I’d like to start the Sunday Reflections thing again, so I’ll throw out a meditation God, in His grace, blessed me with towards the end of last summer. I had been reading Isaiah and was towards the end of the book. I was feeling somewhat dry at this time, having read fairly cursorily, yet I felt that there was something for me to learn or see in the midst of alternating depictions of the wrath and mercy of God.

In this mind I sat one Sunday morning with my Bible open to the 63rd chapter of Isaiah, praying and reading and waiting for God to show me something. My meditations focused on the first few verses (1-4 ESV):

Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah,
 he who is splendid in his apparel,
 marching in the greatness of his strength?
It is I, speaking in righteousness,
 mighty to save

Why is your apparel red,
 and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?

I have trodden the winepress alone,
 and from the peoples no one was with me;
I trod them in my anger
 and trampled them in my wrath;
their lifeblood spattered on my garments,
 and stained all my apparel.
For the day of vengeance was in my heart,
 and my year of redemption had come.

The portrait painted in the epic language is not a pretty one — Christ rides forth, crimson red with the blood of His enemies. The portrait is similar to that in Revelation 19:11ff, as Jesus rides forth to final victory.

My thoughts then went to His own death, and enjoyed blessed rest in seeing there a connection. In a manner of speaking, Christ will bear blood on account of every person. For His own, it will be His own blood; for those opposed, it will be their own. In that mind, I was inspired to write the following. I pray that it may serve for your edification.

Behold the One upon the horse
 His garments soaked in blood
He tramples out the life of man
 Into a crimson flood

Indignation, hate of sin
 Vengeance, just and sure
Against the wrath of God above
 No fortress is secure

Patiently, with merciful grace
 He beckons man to come
But those who shake their fists, refuse
 Will surely be undone

So fear the Lord, forsake your sin
 Turn on bended knee
For those who would be spared the wrath
 There is but one safe plea

He is the One faithful and true
 Who in my stead did die
His vestige red on my account
 But ’tis from His own side

Behold the One upon the cross
 The earth soaks up his blood
His life flows freely from His side
 Into a crimson flood