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More Isaiah commentaries
Isaiah 60:1-14
Rescuing the Nation
Isaiah 60:15-22
The Lord Showering His Blessing on Israel
Isaiah 61:1-11
Christ Coming to Honor Israel
Isaiah 62:1-12
Peace Within the Land
Isaiah 63:1-6
The Coming of The Lord
Isaiah 63:7-19
Consideration of the Past
Isaiah 65:13-25
Election of Israel
Isaiah 66:10-24
The Lord Establishes a New Heaven And New Earth
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Consideration of the Past
Isaiah 63:7–19
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Do not waste your time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to lov … More
This passage consists of a review of Israel’s relationship with the Lord (vv. 7-10) and a call for Israel to remember who He is (vv. 11-14). Isaiah announced that he would reflect on the loyal love of the Lord toward His people Israel (v. 7). God had elected Israel as His son. This was not due to anything in Israel but totally due to God’s loving selection of them for special blessing (v. 8). The Israelites had responded to God’s grace in electing them by committing themselves to Him (Exod. 19:8) (v. 9). It is one of the most moving expressions of the compassion of God in the Old Testament.
Even though the Israelites pledged themselves to follow the Lord faithfully, they rebelled against Him and so grieved His Holy Spirit (v. 10). Having experienced the chastening of the Lord for some time, the Israelites reflected on former times when God had fought for His people rather than against them (v. 11). He had manifested His power through Moses as He divided the waters of the Red Sea and the waters of the Jordan River (v. 12). He led them as their deliverer, and made them as sure-footed as a horse traversing open country (v. 13). He even gave His people rest in Canaan (v. 14).
Isaiah next appealed to God on behalf of the nation, to have pity on Israel (vv. 15-19). He called on Him to look down from heaven, on His people below and reminded Him that He was Israel’s true father (vv. 15-16). God allows people to sin, but He does not make it inevitable that they sin (v. 17) (James 1:13). The holy people that the Lord had redeemed possessed the temple only briefly (v. 18). The Israelites had become like any other nation with whom God had no special relationship (v. 19).Application
Just as Isaiah reminded the Lord of His past compassion toward His people I can remind the Lord of His past love and compassion toward me and request Him to have pity on me.
Isaiah 63:7-19 (English Standard Version)
I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely." And he became their Savior. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit, who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.
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