CONTEXT -- Third Isaiah reflects upon the situation that Israel must have faced upon their return from exile in Babylon. Our verses here reflect a strong faith in God’s feelings and deeds toward them. The prophet wants to sing out of God’s unbroken, unfaltering, un-atrophied love for them. Wants to offer praise for all the deeds God has done for them—perhaps through prophetic hindsight since part of the past involved upheaval and disenfranchisement from their land. The prophet is convinced that mercy is more apparent in their history than judgment, that God acts toward their humanity through the attributes of hesed and love.

• RECITAL HISTORY—Similar to the psalms, this section of Isaiah recites Israel’s history in general terms. God’s past faithfulness is more generous and more generic than any one thing cited. Intermingled holiness and mercy—For those of us who like neat categories—like systematic theology—we see more of an intermingling of holiness, love, and mercy recited here.

• A GO-BETWEEN? — the NRSV and other translations render verse 9 slightly different than does the NLT. More the idea of: ". . . It was no messenger or angel but his own presence that saved them . . ." The Hebrew Scriptures don’t seem to favor a rendering in which there is a potential go-between—though Christian faith speaks of Christ as being a go-between.

connections

I will recount the gracious deeds of the lord, the praiseworthy acts of the lord (v. 7). What gracious "deeds of the Lord" can you recall as you close out another year?

What do these verses express about the relationship that God desires to have with humanity? With you?

gambits

I would consider combining the redemptive/salvific ideas found in Isaiah 63 with the Hebrews 2. Being careful to allow each text to speak from its own integrity, these passages together could present an insightful view of God’s redeeming love.

Look for what is distinctively unique to each individual passage. Look for common theme, images, actions, and emotions.

Isaiah 63 proclaims God’s deep investment and longing for relationship with humanity, while in Hebrews 2, the writer speaks of the mission for God to become "humanized" among us in order to redeem us. Incarnational theology: the yearning, the need, the incarnation, the redemption.