enemy. Hebrew. tzar, as in Isaiah 59:18 . like a flood = like the flood: the Nile in its overflow. Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . lift up. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia . standard: or, banner. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 17:15 ). Hebrew. nasas . App-92 . read more
19. (Isaiah 45:6; Malachi 1:11). The result of God's judgments (Isaiah 26:9; Isaiah 66:18-20). like a flood— (Jeremiah 46:7; Jeremiah 46:8; Revelation 12:15). lift up a standard—rather, from a different Hebrew root, "shall put him to flight," "drive him away" [MAURER]. LOWTH, giving a different sense to the Hebrew for "enemy" from that in Revelation 12:15- :, and a forced meaning to the Hebrew for "Spirit of the Lord," translates, "When He shall come as a river straitened in its course, which a... read more
What God would do 59:15b-21This is the third and last pericope, parallel to Isaiah 57:14-21, which announces that God would deliver His people from the sin that plagued them as redeemed people (cf. Isaiah 6:5). The section also closes the part of Isaiah that deals with the recognition of human inability (chs. 56-59)."This is the ultimate development of the Divine Warrior motif in the Bible: God comes to destroy the final enemy of what he has created: not the monster Chaos, but the monster Sin."... read more
God’s deliverance of His people will result in the whole world fearing Him for this display of His glory. His coming deliverance would be swift and forceful (cf. Revelation 6:15-17; Revelation 16:17-21). Water rushing down a wadi may be in view. read more
1, 2. An answer to the implied objection that the promises of restoration have not yet been fulfilled. 3. Cp. 1:15.4. RV ’None sueth in righteousness.. in truth.’ The allusion is to unjust prosecutions. 5. Cockatrice]RM ’adder.’ He that eateth, etc.] i.e. the man who falls in with their plans is ruined thereby, and he who opposes them is confronted with a still greater danger. 6. Their schemes cannot even benefit themselves. 9. The prophet and the people confess their sins. Light] i.e.... read more
(19) When the enemy shall come in . . .—The noun admits of the senses “adversary,” “adversity,” “hemmed in,” “rushing,”and the verse has accordingly been very differently rendered. (1) He (Jehovah) shall come like a rushing stream which the breath of Jehovah (i.e., a strong and mighty wind) driveth. (2) Adversity shall come like a stream. The verse is difficult, but the Authorised Version is, at least, as tenable as any other rendering, and finds parallelisms in Jeremiah 46:7-8 for the image of... read more
Sin As Separation From God Isaiah 59:2 We cannot fathom the mystery of sin; we may not even ask the questions, How? and Why? But we may contemplate the terrible fact, and remind ourselves of what it is. All sin, in its degree, separates the soul from God: and whatever separates from God is sin. I. All sin in its degree separates the soul from God, 'and sin, when it is perfected, bringeth forth death'. For as the separation of the body from the soul is the death of the body, so the utter... read more
CHAPTER XXIIITHE REKINDLING OF THE CIVIC CONSCIENCEIsaiah 56:9-12; Isaiah 57:1-21; Isaiah 58:1-14; Isaiah 59:1-21IT was inevitable, as soon as their city was again fairly in sight, that there should re-awaken in the exiles the civic conscience; that recollections of those besetting sins of their public life, for which their city and their independence were destroyed, should throng back upon them; that in prospect of their again becoming responsible for the discharge of justice and other... read more
CHAPTER 59 Apostasy and Confession, Jehovah’s Intervention and the Coming of the Redeemer 1. The deplorable condition of the people (Isaiah 59:1-8 ) 2. The confession (Isaiah 59:9-15 ) 3. Jehovah’s intervention (Isaiah 59:16-19 ) 4. The coming of the Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20-21 ) The corruption of the people during the end time is first described. But grace is at work and a part of the people confess their sins. They confess that they are in darkness, that they are blind, that they... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:1-21
Society incapable of reform (59:1-21)Ungodly society is heading for destruction. The reason for this is not that God is powerless to save people, but that people’s sins have cut them off from God, the only one who can save them. They have filled the land with violence, lies and treachery (59:1-3).Because of the corruption of the courts, there is no justice in society (4). Wickedness multiplies as evil people spread their poison and trap the innocent in their plots. They try to cover their sin... read more