Isaías 59

1 He aquí, no se ha acortado la mano del SEÑOR para salvar; ni se ha endurecido su oído para oír.

2 Pero vuestras iniquidades han hecho separación entre vosotros y vuestro Dios, y vuestros pecados le han hecho esconder su rostro de vosotros para no escucharos.

3 Porque vuestras manos están manchadas de sangre, y vuestros dedos de iniquidad; vuestros labios hablan mentira, vuestra lengua murmura maldad.

4 No hay quien clame con justicia ni quien abogue con honestidad. Confían en la confusión, y hablan falsedades; conciben malicia, y dan a luz iniquidad.

5 Incuban huevos de áspides y tejen telas de araña; el que come de sus huevos muere, y del que es aplastado sale una víbora.

6 Sus telas no servirán de vestidos, ni se cubrirán con sus obras; sus obras son obras de iniquidad, y actos de violencia hay en sus manos.

7 Sus pies corren al mal, y se apresuran a derramar sangre inocente; sus pensamientos son pensamientos de iniquidad, desolación y destrucción hay en sus caminos.

8 Camino de paz no conocen, y no hay justicia en sus senderos; han torcido a su favor las sendas, cualquiera que ande en ellas no conoce la paz.

9 Por tanto el derecho está lejos de nosotros, y no nos alcanza la justicia; esperamos luz, y he aquí tinieblas, claridad, pero andamos en oscuridad.

10 Vamos palpando la pared como ciegos, y andamos a tientas como los que no tienen ojos; tropezamos al mediodía como al anochecer, entre los robustos somos como muertos.

11 Todos nosotros gruñimos como osos, y gemimos tristemente como palomas; esperamos la justicia, pero no la hay, la salvación, pero está lejos de nosotros.

12 Porque se han multiplicado nuestras transgresiones delante de ti, y nuestros pecados testifican contra nosotros; porque nuestras transgresiones están con nosotros, y conocemos nuestras iniquidades:

13 transgredir y negar al SEÑOR, apartarse de nuestro Dios, hablar de opresión y rebelión, concebir y proferir en el corazón palabras mentirosas.

14 Se ha vuelto atrás el derecho, y la justicia permanece lejos; porque ha tropezado en la plaza la verdad, y la rectitud no puede entrar.

15 Sí, falta la verdad, y el que se aparta del mal es hecho presa. Y lo vio el SEÑOR, y desagradó a sus ojos que no hubiera derecho.

16 Vio que no había nadie, y se asombró de que no hubiera quien intercediera. Entonces su brazo le trajo salvación, y su justicia le sostuvo.

17 Se puso la justicia como coraza, y el yelmo de salvación en su cabeza; como vestidura se puso ropas de venganza, y se envolvió de celo como de un manto.

18 Conforme a los hechos, así El pagará: furor para sus adversarios, justo pago para sus enemigos; a las islas dará su pago.

19 Y temerán desde el occidente el nombre del SEÑOR y desde el nacimiento del sol su gloria, porque El vendrá como torrente impetuoso, que el viento del SEÑOR impele.

20 Y vendrá un Redentor a Sion y a los que en Jacob se aparten de la transgresióndeclara el SEÑOR.

21 En cuanto a mídice el SEÑOR, este es mi pacto con ellos: Mi Espíritu que está sobre ti, y mis palabras que he puesto en tu boca, no se apartarán de tu boca, ni de la boca de tu descendencia, ni de la boca de la descendencia de tu descendenciadice el SEÑORdesde ahora y para siempre.

Isaías 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.