Isaiah 63:7-14 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Isaiah 63:7-14. Let’s go!
Isaiah 63:7-8 (NIV)
7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us– yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
8 He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and so he became their Savior.
On verses 7-8: Isaiah seems to begin a new unit that starts here at Isaiah 63:7 and ends in Isaiah 64:12. This whole unit – Isaiah 63:7 to Isaiah 64:12 – is Isaiah trying to grapple with a disconcerting picture he sees of Jerusalem being in ruins. This sad situation would happen in the relatively near future for Isaiah, compared to chapters 60 to 62 where Isaiah talks about the very distant future – the end of time – when Jerusalem’s situation is exceptionally glorious. While it is clear that Isaiah is speaking about a future time when Jerusalem will be in ruins, the exact time period Isaiah is referring to is not clear. (Isaiah might be painting a picture of 586 B.C. when the Babylonians would capture Jerusalem and destroy the temple, but he could also be describing a later period, since Jerusalem and its temple would be destroyed more than once.)
So whereas Isaiah 60 to 62 pictures Jerusalem in its final glory, Isaiah 63:7-64:12 pictures Jerusalem temporarily in ruins. Yet you cannot tell that anything is wrong with Jerusalem just by reading Isaiah 63:7-14. For instead of beginning this unit with complaining or crying out to God for help, Isaiah begins by saying, “I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which He is to be praised…yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.”
What can we learn from this? When you’re going through a difficult time, it helps to focus on the good, to remember the ways that God has been kind and compassionate toward you. Choosing an attitude of gratitude this way helps you to go through the difficult time with a renewed and more powerful perspective. When you can recall times when God has been good to you in the past, it will help you persevere through present challenges. Your memory makes a difference.
Isaiah 63:9 (NIV)
9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
On verse 9: “In all their distress he too was distressed” (v9). Being the loving parent that He is, God feels distress when He sees that His children are distressed. He is the Father of all compassion. But He is also the God of great strength who can follow up His compassion with real help. In His strength, “He lifted them up and carried them”. God is full of compassion and strength.
Isaiah 63:10 (NIV)
10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
On verse 10: A running theme in Isaiah, and in all of the Old Testament for that matter, is that the people took God’s goodness for granted. Verse 10 says that God “turned and became their enemy and He fought against them.” Wait, JB! You’ve said before that God is forever loyal; how could God turned and fight against the very people He created?” It depends on what direction you’re facing. God has always been going in the same direction. He doesn’t change His mind. It was His people who rebelled, and when you rebel against God, you find yourself fighting against Him, instead of with Him.
Isaiah 63:11-14 (NIV)
11 Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people– where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown,
13 who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble;
14 like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.
On verses 11-14: Isaiah describes how, in their distress after rebelling against God, the people recall God’s mercy and goodness. That’s what we need to do as well. Whenever we have rebelled against God and suffer as a result, we need to run back to God, not away from Him. Like the lost son in Luke 15, whenever we run away, may the memory of God’s goodness lead us back to our heavenly Father.
By the way, the fact that Isaiah is referring to the days of Moses and God parting the waters may be a clue that Isaiah 63:7-64:12 was possibly written before Isaiah 43 was written. That is because in Isaiah 43, God essentially tells the people to stop focusing on how He parted the waters in Moses’ day, for He says, “Forget the former things; I am doing a new thing.” (see Isaiah 43:18-19)
Thank You Father that I can choose an attitude of gratitude today and it will help me to get through whatever it is I’m going through. Thank You for all the ways You’ve been good to me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
