Isaiah 63

Wesley: the church asks with admiration who appears in this habit. Edom is Idumea, where Esau dwelt; it is put for all the enemies of the church. Bozrah is Edom’s capital—Edom meaning red, Bozrah a vintage. Here Christ gives an answer: he will faithfully perform what he hath promised, and truly execute justice. Mighty—I have power to accomplish salvation.

The One who comes is Christ, Savior who also judges. Edom first; then all the church’s enemies. Shared ground: he is mighty to save.

Calvin: this chapter has been violently distorted as if it related to Christ wet with his own blood on the cross. The Prophet speaks of God himself. The Lord comes forth with red garments that all may know he is their protector and avenger. Judgment on the Edomites shows the Church is the object of his care. The Lord himself replies: I speak justly; I claim no ordinary power to save.

God himself, not a crucified figure in this verse. Edom’s cruelty is punished. Same Speaker who is mighty to save; the fork is whether the crimson is Christ’s passion or the Lord’s slaughter of persecutors.

Wesley does not pause here; v. 1’s Christ still answers. Apparel red like one who treads the winepress—Bozrah’s vintage now blood, not grape-juice.

The question is wonder, not doubt that he saves. Edom’s winepress; gospel judgment on the church’s enemies. Not a later battlefield photo.

Calvin: he continues to put questions, that he may arouse their minds. This sprinkling of blood is remarkable and extraordinary. Bozrah lay in a vine-bearing district. There will be other vintages than those which are customary; for blood shall be shed instead of the juice of the grapes.

The red is the Lord’s judgment, not chance. Same winepress image as Wesley; the stain is the enemy’s blood.

Wesley: I have destroyed the enemies of my people, I have crushed them as grapes are crushed—an usual metaphor for the utter destruction of a people.

Christ treads alone. Edom first; then the church’s enemies. He needs no helper. Shared solitude with Calvin: no one was with him.

Calvin: the Lord was stained with blood because he will take vengeance on the Edomites and other enemies who treated his people cruelly. It would be absurd to say these things relate to Christ because he alone redeemed us; it means God will punish the Edomites with no need of human assistance. Peoples may rise to destroy Edom, yet the work of God shall be separate from them.

God is first cause; instruments do not own the judgment. The Edomites shall not remain unpunished for persecuting the Church. Same solitude; the accent is his wrath, not our aid.

Wesley: of vengeance—to take vengeance on the enemies of my church.

The day in his heart is judgment on those enemies; the year of redemption is their deliverance. Edom first; the church still waits on the Lord who both judges and saves.

Calvin: God does not cease to discharge his office though he delays till a seasonable time. It does not belong to us to prescribe when he ought to judge. Day and year mark the long captivity, that they may not despair. He punishes wicked men for the purpose of delivering the godly and of redeeming his Church; by their slaughter he opens a way for his grace.

Vengeance is just judgment on persecutors, executed when he pleases, for the Church’s sake. Same pair as Wesley—vengeance and redemption.

Wesley: none to help—not that he needed it, but to see what men would do, in regard his people needed it. Standing or not standing by his people is standing or not standing by him. Uphold is a staff one leans on.

He looks for helpers among men because his people needed them. None came. His own arm still saves. The church may still stand with him; absence is unbelief, not his lack of power.

Calvin: though the Jews were destitute of all assistance, the arm of the Lord is alone sufficient to punish enemies and set his people at liberty. From God alone they ought to expect salvation, eyes wholly fixed on him, who has no need of the assistance of others. He contrasts every human aid with his own arm.

He will be seen to be their Savior. Do not gaze around. Same solitude as Wesley; the accent is that his arm needs no staff.

Wesley: drunk—they go as it were to and fro, not knowing what to do with themselves. Bring down—whatever it is wherein their strength lies, he will bring to the very dust, to nothing.

The peoples are made drunk in wrath; their strength is dust. Edom first; the church’s enemies cannot keep their footing. Shared end with Calvin: he treads them down.

Calvin: God’s wrath is sufficiently powerful to destroy the wicked without calling for others’ assistance, that the Jews may not be deterred by the strength arrayed against them. Make them drunk means fill them to satiety. He produces the Edomites as example, nearer and most injurious. Afflicted Jews must not call their salvation into question as if God hated them.

Revolution of affairs is his. Strength cast to the earth is his sentence, not chance. Same trampling; hope rests on his wrath against persecutors.