Isa. 63 Christ’s victory over his enemies, Isa. 63:1–6, and mercy towards his church; in judgment remembering mercy, Isa. 63:7–14. The church’s prayer and complaint in faith, Isa. 63:15–19.

In these two verses either the prophet, as in some vision or ecstasy, is put probably upon inquiry by God himself, rather than by Christ, or Michael, or Judas Maccabeeus, as some have thought; and the rather, because this place doth thus suit best with Isa. 59:16–17.

Having inquired of the person, now he inquires the reason of his habit being thus sprinkled.

I have trodden the winepress, i.e. I have destroyed the enemies of my people, I have crushed them as grapes are crushed; this being a usual metaphor to describe the utter destruction of a people, Ps. 44:5, Isa. 25:10, Rev.

The day of vengeance, designed and purposed by me to take vengeance on the enemies of my church; or particularly the posterity of Esau. Day and year is all one, save the latter may have some respect to the length of their captivity. Is in mine heart; or, was in my heart; a desire of execution, Ps.

There was none to help; not that he needed it, for help implies a defect of power, or wisdom, or wealth, or opportunity, &c. but to see what men would do, in regard his people needed it; therefore the standing or not standing by his people is the same thing with standing or not standing by him,…

Make them drunk: the Hebrew often expresseth calamities by a cup of wine, or strong drink, by which the distressed persons are made drunk, Ps. 75:8, Isa. 51:21–22; they go as it were to and fro, not knowing what to do with themselves; and in special drunk with their own blood, Isa. 49:26, Rev.

Whether this ought to be the beginning of a new chapter, or no, is not material; but certainly here begins a new matter, which contains the prophet’s prayer, either in his own name or the church’s, to the end of Isa.

For he said, viz. within himself of old, when he made a covenant with our fathers, and brought them out of Egypt, Surely they are my people, in covenant; though they are unworthy of me, yet I cannot but look upon them as my people.

In all their affliction he was afflicted; because of all the afflictions they endured in Egypt: this notes the sympathy that is in Christ, he having the same Spirit in him that the church hath, and her Head and Father.

They rebelled: many of their rebellions we read of in Exodus and Numbers in their travels. The Lord tells Moses that they had tempted him ten times, and therefore severely threatens them, Num. 14:22–23. There were three principal times of their rebellion: 1.

Then, or yet, he remembered: this relates either, 1. To the people, and then he is collectively taken; and so it looks like the language of the people in Babylon, and must be read, he shall remember. Or, 2.

The right land, viz. the strength and power that God gave to Moses, expressed by the right hand, that being usually esteemed the stronger, Ps. 16:8, Ps. 20:6. Or, the rod in his right hand; by which understand also all the wonders that he did for them in Egypt.

That led them through the deep; showing that God did not dry up shallow places, but the very depth of the sea, the very channel, which is the deepest part.

As a beast goeth down into the valley; a laden beast goeth warily and gently down the hill: or, as a beast goeth down to the valley for grass, that being a mountainous country: or going down for going along; so the word is used Isa.

Look down from heaven: now they, or the prophet, begin to pray, and expostulate with God, and to argue both from the goodness of his nature, and from the greatness of his works that he had done.

Doubtless thou art our Father: thus they urge God with that relation he stands in unto them, Mal. 2:10; therefore we as thy children expect the bowels and compassions of a father. Though Abraham, he who was our father after the flesh, though he be dead, and so ignorant of our condition.

Made us to err from thy ways, commandments. It is the language of the godly among them being troubled, and therefore complaining that so gracious a Father should leave them to such exigences. Made us to sin by withdrawing thy Spirit and leaving us to ourselves, Ps. 81:12.

The people of thy holiness; or, thy holy people, as being set apart for his servants; holiness being to be understood for a covenant separation from other people. But a little while. i.e. 1.

We are thine; we continue so; we are in covenant which they never were; and thus it is an argument they use with God to look upon them. Or, the word thine, being not in the text, some do otherwise interpret it; We are even in the same condition we were in at first, either in Egypt, or Ur of the…