In Isaiah 59, the fallen condition of the political and juridial classes in the land had led hte dissident visionaries to long fot the day when Yahweh would intervene directly to set all things aright. Isaiah 63:1-6 seems to be the corresponding sentiment turned outward against the nations. There too, wickedness seemed to prevail, and agents of righteousness seemed to be totally lacking. The same sickness of soul and desperation that had led to the vision of terrible judgement on all the peoples of the earth. This was not a period of great generosity of soul on the part of the oppressed visionaries. From their point of view, the present order was beyond hope of human reform; both on the nationak front and the international scene, they could only hope for a direct intervention ny the divine warrior. The picture of judgement aainst the nations takes on the cosmic proportions in isaiah 35.....