Isaiah59

Isaiah 59 declares that God's power to save is not diminished, but the people's pervasive sins have created a separation, preventing Him from hearing them. Their widespread iniquities, characterized by violence, lies, and injustice, have plunged society into darkness and removed peace. Observing the absence of any righteous intercessor, the Lord Himself resolves to bring salvation and judgment, promising a Redeemer and an everlasting covenant with those who turn from transgression.

God Is Able, But Sin Separates

1
ADONAI's arm is not too short to save, nor is his ear too dull to hear. ​
2
Rather, it is your own crimes that separate you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he doesn't hear. ​
3
For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with crime; your lips speak lies, your tongues utter wicked things. ​
4
No one sues with just cause, no one pleads honestly in court, they trust in empty words and say worthless things; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
5
They hatch viper eggs and spin spiderwebs; whoever eats their eggs dies, and the crushed egg hatches a snake. ​
6
Their webs are useless as clothing, their deeds are useless for wearing; their deeds are deeds of wickedness, their hands produce violence.
7
Their feet run to evil, they rush to shed innocent blood, their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness, their paths lead to havoc and ruin.
8
The way of shalom they do not know, their goings-about obey no law, they make devious paths for themselves; no one treading them will ever know shalom.

The People Confess Their Corporate Guilt

9
This is why justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn't catch up with us; we look for light, but see only darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom. ​
10
We grope for the wall like the blind; like people without eyes we feel our way; we stumble at noonday as if it were dusk, we are in dark places like the dead.
11
We growl, all of us, like bears and moan pitifully like doves; we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.
12
For our crimes multiply before you, our sins testify against us; for our crimes are present with us; and our sins, we know them well: ​
13
rebelling and denying ADONAI, turning away from following our God, talking about oppression and revolt, uttering lies which our hearts have conceived.
14
Thus justice is repelled, righteousness stands apart, at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public court, and uprightness cannot enter.
15
Honesty is lacking, he who leaves evil becomes a target. ADONAI saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. ​

The Lord Prepares for Intervention

16
He saw that there was no one, was amazed that no one interceded. Therefore his own arm brought him salvation, and his own righteousness sustained him. ​
17
He put on righteousness as his breastplate, salvation as a helmet on his head; he clothed himself with garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal. ​
18
He repays according to their deeds - fury to his foes, reprisal to his enemies; to the coastlands he will repay their due;
19
in the west they will fear the name of ADONAI, and likewise, in the east, his glory. For he will come like a pent-up stream, impelled by the Spirit of ADONAI. ​

The Covenant of the Redeemer

20
"Then a Redeemer will come to Tziyon, to those in Ya'akov who turn from rebellion." So says ADONAI. ​
21
"And as for me," says ADONAI, "this is my covenant with them: my Spirit, who rests on you, and my words which I put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouth of your children, or from the mouth of your children's children, now or ever," says ADONAI. ​

Study Notes for Isaiah 59

Verse 1

This verse addresses the potential complaint that God is either powerless or indifferent to the suffering of his people. Isaiah assures the audience that God’s power (hand) and attentiveness (ear) are undiminished.

Verse 2

This verse establishes the core theological problem: sin creates a relational barrier (separation) between a holy God and humanity, thus hindering the flow of blessing and communication.

Verse 3

The prophet provides concrete evidence of the national iniquity, focusing on two key areas of transgression: violence ('hands are defiled with blood') and deceit ('lips have spoken lies').

Verse 5

These vivid, dark metaphors illustrate that the people’s actions are both destructive (hatching the deadly serpent, the 'viper') and useless (the 'spider’s web' offers no covering or security).

Verse 9

The transition here indicates a shift to a communal lament, where the people acknowledge that the lack of justice and peace they experience is the direct consequence of the sins detailed in the previous verses.

Verse 12

This is a profound statement of corporate confession, where the community explicitly owns their transgressions, recognizing that their sins are overwhelming and self-evident before God.

Verse 15

Highlights the desperate state of society where moral standards have collapsed; those who attempt righteousness ('departeth from evil') are left vulnerable and exposed to victimization. God observes this failure of justice.

Verse 16

A pivotal verse showing that because no human leader or judge ('no man,' 'no intercessor') was willing or able to restore justice, God determined to act unilaterally through his own power ('his arm') to bring salvation.

Verse 17

God is described as a divine warrior preparing for battle, using imagery later adopted by Paul (Eph. 6) to describe the spiritual armor of the believer. God’s 'righteousness' is the means by which he executes judgment and deliverance.

Verse 19

The intervention of God’s judgment and salvation will result in universal recognition of his name. The 'Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard' signifies God providing a banner of defense and rallying point against the forces of evil or invading enemies.

Verse 20

This verse is messianic, identifying the future deliverer as the Redeemer (Hebrew: *go’el*, Kinsman-Redeemer) who comes specifically to those in Zion who turn from transgression. This promise anticipates future restoration.

Verse 21

God establishes an eternal covenant centered on the enduring presence of his Spirit and his prophetic Word. This ensures that the message of salvation will continue through subsequent generations, guaranteeing the future of the covenant community.

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