The King's redemptive Vengeance

Introduction

Open to Isa 63 this evening and we will continue in verse 4-6. That’s Isa 63:4-6

Last time

Royal Blood Bath

Why is He Red

The Life Blood of His Enemies

This evening we continue listening to the one the splendid red robes.

Let’s Read

Isaiah 63:1–6 ESV

1 Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” 2 Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? 3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. 5 I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me. 6 I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy, Infallible, and Sufficient Word.

Let’s Pray

Transition

Spurgeon’s catechism, the one we use here, says, question 25 says, “Christ Fulfills the the office of King, by changing out wills to serve him, by ruling and defending us, and in suppressing and conquering all his and our enemies.” [1] That what we are talking about here in verse 4.

Body

Vengeance and redemption

Isaiah 63:4 ESV

4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.

Vengeance was in my heart

“In the former clause of this verse Isaiah intimates that God does not cease to discharge his office, though he does not instantly execute his judgments, but, on the contrary, delays till a seasonable time, which he knows well; and that it does not belong to us to prescribe to him when or how he ought to do this or that, but we ought to bow submissively to his decree, that he may administer all things according to his pleasure. Let us not, therefore, imagine that he is asleep, or that he is idle, when he delays.”

Redemption came

“In this latter clause he shews that all these things are done for the sake of believers. “Day” and “year” are here used by him in the same sense; but by the word “year” is denoted the long duration of the captivity, that the Jews may not despair or grow faint and weary, if the redemption be long delayed. The Lord therefore punishes and destroys wicked men for the purpose of delivering the godly and of redeeming his Church, for which he has a special regard.”[3]

Transition

“no one to help”

Isaiah 63:5 ESV

5 I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me.

I looked, but there was no one to help

God does not need help here and that is the point.

I was appalled

“He represents God as amazed that there is none to stretch out a hand to him, when he wishes to execute his judgments, that he may impress more deeply on the minds of believers this doctrine, that God has no need of human aid, and that he is sufficient of himself for procuring salvation to his people.”[4]

“so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me.”

The idea that there would not be salvation and retribution of the enemies of God’s people is appalling.

God look at the earth and no one was found to fight the battle, to win the war to bring vengeance on the wicked and save Gods people.

John wept over this in revelation 5

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” (Re 5:1–4, ESV)

“And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Re 5:5, ESV)

Christ is King Christ has conquered.

“Christ Fulfills the the office of King, by changing out wills to serve him, by ruling and defending us, and in suppressing and conquering all his and our enemies.” [5]

Isaiah could only look at this suspended figure covered in blood in amazement. We look with with adoration.

Transition

Let we slip into that human trait of playing down the wrath of God. The red robes are not drench in his own blood.

The Grapes of Wrath

Isaiah 63:6 ESV

6 I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

There is some interesting word play here

Calvin translated the passage here, “And I will tread down the people in mine anger” [6]

The ESV translates it “I trampled down the peoples in my anger”

There are a lot of reasons int he text for that, but I believe that ambiguity in the test in on purpose by God.

He has been,

Think about the examples of God’s wrath poured out the Peter gave.

The flood, God wiped out the word

Sodom and Gomorrah.

The premium evidence of God wrath against sin is the cross of Christ. “It pleased the father to crush him” Isa 53.

This is God’s wrath against Sin, this is God hatred for iniquity, this is the blood reign of King Jesus.

“Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven.” (Ge 19:24, ESV)

His servant Lot was persecuted daily, his righteous rules were hated by every man women and child.

So he sent his ministers to remove Lot from the wicked place and he stood and judge Sodom and burned it with Fire.

Conclusion

This is the king with the blood robes and he is reigning now and he is coming again. This only thing that man from dropping this morning it to the lack of fire for ever is his good pleasure. The only reason we brother and sisters are call saint is because brought salvation by his own conquering.

Benediction

So,

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

References

[1] Charles Spurgeon , “Question 25,” essay, in Spurgeon’s Catechism: Updated for Today’s Readers and Using the ESV, ed. Roger McReynolds (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 15, 2018), 2018).

[2] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 4 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 341.

[3] Ibid,

[4] Ibid, 342.

[5] Charles Spurgeon , “Question 25,” essay, in Spurgeon’s Catechism: Updated for Today’s Readers and Using the ESV, ed. Roger McReynolds (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 15, 2018), 2018).

[6] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 4 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 335.

Benediction

Calvin, John, and Charles William Bingham. Commentaries on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.

Spurgeon , Charles. “Question 25.” Essay. In Spurgeon’s Catechism: Updated for Today’s Readers and Using the ESV, edited by Roger McReynolds. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 15, 2018), 2018.