Isaiah 59

1 ecce non est adbreviata manus Domini ut salvare nequeat neque adgravata est auris eius ut non exaudiat

2 sed iniquitates vestrae diviserunt inter vos et Deum vestrum et peccata vestra absconderunt faciem eius a vobis ne exaudiret

3 manus enim vestrae pollutae sunt sanguine et digiti vestri iniquitate labia vestra locuta sunt mendacium et lingua vestra iniquitatem fatur

4 non est qui invocet iustitiam neque est qui iudicet vere sed confidunt in nihili et loquuntur vanitates conceperunt laborem et pepererunt iniquitatem

5 ova aspidum ruperunt et telas araneae texuerunt qui comederit de ovis eorum morietur et quod confotum est erumpet in regulum

6 telae eorum non erunt in vestimentum neque operientur operibus suis opera eorum opera inutilia et opus iniquitatis in manibus eorum

7 pedes eorum ad malum currunt et festinant ut effundant sanguinem innocentem cogitationes eorum cogitationes inutiles vastitas et contritio in viis eorum

8 viam pacis nescierunt et non est iudicium in gressibus eorum semitae eorum incurvatae sunt eis omnis qui calcat in ea ignorat pacem

9 propter hoc elongatum est iudicium a nobis et non adprehendet nos iustitia expectavimus lucem et ecce tenebrae splendorem et in tenebris ambulavimus

10 palpavimus sicut caeci parietem et quasi absque oculis adtrectavimus inpegimus meridie quasi in tenebris in caligosis quasi mortui

11 rugiemus quasi ursi omnes et quasi columbae meditantes gememus expectavimus iudicium et non est salutem et elongata est a nobis

12 multiplicatae sunt enim iniquitates nostrae coram te et peccata nostra responderunt nobis quia scelera nostra nobiscum et iniquitates nostras cognovimus

13 peccare et mentiri contra Dominum et aversi sumus ne iremus post tergum Dei nostri ut loqueremur calumniam et transgressionem concepimus et locuti sumus de corde verba mendacii

14 et conversum est retrorsum iudicium et iustitia longe stetit quia corruit in platea veritas et aequitas non potuit ingredi

15 et facta est veritas in oblivione et qui recessit a malo praedae patuit et vidit Dominus et malum apparuit in oculis eius quia non est iudicium

16 et vidit quia non est vir et aporiatus est quia non est qui occurrat et salvavit sibi brachium suum et iustitia eius ipsa confirmavit eum

17 indutus est iustitia ut lorica et galea salutis in capite eius indutus est vestimentis ultionis et opertus est quasi pallio zeli

18 sicut ad vindictam quasi ad retributionem indignationis hostibus suis et vicissitudinem inimicis suis insulis vicem reddet

19 et timebunt qui ab occidente nomen Domini et qui ab ortu solis gloriam eius cum venerit quasi fluvius violentus quem spiritus Domini cogit

20 et venerit Sion redemptor et eis qui redeunt ab iniquitate in Iacob dicit Dominus

21 hoc foedus meum cum eis dicit Dominus spiritus meus qui est in te et verba mea quae posui in ore tuo non recedent de ore tuo et de ore seminis tui et de ore seminis seminis tui dixit Dominus amodo et usque in sempiternum

Isaiah 59 Commentary

Chapter 59

Reproofs of sin and wickedness. (1-8) Confession of sin, and lamentation for the consequences. (9-15) Promises of deliverance. (16-21)

Verses 1-8 If our prayers are not answered, and the salvation we wait for is not wrought for us, it is not because God is weary of hearing prayer, but because we are weary of praying. See here sin in true colours, exceedingly sinful; and see sin in its consequences, exceedingly hurtful, separating from God, and so separating us, not only from all good, but to all evil. Yet numbers feed, to their own destruction, on infidel and wicked systems. Nor can their skill or craft, in devising schemes, as the spider weaves its web, deliver or save them. No schemes of self-wrought salvation shall avail those who despise the Redeemer's robe of righteousness. Every man who is destitute of the Spirit of Christ, runs swiftly to evil of some sort; but those regardless of Divine truth and justice, are strangers to peace.

Verses 9-15 If we shut our eyes against the light of Divine truth, it is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to our peace. The sins of those who profess themselves God's people, are worse than the sins of others. And the sins of a nation bring public judgments, when not restrained by public justice. Men may murmur under calamities, but nothing will truly profit while they reject Christ and his gospel.

Verses 16-21 This passage is connected with the following chapters. It is generally thought to describe the coming of the Messiah, as the Avenger and Deliverer of his church. There was none to intercede with God to turn away his wrath; none to interpose for the support of justice and truth. Yet He engaged his own strength and righteousness for his people. God will make his justice upon the enemies of his church and people plainly appear. When the enemy threatens to bear down all without control, then the Spirit of the Lord shall stop him, put him to flight. He that has delivered, will still deliver. A far more glorious salvation is promised to be wrought out by the Messiah in the fulness of time, which all the prophets had in view. The Son of God shall come to us to be our Redeemer; the Spirit of God shall come to be our Sanctifier: thus the Comforter shall abide with the church for ever, ( John 14:16 ) . The word of Christ will always continue in the mouths of the faithful; and whatever is pretended to be the mind of the Spirit, must be tried by the Scriptures. We must lament the progress of infidelity and impiety. But the cause of the Redeemer shall gain a complete victory even on earth, and the believer will be more than conqueror when the Lord receives him to his glory in heaven.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 59

As the former chapter declares the hypocrisy and formality of professors of religion; this expresses the errors and heresies, immorality and profaneness, which shall prevail before the spiritual reign of Christ, or the latter day glory begins; which is so fully described in the next chapter. Reasons are given of God's withdrawing his presence from a professing people, which were not want of power and readiness in him, but their own sins and transgressions, Isa 59:1,2 which are enumerated, such as murder, rapine, lies Isa 59:3-8 for which the judgments of God were upon them, darkness, distress, and misery, of which they were sensible, Isa 59:9-11 and confess their sins and transgressions, Isa 59:12,13 and lament their wretched state and condition, which was displeasing to God, Isa 59:14,15 who is represented as appearing for their salvation; moved to it by their want of help, and the oppression of their enemies, in which he shows his power, justice, zeal, grace, and goodness, Isa 59:16-18 the consequence of which shall be the conversion and salvation of many, owing to the efficacy of the divine Spirit, and to the spiritual coming of the Redeemer, Isa 59:19,20, and the chapter is closed with a promise of the continuance of the Spirit of God, and the Gospel of Christ in his church, unto the end of the world, Isa 59:21.