63:1 Who [is] this that cometh a from Edom, with dyed garments
from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel,
travelling in the greatness of his strength? b I that
speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
(a) This prophecy is against the Idumeans and enemies who
persecuted the Church, on whom God will take vengeance,
and is here set forth all bloody after he has destroyed
them in Bozrah, the chief city of the Idumeans: for
these were their greatest enemies,and under the title
of circumcision and the kindred of Abraham.
(b) God answers them that asked this question, "Who is
this?" etc. and says "You see now performed in deed the
vengeance which my prophets threatened."
63:2c Why [art thou] red in thy apparel, and thy garments
like him that treadeth in the wine press?
(c) Another question, to which the Lord answers.
63:4 For the day of vengeance [is] in my heart, and the d year
of my redeemed is come.
(d) Showing that when God punishes his enemies, it is for
the profit and deliverance of his Church.
63:5 And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered
that [there was] none to uphold: therefore my own e arm
brought salvation to me; and my fury, it upheld me.
(e) God shows that he has no need of man's help for the
deliverance of his, and though men refuse to do their
duty through negligence and ingratitude, yet he himself
will deliver his Church, and punish the enemies,
(Isa 59:16).
63:6 And I will tread down the people in my anger, and make them
f drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength
to the earth.
(f) I will so astonish them and make them so giddy that
they will not know which way to go.
63:7 I will g mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, [and]
the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD
hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the
house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according
to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his
lovingkindnesses.
(g) The prophet speaks this to move the people to remember
God's benefits in times past, that they may be
confirmed in their troubles.
63:8 For he said, Surely they [are] my h people, children
[that] will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
(h) For I chose them to be mine, that they should be holy,
and not deceive my expectation.
63:9 In all their affliction he was i afflicted, and the angel
k of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity
he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all
the days of old.
(i) He bore their afflictions and griefs as though they had
been his own.
(k) Which was a witness of God's presence, and this may be
referred to Christ, to whom belongs the office of
salvation.
63:11 Then he l remembered the days of old, Moses, [and] his
people, [saying], Where [is] he that brought them out of
the sea with the m shepherd of his flock? where [is] he
that put his Holy Spirit within n him?
(l) That is, the people of Israel being afflicted, called
to mind God's benefits, which he had bestowed on their
fathers in times past.
(m) Meaning, Moses.
(n) That is, in Moses that he might well govern the
people: some refer this giving of the spirit to the
people.
63:13 That led them through the deep, as an o horse in the
wilderness, [that] they should not stumble?
(o) Peaceably and gentle, as a horse is led to his
pasture.
63:15p Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation
of thy holiness and of thy glory: where [is] thy q zeal
and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy
mercies toward me? are they r restrained?
(p) Having declared God's benefits showed to their
forefathers, he turned himself to God by prayer,
desiring him to continue the same graces toward them.
(q) Your great affection, which you bore for us.
(r) Meaning, from the whole body of the Church.
63:16 Doubtless thou [art] our father, though s Abraham be
ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O
LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from
everlasting.
(s) Though Abraham would refuse us to be his children, yet
you will not refuse to be our father.
63:17 O LORD, why hast t thou made us to err from thy ways,
[and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy u
servants' sake, the tribes of thy inheritance.
(t) By taking away the Holy Spirit from us, by whom we
were governed, and so for our ingratitude delivered us
up to our own concupiscence, and punished sin by sin
according to your just judgment.
(u) Meaning, for the covenant's sake made to Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob his servants.
63:18 The people of thy holiness have possessed [it] but a
little x while: our adversaries have trodden down thy
sanctuary.
(x) That is, in respect to the promise, which is
perpetual: even though they had now possessed the land
of Canaan for 1400 years: and thus they lament, to
move God rather to remember his covenant, than to
punish their sins.
