Isa 63:1
63:1 Who [is] this that cometh {a} from Edom, with dyed garments
     from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel,
     travelling in the greatness of his strength? {b} I that
     speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

     (a) This prophecy is against the Idumeans and enemies who
         persecuted the Church, on whom God will take vengeance,
         and is here set forth all bloody after he has destroyed
         them in Bozrah, the chief city of the Idumeans: for
         these were their greatest enemies,and under the title
         of circumcision and the kindred of Abraham.
     (b) God answers them that asked this question, "Who is
         this?" etc. and says "You see now performed in deed the
         vengeance which my prophets threatened."

Isa 63:2
63:2 {c} Why [art thou] red in thy apparel, and thy garments
     like him that treadeth in the wine press?

     (c) Another question, to which the Lord answers.

Isa 63:4
63:4 For the day of vengeance [is] in my heart, and the {d} year
     of my redeemed is come.

     (d) Showing that when God punishes his enemies, it is for
         the profit and deliverance of his Church.

Isa 63:5
63:5 And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered
     that [there was] none to uphold: therefore my own {e} arm
     brought salvation to me; and my fury, it upheld me.

     (e) God shows that he has no need of man's help for the
         deliverance of his, and though men refuse to do their
         duty through negligence and ingratitude, yet he himself
         will deliver his Church, and punish the enemies,
         Isa 59:16.

Isa 63:6
63:6 And I will tread down the people in my anger, and make them
     {f} drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength
     to the earth.

     (f) I will so astonish them and make them so giddy that
         they will not know which way to go.

Isa 63:7
63:7 I will {g} mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, [and]
     the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD
     hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the
     house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according
     to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his
     lovingkindnesses.

     (g) The prophet speaks this to move the people to remember
         God's benefits in times past, that they may be
         confirmed in their troubles.

Isa 63:8
63:8 For he said, Surely they [are] my {h} people, children
     [that] will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

     (h) For I chose them to be mine, that they should be holy,
         and not deceive my expectation.

Isa 63:9
63:9 In all their affliction he was {i} afflicted, and the angel
     {k} of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity
     he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all
     the days of old.

     (i) He bore their afflictions and griefs as though they had
         been his own.
     (k) Which was a witness of God's presence, and this may be
         referred to Christ, to whom belongs the office of
         salvation.

Isa 63:11
63:11 Then he {l} remembered the days of old, Moses, [and] his
      people, [saying], Where [is] he that brought them out of
      the sea with the {m} shepherd of his flock? where [is] he
      that put his Holy Spirit within {n} him?

      (l) That is, the people of Israel being afflicted, called
          to mind God's benefits, which he had bestowed on their
          fathers in times past.
      (m) Meaning, Moses.
      (n) That is, in Moses that he might well govern the
          people: some refer this giving of the spirit to the
          people.

Isa 63:13
63:13 That led them through the deep, as an {o} horse in the
      wilderness, [that] they should not stumble?

      (o) Peaceably and gentle, as a horse is led to his
          pasture.

Isa 63:15
63:15 {p} Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation
      of thy holiness and of thy glory: where [is] thy {q} zeal
      and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy
      mercies toward me? are they {r} restrained?

      (p) Having declared God's benefits showed to their
          forefathers, he turned himself to God by prayer,
          desiring him to continue the same graces toward them.
      (q) Your great affection, which you bore for us.
      (r) Meaning, from the whole body of the Church.

Isa 63:16
63:16 Doubtless thou [art] our father, though {s} Abraham be
      ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O
      LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from
      everlasting.

      (s) Though Abraham would refuse us to be his children, yet
          you will not refuse to be our father.

Isa 63:17
63:17 O LORD, why hast {t} thou made us to err from thy ways,
      [and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy {u}
      servants' sake, the tribes of thy inheritance.

      (t) By taking away the Holy Spirit from us, by whom we
          were governed, and so for our ingratitude delivered us
          up to our own concupiscence, and punished sin by sin
          according to your just judgment.
      (u) Meaning, for the covenant's sake made to Abraham,
          Isaac and Jacob his servants.

Isa 63:18
63:18 The people of thy holiness have possessed [it] but a
      little {x} while: our adversaries have trodden down thy
      sanctuary.

      (x) That is, in respect to the promise, which is
          perpetual: even though they had now possessed the land
          of Canaan for 1400 years: and thus they lament, to
          move God rather to remember his covenant, than to
          punish their sins.