One really cool thing to note about today's passage is the mention of the Holy Spirit, not once but twice, in chapter 63. Check out verses 10 and 11. The traditional opinion among scholars on the Holy Spirit during the time of the Old Testament is that He empowered certain people for certain tasks on a temporary basis. Permanent indwelling is not thought to have occurred until Pentecost in the New Testament. For that reason, the Holy Spirit is not mentioned often in the Old Testament text, making this passage unique. In fact, the term "Holy Spirit" is only used three times in the entire Old Testament, though the analogous term "spirit of the Lord" and "spirit of God" are used nearly one hundred times. The Jews of course, do not adhere to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and therefore do not recognize the Holy Spirit as a person. The term signifies the energy of God to them. But Isaiah 63:10-11 presents a challenge in that the Holy Spirit is depicted as One who can be grieved and One who can be sent. This is odd wording for the "energy" of God.
Furthermore, chapter 63 offers a peek at the concept of the Trinity. Read verses 8 and 9 carefully, noting the footnote regarding the Hebrew translation of the word "personally". The "angel of his presence" gives the allusion of a being representing the very essence of God, which is strong language for a created angel. The interpretation among Christian scholars is that this refers to Jesus, who in the context of the verse, became their Savior, suffered, redeemed His people, but was rejected by them. This sets up the following verse which speaks of grieving the Holy Spirit. So in this chapter, all three persons of the Trinity are mentioned, if the interpretations of the "angel of His presence" and the "Holy Spirit" are taken as unique but equal manifestations of God.
Tomorrow's reading: Isaiah 63:15-66:24, 2 Kings 20:20-21, 2 Chron. 32:32-33
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