I Will Remember His Mercy
Isaiah • Sermon • Submitted
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· 76 viewsVerses 1-6 are the last point of the "Sermon of the Servant" that began in chapter 61. The sermon had largely had to do with the "year of the Lord's favor," but now the focus shifts to the "day of vengeance of our God." The final judgment is pictured in the nation of Edom, but the imagery spreads to all the nations, as the victorious one is seen coming back from battle with blood-stained garments, having tread out the winepress of God's wrath. The book then turns in section for the last time. 63:7 begins a recounting of the Lord's faithfulness to his covenant - a remembering of mercy.
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Transcript
Photobook Illustration.
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I was looking back through these photo albums in the church office. I like to familiarize myself with the history, the people, the way God has worked in the past. I look at some of the photos and my mind is filled with questions. Some of the photos, on the other hand, give answers. They give a picture.
We do the same thing with our wedding photos, baby photos of our children, photos of vacations, photos of special occasions. Sometimes we show these photos to others. Others who weren’t there, but can appreciate the significance. Others who weren’t there, but see the results of what came out of the original event.
There is a sense in which bringing back memories can bring back the good, the bad, and the ugly of a situation. The same photograph may instill gladness and sadness, joy and pain, laughter and tears. A photograph can say, “look how much has changed since then.”
Sometimes when we think of these memories and some of the pain comes back, whether it is the pain of loss, the pain of wasted time, the pain of suffering, we often make the conscious choice to remember the blessings in stead of the pain. We make a conscious choice to think of what is, what was accomplished, what the positives were, in stead of what could have been.
In one sense, that is what Isaiah 63 does for God’s people.
Verse 7 says,
I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
There is a way in which verse 7 takes much of the prophetic announcement that has come through the recent chapters and puts it into the framework of thankful remembrance. There is an incredible treasure of blessings that can and should be remembered by God’s people. Interestingly, though, this turn to remembrance follows a striking and pungent section.
If you remember, Isaiah 61 started a little subsection that I referred to as “the sermon of the servant.” That’s really where we have been the last couple of weeks. Its the announcement of the Anointed one, the messiah, and what He is going to do. He really outlined his sermon in the beginning by saying he was declaring two things.
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
A Day of Vengeance of the Lord.
The year of the Lord’s Favor was really the big theme of the sermon, spanning chapters 61 and 62. But in the beginning of Chapter 63, the Anointed one covers that second theme, and we see a striking and explicit picture of the Lord’s vengeance. 6 quick verses of justice, of God’s Holy anger put on display, followed by this turn of a corner where, having seen the work of the Anointed one promised, Isaiah says “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord.”
Really, It is like Isaiah sees the start and harsh reality of God’s Holy anger and says, “I am going to run to His steadfast love!” He sees how much he is spared from, and remembers the mercy that spared him from that. And this is what we ought to do today, dear ones. Because when we see God’s wrath, we really see what we deserve, yet, miraculously, as His people, we see what his love and the mercy of Christ has spared us from.
When we see the work of Jesus, and what we should have received, we should say, “I will remember His mercy.”
When we see the work of Jesus, and what we should have received, we should say, “I will remember His mercy.”
I. The Final Point of the Messiah’s Sermon - 1-6
I. The Final Point of the Messiah’s Sermon - 1-6
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
This announcement by the Messiah, the anointed one, again, was in two parts. And as we discussed a couple of weeks ago, really the two parts of this announcement cover the two appearances of the Messiah.
In his first coming, Jesus Christ declared the Gospel verbally, He displayed the Gospel in his preaching and his acts, and He purchased and secured the benefits of the Gospel in His sacrificial, atoning death on the cross. By this work, he proclaimed “the year of the Lord’s favor” in which we are living, in which we call everyone around us to come, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Now don’t get me wrong, the second coming is wonderful and glorious, too! We are waiting for our savior to come gather his people up! But there is a warning aspect of the second coming that drives us back to the Gospel. Maybe that warning aspect is missing in much of our cultural Christianity today, maybe it is conveniently missing from many of our christian books and christian radio, but it is not absent from Scripture. That warning aspect is that God’s Holy, righteous wrath is real! And that is sort of the final point, as it were, of the Messiah’s sermon here in Isaiah.
A. Questions - 1-2
A. Questions - 1-2
The chapter opens up with this really vivid image of someone travelling in the distance. I get the picture that this is one of those watchmen that is mentioned in chapter 62. They are keeping their eyes out, as it were, and there on the road from Edom they see this mysterious figure. The first thing they notice is his apparel. It is not the normal color of the day, it is crimsoned. It is red in such a way that it doesn’t match the red dyes that were normally used. They notice also that, beside being crimson red, the clothing is splendid. This is a distinguished person. As he gets closer, they notice that the way he is walking, the way he carries himself, this is an incredibly strong individual. He is mighty and great, marching toward the city walls.
