Isaiah 59:1-6

Alienation from God

1 Look! The LORD does not lack the power to save, nor are his ears too dull to hear,
2 but your misdeeds have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden his face from you so that you aren't heard.
3 Your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with guilt. Your lips speak lies; your tongues mutter malice.
4 No one sues honestly; no one pleads truthfully. By trusting in emptiness and speaking deceit, they conceive harm and give birth to malice.
5 They hatch adders' eggs, and weave spiderwebs. Whoever eats their eggs will die. Moreover, the crushed egg hatches a viper.
6 Their webs can't serve as clothing; they can't cover themselves with their deeds. Their deeds are deeds of malice, and the work of violence is in their hands.

Isaiah 59:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

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.

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