Isaiah 63:7

"I will make mention of the lovingkindness of Jehovah, and the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah 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. For he said, Surely, they are my people, children that will not deal falsely: so he was their Saviour. 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; and he bare them and carried them all the days of old."

The words in this paragraph are the background for God's terrible disappointment in Israel. God mentioned here his personal love of Israel, the mercies without number conferred upon the chosen people, the constant and remarkable evidences of his lovingkindnesses, his bearing their sorrows and afflictions, and his constant concern for their well-being. Look at what God supposed would be the result of all this loving care. He said, "Surely, the children of these people will not lie or deal falsely!" (Isaiah 63:8). "There was a condition, however, that if God was to abide among them, Israel would be required to hearken unto God's voice (Deuteronomy 6:3; Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 11:20)); but God was disappointed in them."[14]

The near-universal extent of wickedness is emphasized by the statement that "There was none to help" (Isaiah 63:5). However, it is probably best to view such statements as hyperbole for the sake of emphasis. The use of this figure of speech is frequent in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

"They are my people, children ..." (Isaiah 63:8). Here God "picks up the metaphor of his being the `father' of his people, corresponding to the opening theme of Isaiah (Isaiah 1:2,4),"[15] thus affirming once more the unity of these final chapters with the very first chapter, identifying the book as one, and the author as one.

"The angel of his presence saved them ..." (Isaiah 63:9). "Inasmuch as Christ accompanied Israel in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:4), and is the `image of God' (2 Corinthians 4:4,6; Colossians 1:15) and `the effulgence of his glory' (Hebrews 1:3), the angel of God's presence here is probably the Word of God that became flesh (John 1:1)."[16]