There are some poetic cues here that we will miss in English if we are not careful.
What do we know about Edom? Do you recall, way back in the history of God’s people, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Well, Jacob sort of got that blessing by way of slight of hand, didn’t he? Who was first in line for that blessing? Esau. Esau was a hairy boy. He was covered in red hair from the time of his birth. He was the twin brother to Jacob. For whatever reason, in His wisdom, God by his sovereignty chose that Jacob, rather than Esau, would carry on the blessed line. And these two brothers, with the families that followed, became two lines of people. Jacob, Later known as Israel, and Esau, Later known as Edom.
While at first, the tension between these clans was familial and became political, by the time of Isaiah’s writing, Edom became wholesale enemies of God and His people.
Interesting, Edom means Red. There is a poetic link, This powerful figure is travelling to Jerusalem from the “red” place, and his clothing is stained with crimson Red.
It should also be noted that Edom is just a slight stroke of the pen different in Hebrew from the word Adam, which means mankind.
Bozrah, also mentioned, was a prominent city of Edom. Bozrah is a play on words with the Hebrew term for cutting off bunches of grapes.
These “sound-alike” terms become very significant in a couple of verses, so tuck those things away in your thinking.
Who is this crimson warrior? Who is this splendid traveller, bursting with strength. Why are his clothes this striking red color?
The figure answers back, “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.
It is one who is mighty in word and in deed. He speaks righteousness, and proves it by his actions. The watchmen realize, this is remarkable - this mighty one, this prominent figure with crimson-stained garments is the Lord Himself! But they still have questions! The watchmen even try to reason with themselves. “Has he been treading out the winepress?” That would be odd - because this figure is clearly a mighty figure, his clothing signifies that he is prominent and important. He couldn’t be a mere vineyard worker.
B. Answers - 3-6
B. Answers - 3-6
And of course, it wasn’t a mere vineyard worker, it was the Lord! So why are his clothes red? What has he been doing?
For a moment, the Lord borrows their first reasonable guess. “I have trodden the winepress alone - and from the peoples no one was with me.” So he says, yes, I have been treading out grapes - but it was an amount so large, a task so immense that it would have been big enough for entire nations to undertake, but I have done it alone.
Then the image becomes clear, and the jaw drops at the stark reality of the statement.
In a stark and shocking poem, the Lord describes himself treading down his enemies in his wrath like a vineyard worker would tread out the grapes in a winepress. He vividly describes the juice, the lifeblood of the enemies being spattered on his garments like the crimson red wine from a crushed grape. This is a gruesome image, no doubt.
In a poetic sense, this language is meant to put us in the place of the watchmen - as they watch this figure, see his greatness, notice the redness of his clothing. Wondering the whole time, “who is this mighty person? Who is this remarkable character?” And when he draws near, they realize this is the Lord, and he hasn’t been working the grapes - rather, his clothes are drenched in blood.
Two scenes in the book of revelation borrow directly from this vivid imagery.
So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Beloved, we don’t enjoy taking these scenes in our imagination. We don’t take pleasure in imagining God’s wrath against his enemies - but do we know that it is real? Do we know that just as surely as Christ came the first time to give his life as a ransom for many, he will come again as a valiant warrior? Do we see this warning, this urgent, vivid picture as a prod that pushes us back up against the Gospel? Do we see the day of vengeance as a schoolmaster that points us sharply and quickly to the day of God’s favor?
Why such a bloody savior? Why such a crimson Messiah? Why are his clothes drenched in blood? In both of his comings there is great bloodshed - in his first, it was his own precious blood, like a spotless lamb slaughtered for sin. The second time, it is the blood of his enemies. And I ask myself, when I look at this picture, do I see my sin as worthy of this kind of bloodshed? Do I see my sin against God as demanding this kind of a payment?
This is a tough picture to digest, but can I suggest to you that there is a great depth of love in this picture! For this kind of wrath is what God has sent his son to save us from! This kind of anger is what the Gospel calls us out of by the mercy of Christ! Israel looks at this blood-drenched Messiah and sees that He, as a great warrior, has won salvation for them by himself!
When we look at Jesus in the scriptures and see him drenched in blood, we should see and say, “that should be my blood!” And when we see that it is not our blood, we should see and say “it is only because of mercy! It is only because of His steadfast love!”
II. The Response of Remembrance and Praise - 7-14
II. The Response of Remembrance and Praise - 7-14
I think we’re following the mindset of Isaiah as he turns to the next section, and immediately runs toward the mercy of God! Where else can we run? After seeing this full salvation and full redemption pictured, what else can we do?
