Single lesson
Isaiah 63: God’s Vengeance on the Nations
Isaiah 63:1–6; Isaiah 63:7–14; Isaiah 63:15–19
Isaiah 63:1–6 is a prophecy with strong picture language. It shows a powerful speaker whose red-stained clothing leads to an explanation about judgement, righteousness and saving power. This lesson also brings together God’s Mercies Recalled, A Prayer for Mercy.
Before you teach
The passage begins with questions about a figure coming from Edom and Bozrah in glorious clothing and great strength. The figure answers directly, explaining the meaning of the red garments, the day of vengeance and the year of the redeemed.
Explain the central teaching of Isaiah 63: God’s Vengeance on the Nations, using two details from the reading. This prophecy uses vivid imagery to show that the speaker’s judgement is serious and that he also declares power to save. This passage calls readers to remember Yahweh’s many mercies and to take seriously the rebellion that grieves him. This passage teaches that prayer can honestly bring grief, confusion, and hope to God while still naming him as Father and Redeemer.
Welcome: Isaiah 63: God’s Vengeance on the Nations
5 minIntroduce “God’s Vengeance on the Nations”, “God’s Mercies Recalled”, “A Prayer for Mercy” and locate Isaiah 63:1–6; Isaiah 63:7–14; Isaiah 63:15–19. This prophecy uses vivid imagery to show that the speaker’s judgement is serious and that he also declares power to save. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 63:4, Isaiah 63:6
Read and explain the passage
12 minGod’s Vengeance on the Nations (Isaiah 63:1–6): The opening asks who is coming from Edom and Bozrah, clothed gloriously and moving in great strength. The answer identifies the speaker by his character and power: he speaks in righteousness and is mighty to save. The prophecy first presents authority, justice and rescue.
God’s Mercies Recalled (Isaiah 63:7–14): The passage opens with a decision to speak about Yahweh’s loving kindnesses, praises, great goodness, mercies, and many kindnesses toward Israel. The stress falls on what Yahweh has given. From the start, the passage is an act of remembering and declaring his goodness.
A Prayer for Mercy (Isaiah 63:15–19): The prayer begins by asking God to “look down from heaven, and see”. God’s dwelling is called a habitation of holiness and glory, which shows reverence even in distress. The speaker then asks where God’s zeal, mighty acts, heart, and compassion are, expressing deep pain and a sense that mercy feels far away.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “God’s Vengeance on the Nations”, “God’s Mercies Recalled”, “A Prayer for Mercy”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 63:7, Isaiah 63:15
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “How does the speaker describe himself in the first answer?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage teaches that prayer can honestly bring grief, confusion, and hope to God while still naming him as Father and Redeemer. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 63:8, Isaiah 63:10, Isaiah 63:17, Isaiah 63:18, Isaiah 63:19
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Isaiah 63: God’s Vengeance on the Nations: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “God’s Vengeance on the Nations”, “God’s Mercies Recalled”, “A Prayer for Mercy” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 63:10, Isaiah 63:19
Closing: return to A Prayer for Mercy
3 minRevisit Isaiah 63:15–19. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about A Prayer for Mercy and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Isaiah 63:15, Isaiah 63:17, Isaiah 63:19
Questions to explore
How does the speaker describe himself in the first answer?
Look at the exact words about righteousness and saving power at the start of the passage.
Isaiah 63:1
What action by the people changed the relationship described here?
Compare Yahweh becoming their Saviour with the statement that they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 63:8, Isaiah 63:10
How does the passage describe the people’s troubled condition at the end of the prayer?
Gather the phrases about wandering, hardened hearts, your holy people possessing it but a little while, your sanctuary being trodden down, and being like those not called by God’s name.
Isaiah 63:17, Isaiah 63:18, Isaiah 63:19
Make, think or respond
Isaiah 63: God’s Vengeance on the Nations: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Isaiah 63:1–6; Isaiah 63:7–14; Isaiah 63:15–19. Use “God’s Vengeance on the Nations”, “God’s Mercies Recalled”, “A Prayer for Mercy” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Isaiah 63: God’s Vengeance on the Nations connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “God’s Vengeance on the Nations”, “God’s Mercies Recalled”, “A Prayer for Mercy” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Isaiah 63:1–6; Isaiah 63:7–14; Isaiah 63:15–19. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Isaiah 63:1–6; Isaiah 63:7–14; Isaiah 63:15–19. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Isaiah 63
1 Who 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.”
2 Why 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.
4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.
5 I 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.
6 I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath. I poured their lifeblood out on the earth.”
7 I will tell of the loving kindnesses of Yahweh and the praises of Yahweh, according to all that Yahweh 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.
8 For he said, “Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely;” so he became their Savior.
9 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 bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them.
11 Then 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?”
12 Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
13 Who led them through the depths, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble?
14 As the livestock that go down into the valley, Yahweh’s Spirit caused them to rest. So you led your people to make yourself a glorious name.
15 Look 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.
16 For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, Yahweh, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.
17 O Yahweh, 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.
18 Your holy people possessed it but a little while. Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.
19 We have become like those over whom you never ruled, like those who were not called by your name.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.