Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Isaiah-Chapter 63

Isa 63.1-19 is a prophecy about the coming of the Messiah where he is dressed as a High Priest anointed for war. He has two purposes here, one for atonement for righteous Israel, and for judgment against adulteress Israel and the nations. The context, then, is a Yom Ha Din Yom Kippur at the second coming of Yeshua.

v 1…Who is this who comes from Edom (“east”-we believe that Yeshua will be coming from Mount Sinai when he returns, then moves north till he arrives in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur-Hos 2.14-23; Hab 3.3-4 in Teman; Hab 3.7-19 in Midian. He comes to Mount Sinai on Rosh Ha Shanah, then Sela or Petra: Isa 42.10-13; Deut 33.2; Judges 5.4-5; Zech 9.14; Hab 3.3-16; Jer 48.40-47, 49.19-22; Zeph 1.7-9, 2.8-11; Hos 13.15; Ezek 25.1-14; Mic 2.12-13; Zech 14.3-5. On Yom Kippur he arrives in Jerusalem: Matt 24.29-31; Isa 27.112-13; Mic 5.4; Joel 2.15-16; Song 8.5. What happens is described in Rev 19.19 and Jer 19.1-5. He arrives in Jerusalem, at the Mount of Olives. The Great Shofar, Shofar Ha Gadol, blows and angels are dispatched to gather the unrighteous in the world who have survived the birth-pains first. Then believers are gathered to a judgment described in Matt 25.31-46 and Luke 17.33. This judgment takes place between Tishri 10 and Tishri 15. There is also an earthquake from the Mount of Olives to Azal, which is about 12 miles away, and people flee from Jerusalem through the valley created. The False Messiah is captured as he flees near Jericho and he is killed, and the bodies of the slain in Jerusalem after the judgment is called the “Feast of Leviathan” due to the birds and beasts feasting on their dead bodies. These are the people who followed the False Messiah or just didn’t believe in the Lord. The righteous rejoice and prepare for the Wedding Supper at Sukkot, beginning Tishri 15), with garments of glowing colors (red clothes) from Bozrah (Isa 34.6-8 meaning “the fold” as in Mic 2.12-13; Song 8.5 calls it the “wilderness.” Bozrah was wine country)? This one who is majestic in his apparel (the High Priest anointed for war), marching (Hab 3.3-16 as he advances on Jerusalem-Rev 14.14-20; Deut 16.13; Joel 3.13; Zech 14.4) in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save” (the Messiah).

v 2…”Why is your apparel red and your garments like the one who treads in the winepress (red, not the original color-Joel 3.9-21; Rev 14.14-20, 19.16)?”

v 3…”I have trodden the wine press alone (he answers), and from the peoples there was no man with me (the nations are cut off like grapes and put into the wine press of his wrath). I will tread (future tense) them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments (the phrase here is of a priest who worked among the korbanot in the Temple for seven days) and I will stain all my garments.

v 4…For the day of vengeance (a Yom Kippur and Yovel term-Messiah has come as the avenger of blood, the Goel-Num 35.6-33; Heb 6.18-20) was in my heart (for those who were unbelievers; and my year of redemption (another Yom Kippur and Yovel term for those who believe) has come.

v 5…And I looked, and there was no one to help (salvation and redemption is through Yehovah alone); so my own arm (power, and a term for Messiah; God provides redemption on Yom Kippur) brought salvation to me (to himself, which only he could accomplish); and my wrath upheld me (carried me through on their behalf).

v 6…And I will trod down the peoples in my anger, and make them drunk in my wrath (God’s wrath is like a cup-Rev 14.10), and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth (their strength was drained and destroyed).”

v 7…I (Isaiah speaking as Israel) shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, the praises of the Lord (Yehovah-having heard what the Lord is going to do for Israel), according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has granted them according to his compassion, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses (and not by works of men, but by his mercy).

v 8…For he (Yehovah) said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not deal falsely.” So he became their savior.

v 9…In all their affliction he was afflicted (he had compassion for them; he wasn’t their enemy adversary-Hos 5.15), and the angel of his presence (the agent of God, the Messiah, his office being a “Shaliach” or “sent one”) saved them (Exo 23.20); in his love and in his mercy he redeemed them (out of Egypt); and he lifted them and carried them all the days of old (on eagles wings to Canaan-Exo 19.4).

v 10…But they rebelled (Zeph 3.7; Deut 9.7) and grieved the Holy Spirit (Eph 4.30; Acts 7.51); therefore he turned himself to become their enemy (or it looked that way- he fought against them-Lev 26.23-26).

v 11…Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses (and asked), ‘Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock (brought Moses and the people out of the Red Sea)? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit in the midst of him (the Holy Spirit is the Shekinah among Israel-Num 11.17-25, 14.24, 27.18; Deut 34.9)?

v 12…Who caused his glorious arm (power) to go at the right hand of Moses (God’s power with Moses), who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name (among the nations, they still talk about the crossing of the Red Sea-Josh 2.8-10).

v 13…Who led them through the depths (Hebrew “tehomot” or the very deep, subterranean deep)? Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble (it was very flat and easy).

v 14…As the cattle which go down into the valley (gently and in no hurry), the Spirit of the Lord (Yehovah) gave him (Israel) rest (gently led him to Canaan). So didst thou lead they people (through the sea and the wilderness), to make for thyself a glorious name (among the nations-Deut 4.6-8; Josh 2.8-10).

v 15…Look down from heaven, and see from thy holy (has a kedusha) and glorious habitation (it seems he has withdrawn there because he was once very active in manifesting himself to Israel); where are thy zeal and thy mighty deeds? The stirrings of thy heart and thy compassion are restrained towards me (where is the love and the power for your people that once protected us?).

v 16…For thou art our father (so why are you restrained in your compassion) though Abraham does not know us, and Israel (Jacob) does not recognize us (they were dead and could not help anymore), thou, O Lord (Yehovah), art our father (and therefore could look with fatherly care upon them and help), our redeemer from of old is thy name (Hebrew “goelaynu” and his acts in the past is why they can call on him as father)..

v 17…Why (or “I wonder why”), O Lord, dost thou cause us to stray from thy ways (or let us go our own way), and harden our heart from fearing thee (Israel was obstinate and rejected the grace of God, so God withdraws his presence and mercy and judicially gives them over to their afflictions)? Return for the sake of thy servants (there are still servants to be found), the tribes of thy inheritance (Israel’s divine election by grace cannot perish).

v 18…Thy holy people (has a kedusha) possessed it (the land) for a little while (especially in the time of David and Solomon), our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary (the land was his dwelling place and had a kedusha).

v 19…We have become like those over whom thou hast never ruled (the nations who never knew Yehovah), like those who were not called by thy name (or married by covenant to him).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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