Isa 59:9-15 | KingComments | STEP | In the prophet goes from speaking in the third person plural, “they” and “their”, to the first person plural, “we” and “our”. He includes himself with the people. First he stands opposite to the people and speaks to them. Now he stands among the people and speaks with and on behalf of them. The message of God comes to their heart just as later the message of John the baptist comes to the people. With and on behalf of the people, the prophet acknowledges the transgression and confirms the consequences of God’s judgment on them ( ). The LORD does not act against His enemies for the benefit of His people ( ). That is why they are still in darkness. As exiles they hope for deliverance, but things seem to get worse. They grope around like blind people, though it is broad daylight, and stumble ( ). Without any view, they feel like dead. Two thirds of the people were exterminated by of the king of the North and his allies ( ). But now the people repent. It is not because of the powerlessness of the LORD that this has happened to them, but their iniquities are the cause of it. They finally understand this. Those who persist in error will receive no help from the light of God’s truth, although it is available to them. Christ and the Scriptures have become a stumbling block for the Jews ( ; ). It is no different in professing Christianity. The Scriptures are read but not understood. The blinding power of interpretive traditions obscures the light of God’s Word. People who have the Bible remain in religious slavery. They are unable to enjoy the truth that would set them free if they listened faithfully to its voice instead of clinging to people’s systems. The first part of describes two states. “Growl like bears” presupposes impatience; “moan sadly like doves” presupposes despair. Both are the opposite of the peace of the believer that comes from a contrite heart and submission to God’s will. Because there is no surrender to the LORD, they miss that peace, and salvation remains far away. After acknowledging their blind and dead state ( ), the people is now going to confess and name sins. These disasters all come on them because of their numerous transgressions ( ). They know this and acknowledge it now. They know that as a nation they have on the one hand denied the LORD by rejecting Christ, the Immanuel, and have fallen away from God by acknowledging the antichrist as king and god. On the other hand, they use “lying words” that originate from a depraved inner being and with which they persecute their fellowmen, the faithful remnant ( ). “Justice” and “righteousness” are supplanted by injustice ( ). In the place where all people meet, “in the street”, “truth” and “uprightness” are not upheld (cf. ). One tries to enrich oneself with as many lies and dishonest intentions as possible at the expense of the other. From those who do not participate, their possessions are even violently taken away ( ). From up to and including is the third part of this chapter. In it we see the attitude of the LORD toward their behavior and the way in which He intervenes. “One to intercede” ( ) can also be translated as ‘someone who intervenes’, a ‘mediator’. He sees the evil mentioned in the preceding verses ( ). The lack of justice is a great evil in His eyes. There is astonishment with Him because there is no man of character or someone who has the ability to turn the tide of evil for the grieving remnant.

‏ Isaiah 59:9-15

The Acknowledgment of the People

In Isa 59:9-15 the prophet goes from speaking in the third person plural, “they” and “their”, to the first person plural, “we” and “our”. He includes himself with the people. First he stands opposite to the people and speaks to them. Now he stands among the people and speaks with and on behalf of them. The message of God comes to their heart just as later the message of John the baptist comes to the people. With and on behalf of the people, the prophet acknowledges the transgression and confirms the consequences of God’s judgment on them (Isa 59:9).

The LORD does not act against His enemies for the benefit of His people (Isa 59:19). That is why they are still in darkness. As exiles they hope for deliverance, but things seem to get worse. They grope around like blind people, though it is broad daylight, and stumble (Isa 59:10). Without any view, they feel like dead.

Two thirds of the people were exterminated by of the king of the North and his allies (Zec 13:8-9). But now the people repent. It is not because of the powerlessness of the LORD that this has happened to them, but their iniquities are the cause of it. They finally understand this.

Those who persist in error will receive no help from the light of God’s truth, although it is available to them. Christ and the Scriptures have become a stumbling block for the Jews (Jn 5:39-40; 2Cor 3:14 ; 16). It is no different in professing Christianity. The Scriptures are read but not understood. The blinding power of interpretive traditions obscures the light of God’s Word. People who have the Bible remain in religious slavery. They are unable to enjoy the truth that would set them free if they listened faithfully to its voice instead of clinging to people’s systems.

The first part of Isa 59:11 describes two states. “Growl like bears” presupposes impatience; “moan sadly like doves” presupposes despair. Both are the opposite of the peace of the believer that comes from a contrite heart and submission to God’s will. Because there is no surrender to the LORD, they miss that peace, and salvation remains far away.

After acknowledging their blind and dead state (Isa 59:9-11), the people is now going to confess and name sins. These disasters all come on them because of their numerous transgressions (Isa 59:12). They know this and acknowledge it now. They know that as a nation they have on the one hand denied the LORD by rejecting Christ, the Immanuel, and have fallen away from God by acknowledging the antichrist as king and god. On the other hand, they use “lying words” that originate from a depraved inner being and with which they persecute their fellowmen, the faithful remnant (Isa 59:13).

“Justice” and “righteousness” are supplanted by injustice (Isa 59:14). In the place where all people meet, “in the street”, “truth” and “uprightness” are not upheld (cf. 1Cor 5:8). One tries to enrich oneself with as many lies and dishonest intentions as possible at the expense of the other. From those who do not participate, their possessions are even violently taken away (Isa 59:15a).

From Isa 59:15b up to and including Isa 59:19 is the third part of this chapter. In it we see the attitude of the LORD toward their behavior and the way in which He intervenes. “One to intercede” (Isa 59:16) can also be translated as ‘someone who intervenes’, a ‘mediator’. He sees the evil mentioned in the preceding verses (Isa 59:15b). The lack of justice is a great evil in His eyes. There is astonishment with Him because there is no man of character or someone who has the ability to turn the tide of evil for the grieving remnant.