K e 1-. Question.
f -1. Answer. Character.
e 2. Question.
f 3-6. Answer. Work.603-588 B.C.
Isaiah 64)
1 Who is (&c. the prophet's question) This (i.e. Messiah in the execution of His vengeance in judgment) That comes from Edom (= red. Cp. 34:5), with dyed garments from Bozrah? (= vintage. Cp. 34:5)
This That is glorious in His apparel, bending forward (as in marching) in the greatness of His strength? (for endurance) I that speak in righteousness, mighty (in endurance) to save.
2 Why are You red in Your apparel (Heb. 'adom. Hence "Edom", v.1), and Your garments like him that treads in the wine-press?
3 I have trodden the trough alone; and of people[s] there was not a man with Me: for I will tread them in My anger, and trample them in My fury; and their blood will spurt upon My garments, and I will stain all My clothing. (Lit. grape-juice, put for life-blood. All this is in judgment, not redemption)
4 For the day of vengeance is in My mind, and the year (cp. 61:2) of My redeemed as by a kinsman is come. (see Ex. 6:6. Deut. 32:35)
5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore My own arm brought victory to Me (cp. 59:16); and My indignation (some codices read, "righteousness". Cp. 59:18), it upheld me.
6 And I will tread down people[s] in My anger, and make them drunk in (some codices read, "broke them in pieces with") My fury, and I will bring down their life-blood to the earth. (as in v.3)
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 (see 5:7), which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His loving-kindnesses.
8 For He said, "Surely they are My People, sons that will not deal falsely:" so He was their Savior.
9 In all their affliction He was afflicted (the Heb. text reads, "In all their adversity He was no adversary"), and the Angel of His presence saved them (see Ex.14:19; 23:20,21; 33:14): in His love and in His pity He redeemed them (see Ex. 15:13); and He bare them (see Ex. 19:4. Deut. 1:31; 32:18. Cp.46:3,4. Acts 13:18), and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled (see Ex. 15:24. Num. 14:11,34), and vexed His set apart (holy) Spirit (Ruach): therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
11 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 shepherds of His flock? (referring to either Moses, Aaron, and Joshua; or, the plural of Majesty, referring to Yehovah their Shepherd) where is He That put His holy Spirit within him? (see Num. 11:17. Cp. Ex. 14:31; 32:11,12. Num. 14:13,14)
12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with His glorious arm (see Ex.15:16), dividing the water before them (see Ex.14:21), to make Himself an everlasting name? (see 44:7)
13 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?”
14 As the cattle goes down into the valley (referring to the settlement of Israel in Canaan), the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so did You lead Your People, to make Yourself a glorious name.
N g 63:15. To look down.
h 63:16. "Our Father".
i 63:17. Sin.
j 63:18,19. Desolation.
g 64:1-7. To come down.
h 64:8. "Our Father".
i 64:9. Sin.
j 64:10-12. Desolation.15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of Your holiness (see "courts", 62:9) and of Your glory: where is Your zeal and Your mighty deeds, the yearning of Your bowels and of Your mercies toward me? are they restrained?
16 Doubtless You are our Father (see Deut. 32:6. "Father", a rare word in this connection. Cp. 64:8), though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: You, O the Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer (see 60:16); Your name is from everlasting.
17 O Lord, why have You suffered us to err from Your ways, and let us harden our heart from Your love (or, reverence)? Return for Your servants' sake (see Num. 10:36), the tribes of Your inheritance.
18 Your set apart People (see Ex. 3:5. Deut. 7:6; 26:19) have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary.
19 We are Yours (there is no word for "Yours" in Heb. text. The Heb. accent [disjunctive] leaves a solemn hiatus between the two clauses; as though, what Israel had become could not be expressed by words: "We are come to this - You never bare rule over them"; implying an Ellipsis, to be supplied thus: "We are become as they"): You never bare rule over them; Your name was not called upon them.