Isaiah 59:16 - Exposition

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 his arm brought salvation unto him . As them was no human champion, it became necessary that God should arise in his own Person, and show himself. "His arm" and "his righteousness" were enough; no human aid was needed, or could have added anything to the resistless strength of his might (comp. Isaiah 63:5 ).