Isaiah 59:19-21

19 From the west, people will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the LORD drives along.^[a]

20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD.

21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the LORD.

Isaiah 59:19-21 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Isaiah 49:12; S Matthew 8:11
• 2. S Psalms 113:3
• 3. Psalms 97:6; S Isaiah 24:15; Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 66:18
• 4. S Isaiah 11:4
• 5. S Job 19:25; Isaiah 60:16; Isaiah 63:16
• 6. S Isaiah 52:8; S Joel 3:21
• 7. S Job 22:23; S Isaiah 1:27; S Jeremiah 35:15; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 11:26-27*
• 8. S Genesis 9:16; S Deuteronomy 29:14; S Isaiah 42:6
• 9. S Isaiah 11:2; S Isaiah 44:3
• 10. S Exodus 4:15
• 11. S Joshua 1:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "When enemies come in like a flood," / "the Spirit of the " Lord"will put them to flight"