The Sheep of Bozrah and The Breaker...Isaiah 63 pt 4

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1-6)

This startling picture of the Second Coming of Jesus, is a vision of Christ as a returning warrior King, spattered with the blood of his enemies, coming from Edom, the area of Southern Jordan which is southeast of the Dead Sea.

The Battle is centered at Bozrah. There are several Bozrah’s in the Middle East, for the name Bozrah means “Sheepfold” or “Enclosure”. The Remnant of Israel will have fled to the wilderness, as Jesus told them to in Matthew 24:15-18, and as John predicted in Revelation 12.

They will end up fleeing to Edom, where a siege of the refugees will begin to tighten, when the (Edomites, Arab Muslims) will surround them, thinking that the time had finally come to wipe out the Jews, and to bring on the “end of days”.

I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. (Micah 2:12) The noose tightens and the Jewish Remnant cries out, in desperation, to the LORD. All looks lost. As the gentile nations gather to slaughter the enclosed flock, they have no idea what is in the Mind of the LORD,

Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies. Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.( Micah 4:9-12)

The deliverance comes through the arrival of “The Breaker”. When night would fall, Shepherds would build a little enclosure, a “Bozrah” , to put the sheep in, for protection. Either the Shepherd himself would sleep in the opening, as a door, or the Shepherds would completely enclose the flock, until morning. At the breaking of the dawn, the Shepherd would come and Break through the enclosure, to lead the flock out. In that sense, he is “the Breaker”.

The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them. (Micah 2:13)

Micah saw Jesus return to his chosen, yet prodigal people as “the Breaker”, coming to rescue the embattled and seemingly doomed flock, breaking through the siege, and slaughtering the enemies in a bloody battle at Bozrah. So also did Jeremiah and Isaiah,

For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes. I have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.(Jeremiah 49:12-14)

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.( Isaiah 34:6-8)

This is why Jesus comes from Edom, and how he dyed his glorious garments in Bozrah. This is the procession of the elect, by the great Shepherd, the “Breaker” who gathers the flock, and fights wild beasts for them in the wilderness.

Pastor Bill -- my computer was being repaired and I haven't been able to get back to you on these great posts. Thank you! Thank you!

Tomorrow is Rosh Hashanah and a day when the Rabbis would remind everyone that God has a Book of Remembrance.

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.

>>The deliverance comes through the arrival of “The Breaker”. When night would fall, Shepherds would build a little enclosure, a “Bozrah” , to put the sheep in, for protection. Either the Shepherd himself would sleep in the opening, as a door, or the Shepherds would completely enclose the flock, until morning. At the breaking of the dawn, the Shepherd would come and Break through the enclosure, to lead the flock out. In that sense, he is “the Breaker”.<<
Very few believers can appreciate what a tremendous insight this is!
(Just speculating now so no response is needed.) Based on the above it seems conceivable that the Bozrah believers are besieged and surrounded when the Breaker comes from without to provide an avenue of escape. So my previous conception of initially battling from within is faulty.

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