Isaiah 63 (HCSB)
The Lord’s Day of Vengeance
1 Who is this coming from Edom in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah—this One who is splendid in His apparel, rising up proudly in His great might?
It is I, proclaiming vindication, powerful to save.
2 Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads a winepress?
3 I trampled the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and ground them underfoot in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.
4 For I planned the day of vengeance, and the year of My redemption came.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help, and I was amazed that no one assisted; so My arm accomplished victory for Me, and My wrath assisted Me.
6 I crushed nations in My anger; I made them drunk with My wrath and poured out their blood on the ground.
Remembrance of Grace
7 I will make known the Lord’s faithful love and the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, because of all the Lord has done for us—even the many good things He has done for the house of Israel and has done for them based on His compassion and the abundance of His faithful love.
8 He said, “They are indeed My people, children who will not be disloyal,” and He became their Savior.
9 In all their suffering, He suffered, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. He redeemed them because of His love and compassion; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.
10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He became their enemy and fought against them.
11 Then He remembered the days of the past, the days of Moses and his people. Where is He who brought them out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit among the flock?
12 He sent His glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand, divided the waters before them to obtain eternal fame for Himself,
13 and led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble.
14 Like cattle that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. You led Your people this way to make a glorious name for Yourself.
Israel’s Prayer
15 Look down from heaven and see from Your lofty home—holy and beautiful. Where is Your zeal and Your might? Your yearning and Your compassion are withheld from me.
16 Yet You are our Father, even though Abraham does not know us and Israel doesn’t recognize us. You, Yahweh, are our Father; from ancient times, Your name is our Redeemer.
17 Why, Yahweh, do You make us stray from Your ways? You harden our hearts so we do not fear You. Return, because of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
18 Your holy people had a possession for a little while, but our enemies have trampled down Your sanctuary.
19 We have become like those You never ruled over, like those not called by Your name.
PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN (verse 10): I have such a rebellious nature for some reason, Father. I often rebel against the ways that You want me to live, which ends up causing anger, grief, a hardened heart, and so much more pain. Please forgive me for my rebellious nature, Father. Remind me that Your ways are always better than my own. Help me to be less rebellious and more of a servant for You, Father, just like Jesus was when He walked on this earth.
PROMISE (verse 7): You promise us in this one verse, Father, that You will make known Your faithful love and all the praiseworthy acts You’ve done for us. Thank You for this promise. Oftentimes, I need a reminder of the great things You have done in my life. I have lived a life where it has been difficult to truly feel the love from others, especially when I’m in my low and dark spots. Thank You for reminding me that Your abundant love is always available and You are always faithful with Your love.
ATTITUDE (verses 7, 17): I have lived a life recently with an extremely hardened heart, Father. Hardened towards my family, my friends, and even You at times. Please forgive me of this, Father. Help me to hold onto Your abundant love, so that I may have an attitude of love that overflows out of me onto others in my daily walk in this life, Father. Help my attitudes that I have towards others be one of love and compassion like You have towards me. You keep this attitude of love and compassion towards me even though I have rebelled and strayed quite often. Help me to have the same towards others in my life so that I may always portray Your attitudes towards them and not my own.
COMMAND (verses 5, 7): Father, in these verses You command us to help and assist You. The way we are to help You is to spread Your greatness, Your abundant love, Your compassion, and Your praiseworthy acts to the world. Help me to have the confidence and strength to be able to spread Your message, Father, so that I may be a good and faithful servant in this life.
EXAMPLE (verses 15-19): Father, Your people strayed from You and rebelled from You, yet You showed that You are always faithful and full of grace. In these verses, although Your people strayed, they recognized the hardships they were going through as a result and they lifted up in prayer to You for redemption and for Your grace. Help me to remember this example, Father, so that I may always go to You in prayer when I bring issues upon myself in my faith walk with You. Help me to be in prayer with You often, so that I do not grow a hardened heart towards You or anyone else. Help me to pray so much, that it becomes my default in this life through both the positive and negative things that occur in my life.
*DAILY NOTE: This Scripture shows Your wrath and anger when Your people rebel against You. Just like a father feels the need to discipline their children at times due to their transgressions, You did the same here. At the same time, You showed just how abundant Your faithfulness, love, compassion, and grace are towards Your people. Thank You so much for this, Father. Without the abundance of You, I would be so lost in this world and fail more often than I have. Continue to remind me daily that I must lean on You through all things, so that Your abundance overflows out of me into this world.
*GENERAL NOTE: I always "sandwich" my quiet time with God in prayer and do it in a location that I will not have any distractions so that I can be focused on my quiet time with God. Do not worry about how short or long your journal entries are for that day's quiet time. Just focus on the actual quiet time and relational conversation with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The journaling is an enhancement to your quiet time conversation with God, but also to allow you to reflect on things later as you can look back on your journal entries later when you do the chapters again in the future to see how you have grown. See the FAQ for more detail on how I do my quiet time.
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