“I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. – Isaiah 63:3

Today’s Scripture Reading (January 6, 2014): Isaiah 63

The description in Isaiah 63:3 is almost gothic in nature. We have seen it so many times before. The battle is enjoined, and at the end of the battle only one man remains. He emerges from the battle alone, soaked with the blood of the enemies that he has killed. It is really an ancient image. One that is used by many of the ancient authors. For Aristotle, this is also a description of courage. Aristotle believed that courage was an action undertaken selflessly, always in battle and always in the pursuit of a noble cause. Courage is not always victorious, but when it is, this is the way that courage emerges – soaked with the blood of the enemy.

Maybe because it is a common ancient image, it might not be surprising that it is an image that Isaiah uses it. But, at the same time, the image has been a hard one for scholars to interpret. From a historical perspective, the idea of a military victor that fights for the freedom of the Judean exiles is an appealing one. It is a picture of the lone warrior, a military Moses that fights alone for the lives of those being held captive. But the problem is that it never happened.

Another option is to interpret the passage as being Messianic in nature – or having to do with Christ. But the passage also presents challenges to that interpretation. Two of the major objections are that Jesus was not from Edom (as is indicated in verse 1) and while the image of Jesus dripping with blood is a common crucifixion image, it can’t be said that he is dripping with the blood of his enemies – the standard gothic image is just not a Christian one.

However, the interpretation may still be warranted. The essential work that Jesus did on the cross, he did alone. And the work had to be done alone – no one else could sacrifice themselves for our sin. But beyond that, while Jesus was not an Edomite (or Idumean), Herod the reigning king in Israel was, and this prophecy may simply be an indication of the breadth of the work that Jesus did. It was not just for Judah that Jesus did his work, but for the entire world which included during the time of Jesus the foreigner that was sitting on the throne of Israel. But another image is also present in this passage. At the time of Jesus crucifixion, Pilate, the Roman Governor in charge of the area, washed his hands of the situation indicating his innocence. But at the same time, Jesus voluntarily took the blood and guilt of the people onto himself. Jesus was drenched with the guilt of his enemies, and therefore their blood. His work, done alone, was accomplished for all – even those who were considered to be his adversaries.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64