I am reminded in this text of Psalm 2. Listen to the words of the end of that Psalm
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Do you see how that hope at the very end is sweetened by the bitterness in the verses before it? Are there pictures in our photo-album, the story of our redemption, that are bitter? Sure, but oh, how they sweeten the joys of the ones that come after. And in a sense the sweetness of the
I am reminded here of a quote I heard this week by Richard Sibbes, one of my favorite English puritans to read after.
There is more grace in Christ than there is sin in us. - Richard Sibbes
There is more grace in Christ than there is sin in us. - Richard Sibbes
A. Mercy - 7
A. Mercy - 7
To recount, remember, to recall information or events, to tell a story based on events in the past. That is what Isaiah decides to do after hearing this foretelling of God’s Wrath. He remember’s mercy.
We’ve covered this word behind Steadfast Love in the past. Mercy. Its “Chesed” in Hebrew, and although its not as smooth poetically, it really means “covenant loyalty” or “covenant faithfulness.” Its god’s propensity, or moreso, his absolute ability to keep his promises regardless of circumstances.
Isaiah recalls this in “abundance.” He gives a short retelling of Israel’s history, and he prefaces it with God’s Mercy. Its as if he is reminded of the bleak picture of what sin deserves, and now that mercy has become a blinding light that illuminates every turn of the page, every facet of the diamond, every detail of the story of God’s faithfulness.
That mercy is coupled with praise - it is a natural outflow of the heart filled up by the abundance of mercy. Praise - from the same root where we get the word “hallelujah” - praise the Lord. The song we sang(will sing) “Praise the Lord, His mercy is more! Our sins they are many, his mercy is more!”
B. History - 8-14
B. History - 8-14
Here is where the photo album comes in. Isaiah opens up the old albums for his readers and starts pointing out the big pictures in it.
He starts by showing them a picture of God’s promise that “they are my people.”
And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
He shows them a reminder of that promise when God said he would bring them out from Egypt, and then He did it.
I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Then he shows them the picture about how even after God brought them out of Egypt, they still rebelled against Him. (Verse 10)
God sent them into captivity - and perhaps that’s the case that Isaiah is looking at while he is writing. But he doesn’t dwell on that captivity, or that temporary time of disfavor. He points again to the photo album and says, (vs. 11) We know God, he is the one who brought us through the red sea! He is the one who shepherds us like a shepherd leads his sheep! This is the God we should be looking to! We should remember his mercy, we should recount his covenant faithfulness!
I wonder if Isaiah looked at the ups and downs of Israel’s history, and then compared it with the bitter and vivid image of God’s wrath, and says, “you know what? I Guess our story is not so bad after all!” I imagine, Isaiah turning the pages of that proverbial photo album and seeing Egypt, and the wilderness, and the red sea, and the time of the Judges, and the Kings, and now the captivity, and between every photo he says under his breath “I will remember his steadfast love.” I imagine him recalling the images of God’s disciplinary hand on his people, and in stead of seeing that as unfair and cruel, he says a little louder “I will remember steadfast love.” I imaging him finishing writing those words that picture the Lord treading out his enemies like grapes in a winepress, the Lord walking like a valiant warrior with his clothes drenched in blood and crying out, “I will remember his steadfast love!”
Dear one, do you look back on the pages of your life’s photo album, and between every photograph say quietly, “I will remember his steadfast love...”
Do you view the pain and suffering that pointed you back to Christ and the Gospel, and say a little bit louder, “I will remember his steadfast love.”
Do you view Christ in the scriptures, drenched in blood either at his crucifixion or in the judgment at his second coming, and realizing that while you deserve it, it is not your blood that has stained his clothes, you cry out, “I will remember his steadfast love!”
The photo album of life tells a different story depending on what perspective you take. If you take the perspective of finding all that you can in this life, treasuring these earthly moments and savoring them for every ounce of enjoyment and fulfillment, then you will be utterly dissatisfied at best, and utterly cast down at worse.
But if you take the perspective of viewing the photo album of life through the lens of “Chesed” - Steadfast love, mercy - then you see as if with corrected vision.
Do you see through the lenses of the Lord’s Mercy?
Do you see through the lenses of the Lord’s Mercy?
And I ask you, Do you see through the lenses of the Lord’s Mercy? Do you recount his steadfast love at every turn of the page, every facet of the gemstone? Do you see the warning of God’s wrath as a prod that pushes you swiftly up against the glories of the Gospel of Christ?
If you do not, I beg of you, dear one - See God’s holiness as real, see his wrath as real. See your sin as deserving of righteous anger, see the bloodstained redeemer and take notice - but then run to His mercy! Run to the mercy of Christ who was drenched first in his own blood when it should have been yours and mine. Run to the mercy of Christ who was crushed first in the winepress of God’s wrath when it should have been you and I. Run first to the mercy of Christ who poured out grace and forgiveness when He had every right to pour out condemnation. And in running to Christ, see your life for all its blemished and scars, and say with the prophet Isaiah, “I will remember His steadfast love!”