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.
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God Is Able, But Sin Separates

1
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: ​
2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. ​
3
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. ​
4
None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5
They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. ​
6
Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
7
Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
8
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

The People Confess Their Corporate Guilt

9
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. ​
10
We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
11
We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12
For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; ​
13
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15
Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. ​

The Lord Prepares for Intervention

16
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. ​
17
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. ​
18
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
19
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. ​

The Covenant of the Redeemer

20
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. ​
21
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. ​

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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