Isaiah 59 - Introduction

The Hindrances to Israel's Salvation and their Removal through the Interposition of Jehovah

The chapter is closely connected in thought with the preceding, and may perhaps be regarded as a continuation of the same discourse. The first verse justifies the utterance of such promises as are contained in the latter part of ch. 58, and the second explains why they remain as yet unfulfilled. The range of the prophecy is wider than in the former chapter, but the central theme and the historical situation are the same, and, as in the case of chs. 56 58, the phenomena of the chapter are most naturally accounted for on the assumption of a post-exilic date. In particular the prominence given to abuses of public justice (Isaiah 59:4; Isaiah 59:14) in the catalogue of social crimes, implies a degree of independence and political responsibility which can hardly be attributed to the Jews in exile.

The chapter falls obviously into three sections:

i. Isa 59:1-8. In opposition to the thought naturally arising in the mind of the people, that the obstacle to their deliverance must be impotence or indifference on the part of Jehovah (Isaiah 59:1), the prophet asserts that the true reason of His inactivity is the sin that has come between Him and them (Isaiah 59:2). He points to the flagrant breaches of the moral law of which the community as a whole is guilty (Isaiah 59:3): and draws an appalling picture of the hopelessly corrupt character and conduct of many of his contemporaries (Isaiah 59:5).

ii. Isa 59:9-15a. A pathetic description of the people's vain longing for deliverance and peace (Isaiah 59:9), followed by a confession of the sins which are the cause of their misery (Isaiah 59:12 a). The prophet here identifies himself with the nation and speaks in its name.

iii. Isa 59:15b21. At the middle of Isaiah 59:15 the tone of the discourse suddenly alters; the language of complaint and prayer gives place to that of prophetic anticipation. Since the people is hopelessly entangled in its own sins, and no human champion appears on the scene, Jehovah Himself, represented as a warrior arming for the conflict, undertakes the work of salvation (Isaiah 59:15; Isaiah 59:15; Isaiah 59:15). The world-wide consequences of His interposition are then described: destruction to His enemies, manifestation of His divinity to all mankind, and redemption to Zion (Isaiah 59:18). The chapter closes with a promise confirming the gift of the divine spirit and word to the true Israel in perpetuity (Isaiah 59:21).