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
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; neither his ear heavy, that it can’t hear: ​
2
but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so 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 mutters wickedness. ​
4
No one sues in righteousness, and no one pleads in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and give birth to iniquity.
5
They hatch adders’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he who eats of their eggs dies; and that which is crushed breaks 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; desolation and destruction are in their paths.
8
The way of peace they don’t know; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whoever goes therein does not know peace.

The People Confess Their Corporate Guilt

9
Therefore is justice far from us, neither does righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity. ​
10
We grope for the wall like the blind; yes, we grope as those who have no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among those who are lusty we are as dead men.
11
We roar all like bears, and moan bitterly like doves: we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12
For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them: ​
13
transgressing and denying the LORD, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14
Justice is turned away backward, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and uprightness can’t enter.
15
Yes, truth is lacking; and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. ​

The Lord Prepares for Intervention

16
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it upheld him. ​
17
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle. ​
18
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
19
So shall they fear the LORD’s name from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of the LORD drives. ​

The Covenant of the Redeemer

20
“A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from disobedience in Jacob,” says the LORD. ​
21
“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed’s seed,” says the LORD, “from henceforth and forever.” ​

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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