By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 59

THE REDEEMER COMES TO ZION

    Redemption has not come to Israel because of her sin. In this chapter Isaiah sees the nation coming to recognize that fact, and acknowledging it before her God. The Lord is ever ready to forgive and redeem such as are of an humble heart and contrite spirit; but, He will fight against all those who continue in their rebellion. In the latter part of this chapter (vs. 17-18) is found the fullest passage in all the Old Testament describing the Lord as a warrior! Yet, He delights in mercy. Thus, He redeems Israel - revealing His glory, His power and His faithful love.

   Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. 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. 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. 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. 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.

    1. Israel has no one to blame, for her rejection, but herself, (vs. 1-2).
      a. The Lord has not lost His power, or His hearing, (vs. 1; 50:2; comp. Num. 11:23, 31-34; Jer. 32:17-19; Ezek. 8:17-18).
      b. It is the nation's SIN that has caused a breach of fellowship between herself and her God, (vs. 2; 1:15; 50:1).
    2. They are charged with violence and injustice, (vs. 3-4).
      a. Their hands are defiled with blood, (vs. 3; 1:21; Jer. 2:30, 34; Hos. 4:1-2); their lips with wickedness and lies, (vs. 13; 28:15; 30:9-10).
      b. None is concerned for righteousness or truth, (vs. 4a; 14-15; 5:7).
      c. Trusting in worthlessness, and speaking lies, they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, (vs. 4b; 30:12; Jer. 7:8; comp. Isa. 33:11; Psa. 7:14); the nation has become alarmingly corrupt!
    3. The ruinous effects of their crookedness are set forth in verses 5-6.
      a. The figure of their hatching cockatrice eggs may suggest the destructive nature of all their monstrous deeds, (vs. 5; comp. 14:29; Jas. 1:15-16).
      b. The webs they have woven (in an attempt to cover their wretchedness) do not cover; they only magnify the iniquity and violence that proceed from sinful hearts, (vs. 6; Job 8:14; Prov. 28:13).
    4. Because they have deliberately chosen, and hasten to follow, the path of violence, bloodshed, crookedness and injustice, they have no peace, (vs. 7-8).
      a. Paul, in a free rendering, uses this passage to set forth the universal guilt of mankind, (Rom. 3:15-18).
      b. Isaiah shows that whoever follows such a path of willful maliciousness and ruin cannot have peace with God or with men, (56:20-21).
      c. Whoever loves peace will be peaceable; he will also endeavor to be a peacemaker, (Matt. 5:9; Prov. 12:20; Rom. 14:17-19).
      d. But those who choose the path of wickedness can have no peace, (contrast 26:3).

   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. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are In desolate places as dead men. 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. 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; 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. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey:

    1. In verses 9-11 one hears the lamentation of the rebellious nation - stricken because of her sin.
      a. Isaiah identifies himself with his people and leads them in this lamentation - and in the confession that follows, (comp. 6:5; 53:4-6; 1:21; 5:7).
      b. Because God did not execute swift judgment upon Israel's foes, they were left defenseless, (comp. 5:26-30).
      c. They looked for light and encouragement; but, rejecting the light of God's word, were left to walk in thick darkness, (comp. 8:21-22).
      d. Groping for stability and guidance (toward an exit from their calamities), they were as blind men (6:9-10; 56:10) - stumbling at noon-day (8:13-15; 28:13); among those who were full of life and vigor, they were as dead men, (Lam. 3:6).
      e. Impatiently groaning under the weight of their self-imposed exile, they desperately pined for deliverance; but, their lot seemed to be getting worse instead of better. Here is pain, misery, disappointment, disillusionment and condemnation, (comp. 38:14; Ezek. 7:14-18).
    2. Finally, there comes a recognition and confession of individual and national guilt, (vs. 12-15b).
      a. The burden of sin has a way of steadily increasing until one is crushed beneath its weight; finally turning their eyes upon the Lord, they are deeply conscious of their crookedness in His sight, (vs. 12).
      b. In verse 14 there is an enumeration of Israel's sins: transgression, (58:1; Ezra 9:6); denial of Jehovah, (Josh. 24:27; Prov. 30:7-9; Titus 1:16); apostasy - a deliberate turning away from the truth of God, (Ex. 32:1; Judg. 2:17; Ezek. 36:20); false accusation, which led to the oppression of others, (5:7; 30:12; Jer. 9:3-4); rebellion, (I Sam. 8:7; 15:22; Neh. 9:26; Isa. 1:5; Hos. 7:14); conceiving and uttering from the heart, words of falsehood, (vs. 3-4; Mk. 7:21-22).
      c. Thus, "justice" is turned away and "righteousness" required to stand afar off, (1:21; 46:12; Hab. 1:2-4).
      d. Greed has slaughtered Truth in the place of business, (48:1); and whoever departs from evil renders himself subject to plunder, (5:23; 10:1-2; 29:21; 32:7).

   And the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 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. 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 cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense. 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.
   And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 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.

    1. The Lord was highly displeased with the reign of injustice in Zion's courts, (vs. 15c).
      a. He saw and wondered (was highly displeased) that there was no one who would stand (against these abominations) and plead His righteous cause, (vs. 16a; 41:28; 64:7).
      b. Thus, His own heart was stretched out in behalf of truth and righteousness, (vs. 16b; 63:5; 52:10; Psa. 98:1).
    2. Various figures are used to describe the manifestation of God's holy character, (vs. 17); He clothes himself:
      a. With "righteousness as a breastplate", (comp. Eph. 6:14).
      b. With the "helmet of salvation" upon His head, (comp. Eph. 6:17).
      c. With "garments of vengeance" for His clothing, (63:2-3).
      d. And with "zeal as a cloak", (9:7; 37:22; Zech. 1:13-17).
    3. Then follows a prophecy of judgment, (vs. 18-19).
      ;a. Upon Israel, because of her persistent rebellion, (65:6-7; 66:6; Jer. 17:9-10).
      b. Upon His foes in the Gentile world.
        1) These are seen as rising up against His sovereign authority, (Psa. 2:1; 46:6; 83:2-5; Rev. 11:18).
        2) But "the Spirit of the Lord" will lift up such a standard against this enemy as will result in its overthrow!
      c. As a result of this manifestation of His power, His name will be remembered and His glory revealed, (66:18).
    4. The Redeemer Himself will come to Zion, (vs. 20-21).
      a. Bringing deliverance to the Holy City - and to a holy remnant who "turn from transgression" in Jacob, (vs. 20). But, before redemption, there must first be a recognition, repudiation, and repentance from sin!
      b. Then He will restore them to covenant - fellowship with Himself so that they may be perpetual witnesses of His grace throughout the millennial era, (vs. 21; Rom. 11:26-27; Isa. 44:3, 26; 54:10; Jer. 32:40-42; Heb. 8:10-12; 10:16-18; 12:22-24).