rd

Isaiah 63

1 God shal destroy his enemies for his Church’s sake. 7 God’s benefits toward his Church.
1.Who is this that commeth afrom Edóm, with red garments from Bozráh? he is glorious in his apparel and walketh in his great strength: bI speak in righteousness, and am mightie to save.
2.cWherefore is thine apparel red, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine press?
3.I have trodden the wine press alone, and of all people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and tread them under foot in my wrath, and their blood shalbe sprincled upon my garments, and I wil stain all my raiment.
4.For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the dyear of my redeemed is come.
5.And I looked, and there was none to help, and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own earm helped me, and my wrath it self sustained me.
6.Therefore I will tread down the people in my wrath, and make them drunken fin mine indignation, and will bring down their strength to the earth.
7.I will gremember the mercies of the Lord and the praises of the Lord according unto all that the Lord hath given us, and for the great goodness toward the house of Israél, which he hath given them according to his tender love, and according to his great mercies.
8.For he said, Surely they are my hpeople, children that will not lie: so he was their saviour.
9.In all their troubles he was itroubled, and the Angel kof his presence saved them: in his love and in his mercie he redeemed them, and he bare them and carried them all waies continually.
10.But they rebelled and vexed his holie Spirit: therefore was he turned to be their enemie and he fought against them.
11.Then he lremembered the old time of Mosés and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the Sea with the mshepherd of his sheep? where is he that put his holie Spirit within nhim?
12.He led them by the right hand of Mosés with his own glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make him self an everlasting Name.
13.He led them through the deep, as an ohorse in the wilderness, that they should not stomble,
14.As the beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave they rest: so didest thou lead thy people, to make thy self a glorious Name.
15.pLook down from heaven, and behold from the dwelling place of thine holiness, and of thy glorie. Where is thy qzeal and thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies, and of thy compassions? they are restrained from rme.
16.Doutles thou art our Father: though sAbrahám be ignorant of us, and Israél know us not, yet thou, ô Lord, art our Father, and our redeemer: thy Name is for ever.
17.O Lord, why hast tthou made us to erre from thy ways? and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy uservant’s sake, and for the tribes of thine inheritance.
18.The people of thine holiness have possessed it, but a little xwhile: for our adversaries have trodden down thy Sanctuarie.
19.We have been as they, over whom thou never barest rule, and upon whom thy Name was not called.

Notes

1-a.
This prophecy is against the Idumeans, and enemies which persecuted the Church, on whom God will take vengeance, and is here set forth all bloody after that he has destroyed them in Bozrah, the chief city of the Idumeans: for these were their greatest enemies, and under the title of circumcision, and the kindred of Abraham claimed to themselves the chief religion, and hated the true worshippers, Ps. 137.7.
1-b.
God answers them that asked this question, Who is this? &c and says, You see now preformed in deed the vengeance, which my Prophets threatened.
2-c.
Another question, to the which the Lord answers.
4-d.
Showing, that when God punishes he enemies, it is for the profit and deliverance of his Church.
5-e.
God shows that he has no need of man’s help for the deliverance of his, and though man refuse to do their duty through negligence, and ingratitude, yet he himself will deliver his Church, and punish the enemies, read Ch. 59.16.
6-f.
I will so astonie them, and make them so giddy, that they shall not know, which way to go.
7-g.
The Prophet speaks this to move the people to remember God’s benefits in times past, that they may be confirmed in their troubles.
8-h.
For I did choose them to be mine, that they should be holy, and not deceive mine expectation.
9-i.
He bare their afflictions and griefs as though they had been his own.
9-k.
Which was a witness of God’s presence and this may be referred to Christ, to whom belongs the office of salvation.
11-l.
That is, the people of Israel being afflicted, called to remembrance God’s benefits, which he had bestowed upon their fathers in times past.
11-m.
Meaning Moses.
11-n.
That is, in Moses that he might well govern the people: some refer this giving of the Spirit to the people.
13-o.
Peaceably and gently, as an horse is led to his pasture.
15-p.
Having declared God’s benefits showed to their forefathers, he turns himself to God by prayer, desiring him to continue the same graces toward them.
15-q.
Your great affection which you bare toward us.
15-r.
Meaning from the whole body of the Church.
16-s.
Though Abraham would refuse us to be his children, yet you will not refuse to be our father.
17-t.
By taking away your holie Spirit from us, by whom we were govern- ed, and so for our ingratitude did deliver us up to our own concupiscence, and did punish sin by sin according to your just judgement,
17-u.
Meaning, for the covenant’s sake made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob his servants.
18-x.
That is, in respect of the promise, which is perpetual albeit they had now possessed the land of Canaan, a thousand, and four hundred year and thus they lament, to move God rather to remember his covenant then to punish their sins.