The Lovingkindnesses Of The Lord (63:1-19)
Neal Pollard
In explaining this section (63-65), John A. Martin says, “Isaiah was writing for the exiles in Babylon who would view their situation as somewhat hopeless. They would not be able to sense how God could possibly help them in their distress. However, they would remember the way the Lord had helped His people in bringing them out of bondage in Egypt. This would encourage them to pray for release from their bondage” (BKC, Walvoord & Zuck, eds., 1118). Isaiah begins the chapter with the picture of the Lord’s triumphant battle against His enemies, His garments stained red with the blood of His enemies (1-3). His missions are vengeance and redemption (4), and He alone was responsible for the success of both (5-6). Isaiah has not long before says, “The Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save” (59:1). Here, He acts in accordance with His own righteous nature.
He is full of favor (7-9). God’s people sing of the loyal love of God as they look to the past, shown by His goodness and compassion. He felt for them, saved them, lifted them, and carried them by His mercy and love. “All the days of old” (9) shows the retrospective look at the past, full of God’s favor and tenderness toward them. These were His people and He was their God (8).
He is firm (10). Think of times like the wilderness wandering, the period of the judges, or the Babylonian Captivity where the nation turned against God for self, sin, or idolatry. Isaiah classifies such behavior as rebellion, grieving the Holy Spirit. God says He fights against His people when they turn from Him. It is frightening to hear God declare Himself our enemy!
He is fair (11-15). As if waking up from a dream (nightmare?), they “remembered” the days when Moses led them. They recalled deliverance at the Red Sea (11), the Holy Spirit in their midst (11), which Isaiah elaborates on in verses 12-14. They cry out for that fairness as they pray to God for His mercy to be shown to them once more. They feel that He is holding back, and they plead for it to return!
He is Father (16-19). Isaiah exclaims this. “For You are our Father” (16). He says that even when the people forget this, it is still so (17). With oppression and opposition, they feel like one who was never ruled or possessed as His family. They long for that again.
Isaiah represents the nation, praying to God in the midst of abandonment. Their hope is that He will be consistent with His nature and shower them once more with lovingkindness.
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