Isaiah 63 – A poem written in the form of a dialogue between the prophet and Yahweh, depicted here as one who treads grapes with his garments stained red. The prophet asks why his garments are red. Yahweh responds he has “trodden the winepress alone” (63:3) with not one man with Him. In His anger he has trampled them, an anger that supported Him in His loneliness. The prophet sings of Yahweh’s goodness in saving His people. “It was neither messenger nor angel but his Presence that saved them. In his love and pity he redeemed them himself” (63:9). They rebelled and grieved Him. He turned on them for a time.

“Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants, the tribes that are your special possession” (63:17).

New Testament Inspired:

Beautiful Quaker Words: James Nayler’s Deathbed Testimony

There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things, in hope to enjoy its own in the end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath and contention, and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself. It sees to the end of all temptations. As it bears no evil in itself, so it conceives none in thought to any other. If it be betrayed, it bears it, for its ground and spring is the mercies and forgiveness of God. Its crown is meekness, its life is everlasting love unfeigned; it takes its kingdom with entreaty and not with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind. In God alone it can rejoice, though none else regard it, or can own its life. It is conceived in sorrow, and brought forth without any to pity it; nor doth it murmur at grief and oppression. It never rejoiceth but through sufferings; for with the world's joy it is murdered. I found it alone, being forsaken. I have fellowship therein with them who lived in dens and desolate places of the earth, who through death obtained this resurrection and eternal holy life.

Thou wast with me when I fled from the face of mine enemies: then didst Thou warn me in the night: Thou carriedst me in Thy power into the hiding-place Thou hadst prepared for me: there Thou coveredst me with Thy Hand that in time Thou mightst bring me forth a rock before all the world. When I was weak Thou stayedst me with Thy Hand, that in Thy time Thou mightst present me to the world in Thy strength in which I stand, and cannot be moved. Praise the Lord, O my soul. Let this be written for those that come after. Praise the Lord.

Kenneth Boulding’s Nayler Sonnets:

12. If it be betrayed, it bears it

It is not hard to turn the other cheek

After an insult, or hot tempered blow,

And easier still it is, if we but know

How deadly are the weapons of the meek:

But treachery! That’s evil at its peak,

Not to be suffered: easier far to go

The second mile with enemies, than show

Love to deceitful friends—Faugh! How they reek

Of cowardice, and the stale grey stench of fear!

Can I bear this, and bear it to the end?

Yet, Lord, do I not name myself Thy friend,

And then betray Thee oft, with word or sneer

Or silence—and Thou bearest it, content

To wait in long love on my betterment.