stained by the blood of — 63:1-6 God's enemies. This means that many The destruction of Edom was died because of the righteous completed when Isaiah began in verse judgement of the LORD. The 1. Using two rhetorical questions, vengeance of the LORD was in His Isaiah introduced the Judge of Edom heart. The year of the redeemed has who is none other than the LORD come. The word for year and day are Himself. He asks who is this that to be understood as one in terms of cometh from Edom with dyed sense. The word for day when applied garments from Bozrah! Bozrah was to the Edomites in their judgement the ancient capital city of Edom. When refers to immediate judgement. In the the capital city is destroyed, it means case of Israel, the word for year refers that the nation is destroyed. The to a long period of their subjugation redness of the garments refers to the under the Edomites but now it is also 2 DHW LESSON 63 ISAIAH 63 their time for deliverance. In the case thankful and not see them as their of the Edomites, it was time for right. judgement whereas for the Israelites, it The LORD says that surely was redemption. Israel is God's people. They will not lie. No one will be able to stand in Israel has the truth. The people of God the way of the LORD's judgement will reflect the truth of God for that is against His enemies. They will be the most important reflection that must summarily dealt with by Him. When He shine forth and brightly into a world looked to see if any would come to that is soaked and covered by help Israel but no one came. The deceptions and lies. Satan is the LORD does not need any help from Father of lies! Everywhere we turn our anyone to accomplish His work. The heads, we see lies. The LORD will LORD Himself brought salvation to always be the Saviour of His people. Israel. His fury sustained Him in His They must not lie but tell the truth at all punishment against the enemies of times. In the history of Israel's Israel. They were made drunk in God's sufferings, the LORD has always been fury i.e. behaved like drunkards there to deliver her. In His love and running here and there without any pity, He redeemed Israel. He carried knowledge of where they are going. them and watched over them all the They will be brought down and their days of old. There was never a time strength will be seen as nothing when the LORD slept and Israel had to against God. fend for herself. The LORD always The great goodness of The Lord cares for His people. upon Israel — 63:7-14 However, Israel has not always Isaiah now speaks to Israel on behaved well before the LORD. In fact behalf of the LORD. He mentions the Israel behaved badly. Israel rebelled loving kindness and the praises of the against her loving God. They vexed LORD according to all that He has Him. The LORD had to become her done for Israel. He calls this "the great enemy so that Israel will stop sinning. goodness toward the house of Israel." He fought against them. Then the Israel did not deserve God's great LORD remembered the days of old. goodness. This was based upon God's He remembered Moses and His mercies and the multitude of His loving people. He was the One who brought kindnesses. God's people never fully Israel out of Egypt through the Red realize that it has always been and will Sea. He put His Holy Spirit into Moses always continue to be based upon so that he could do God's will. He led God's mercies and loving kindnesses Moses with His glorious arm to divide that they are saved and chosen to be the water that all might leave Egypt. His witnesses on this earth. There is The LORD remembered the early days no room for arrogance only gratitude. of Israel's birth. When a child has When blessings come, they must be grown and is rebellious, a loving parent cannot help but recall those 3 DHW LESSON 63 ISAIAH 63 early days when the child was born. Isaiah's time because he is also dead Tenderness and mercy will flood the like Abraham. heart of the parent as He remembers But the LORD is Israel's Father the days of old very tenderly. and Redeemer. His Name is forever. Compassion will then follow and soon He never dies.