Isaiah 63:1-19: a reflection

1Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” 2Why is your clothing red, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat? 3“I have trodden the wine press alone. Of the peoples, no one was with me. Yes, I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. 4For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. 5I looked, and there was no one to help; and I wondered that there was no one to uphold. Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me. My own wrath upheld me. 6I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath. I poured their lifeblood out on the earth.” 7I will tell of the loving kindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has given to us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has given to them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 8For he said, “Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely;” so he became their Savior. 9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. He bore them, and carried them all the days of old. 10But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them. 11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among them?” 12Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 13Who led them through the depths, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble? 14As the livestock that go down into the valley, the LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest. So you led your people to make yourself a glorious name. 15Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. Where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me. 16For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, LORD, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name. 17O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance. 18Your holy people possessed it but a little while. Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary. 19We have become like those over whom you never ruled, like those who were not called by your name.

After a fearsome opening about God's judgment, Isaiah 63 turns to a tender recollection of God's love for his people, and one verse stands out for its intimacy: In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. God did not stand aloof from his people's suffering; he was afflicted in their affliction, entering into it, and he carried them.

Notice the depth of God's involvement with his people's suffering. In all their affliction he was afflicted, the prophet says. God was not a distant observer of their troubles; he was moved by them, affected by them, afflicted in their affliction. And out of that sympathy flowed action: he saved them, redeemed them, and, tenderly, lifted them up and carried them, as a parent carries a weary child. His love was not detached but deeply involved, and it bore his people up.

That is a profound comfort. God is not indifferent to our suffering, watching from a safe distance. He is afflicted in our affliction; he enters into it, is moved by it, and carries us through it. This reaches its fullest expression in Christ, who entered our suffering completely, afflicted in our affliction to save us. When you suffer, do not imagine God is distant and untouched. In all your affliction he is afflicted; he is moved by your pain, near to you in it, and he lifts you up and carries you. Let yourself be carried by the God who is afflicted in your affliction and bears you up in love.

Lord, in all their affliction you were afflicted, and in your love and pity you redeemed your people, lifting them up and carrying them. Thank you that you are not a distant observer of my suffering but are moved by it, afflicted in my affliction, near to me in my pain. This is fully shown in Christ, who entered my suffering to save me. When I suffer, help me not to imagine you are distant and untouched, but to let myself be carried by the God who shares my affliction and bears me up in love. Carry me, Lord.