Isaiah 59:16

No man, viz. to intercede, which is supplied from the following words; or no man to help in such a case, to show himself and appear in such a corrupt state in the behalf of equity, as Isaiah 59:4; the like circumstances we have Ezekiel 22:29,30; or none fit to intercede. Wondered, Heb. iistomen, was amazed, astonished, as it were, not knowing what to do. This notes both God's solicitousness about their condition, and their hypocrisy, as if God took no notice of them, together with their dulness and blockishness, in not concerning themselves about it, especially considering they had been a people so well instructed, and yet under the guilt of such gross sins should be no more solicitous about pardon, which God would readily have granted, if any such could have been found, Jeremiah 5:1. Therefore; or, yet, as it is used, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 51:21. His arm brought salvation unto him: this may relate,

1. To the parties thus oppressed. Or,

2. To God, as that either,

1. He would do his work without help from any other, Isaiah 59:5. Or,

2. He would avenge himself, his own honour; thus the word is used 1 Samuel 25:26; and this may and seems to be the meaning of the next clause. Or,

3. He had made provision for the maintaining his own righteous cause and people's interest: this sense, that phrase, so like this, favours, Isaiah 53:5, Salvation unto me. His righteousness, viz. his justice: q.d. Seeing there could be no justice found among them, he would avenge the innocent himself, which agrees with Isaiah 59:8, and is justified by Isaiah 63:5, where speaking of the destruction of the Idumeans, you have the same words, only the word fury changed for righteousness. The literal meaning is, God's taking vengeance on the Chaldeans for the people's sake; the mystical is, Christ's making use of his own righteousness for the redemption of lest man, being destitute of all other.