Isaiah 59

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-16

Salvation by God through man. This text contains, in part, the confession of social iniquity. "Truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil is accounted mad. There is no judgment"—that is, no social righteousness, no sense of the "right" manifestly ruling in the common relations of life. God looked down upon this degenerate and hopeless condition. He knew how far the evil spread, until the whole people was corrupted, and there was no man able to plead against the prevailing evil; no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-17

Human hopelessness and Divine redemption. This vivid picture of the nation's demoralization, and of its incapacity to produce a citizen who could regenerate and reform, may appropriately suggest— I. THE HOPELESS CONDITION OF THE HUMAN RACE UNDER THE LONG TYRANNY OF SIN . Man had fallen so far that there was not the smallest prospect of redemption from anything he could originate. The all-seeing eye of God rested on "no man, no intercessor." Reformer there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-21

A PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE . TO OPPRESSED ISRAEL . The godly in Israel were suffering a double oppression: The prophet promises a deliverance from both. The deliverance will be followed by the establishment of Messiah's kingdom, which will continue for ever. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-21

Jehovah as Champion of the people. I. HE IS THE INTERESTED SPECTATOR OF HUMAN AFFAIRS . He "considers in his dwelling-place" ( Isaiah 18:4 ). He "causes his ear to hear"—to judge the fatherless and oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress ( Psalms 10:18 ). He is not like the gods of the Epicureans, "sitting apart, careless of mankind." He is a God who can feel pleasure in goodness and the good , displeasure in the prevalence of wrong and injustice.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:16

He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor ; i.e. God looked for some champion of the oppressed to arise; it was to be expected under the circumstances. But, alas! "there was no man." None stood up to resist the unrighteous and protect the innocent; much less did any stand up to deliver Israel from its heathen adversaries. When it is said that God " wondered " at no champion appearing, we must understand the expression as an anthropomorphism· Therefore... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:16

Salvation, not in man. "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor." It seemed a dark hour for the world. Evidently a dead nation cannot arise of itself, any more than a dead man. It is a time of wonderment. Great men often arise for great occasions; but there is no man , that is, no mere man , equal to this occasion. But— I. " GOD IS HIS OWN INTERPRETER ." He makes plain his own mysteries alike in providence and in redemption.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:17

He put on righteousness as a breastplate . The Isaiah anthropomorphism is far less gross than the Homeric. The gods in Homer put on actual armour, and take sword and shield. Jehovah arms himself for the battle in a way that is manifestly metaphoric. He puts on a "Divine panoply"—righteousness as his breastplate, salvation as his helmet, vengeance for garments, and zeal, or jealousy, for a cloak. He takes no offensive weapons—"the out-breathing of his Spirit (verse 19) is enough" (Kay). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:18

According to their deeds ; rather, according to their deserts (comp. Psalms 28:4 , ad fin. ) . He will repay . The ordinary future here, and in the remainder of the prophecy, replaces the "perfect of prophetic certitude," which has been employed in Isaiah 59:16 , Isaiah 59:17 . Fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies . God's "adversaries" are those of his own household—his people, the ungodly Israelites; his "enemies" are the heathen that oppress his people (comp. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:19

So shall they fear ; rather, and they shall fear. The result of the triumphant exhibition of God's might will be a conversion of the Gentiles, who will flock in both from the west—the quarter of "the islands"— and from the east, to do reverence to the name and to the glory of the Lord. When the enemy shall come in (rather, come on ) like a flood; literally, like the river; i.e. the Euphrates (comp. Isaiah 8:7 , "The Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river , strong... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:19

The successful standard. "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." The standard is highly prized in war. On it are engraven the names of special victories and the fields of old renowned. It is the last disgrace to lose the standard, and in many a foray and fierce campaign men have fallen in heaps around the standard-bearer. Think— I. OF THE VICTORIES ENGRAVEN ON THE STANDARD OF THE LORD . Of truth over... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:15-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:19

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