63:6
Oh, we don’t like this sort of verse! We want to pretend that the wrath of God is just an out of date concept, something that primitive people believed, but we are now more sophisticated! In fact we are so sophisticated that we routinely end the life of countless numbers in the womb. We rejoice at the legalisation of partial-birth abortions, we rejoice at the “right” to end life in the womb. If fact we consider it a human right to be able to end a human life. The wrath of God is very real, and it is very just, and it is fully deserved.
63:7
We now get a sudden change in direction. How can there be such a jump from the wrath of God to the kindness of the Lord? The salvation of God requires the wrath of God. There are two reasons (at least) for this. One is that sin needs to be judged. Sin is not a minor transgression, it is way more serious than anything we ever imagine. It leads to death and suffering, it leads to degradation of people. The second is that we become slaves, we become victims. We are both guilty and victims, guilty victims if you like. The oppressing power needs to be dealt with firmly. In Israel’s case it was Babylon that needed to be dealt with. So Isaiah will tell of the many good things that God has done, His compassion and kindness.
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