Isaiah 59:1-4

Sin, Confession and Redemption

1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things.
4 No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

Isaiah 59:1-4 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 12

  • 1. S Isaiah 41:20
  • 2. Numbers 11:23; S Isaiah 50:2
  • 3. Isaiah 30:19; Isaiah 58:9; Isaiah 65:24
  • 4. Jeremiah 5:25; Ezekiel 39:23
  • 5. S Psalms 18:41; S Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 58:4; S Jeremiah 11:11; S John 9:31
  • 6. S 2 Kings 21:16; S Isaiah 1:15; S Ezekiel 22:9
  • 7. Psalms 7:3
  • 8. S Isaiah 3:8
  • 9. S Isaiah 5:23
  • 10. S Job 15:31
  • 11. S Isaiah 44:20
  • 12. S Job 4:8; S Isaiah 29:20; James 1:15; Job 15:35; Psalms 7:14
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