Isaiah 59:1-15 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Isaiah 59:1-15. Let’s go!
Isaiah 59:1 (NIV)
1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
On verse 1: Here in Isaiah 59 Isaiah is going to present a problem and then offer a solution. The problem is described in verses 2-15 and the solution is described in verses 16-21. But before explaining the problem, Isaiah needs to make an important clarification: the problem is not with God; the problem is with us. That is why verse 1 says, “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” In other words, it’s not God’s fault that this problem exists. The fault is ours. Now let’s look at what the problem is.
Isaiah 59:2-3 (NIV)
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.
On verses 2-3: The problem is that humankind has been corrupted by sin. As a result of sin, human beings can have nothing to do with God, whether in this life or for eternity, because God is perfectly holy. As verse 2 describes, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Even more than the way our sins hurt others or ourselves, our biggest problem is the way our sins alienate us from a holy God. Here in Isaiah 59 we have one of the clearest, most powerful explanations in the Bible of the dire effects that sin has on our lives.
Isaiah 59:4-8 (NIV)
4 No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
5 They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.
6 Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
7 Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways.
8 The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace.
On verses 4-8: Isaiah goes from talking about “you” to talking about “they”, but the topic and the message are still the same. Isaiah is saying that no one is just, no one is righteous. Everyone has sinned and every human being is inclined to do evil. Building on one of the ongoing themes of Isaiah (“there is no peace for the wicked” – 48:22; 57:21), Isaiah says that when we live in sin, we know no peace (v8).
Isaiah 59:9-10 (NIV)
9 So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.
On verses 9-10: Isaiah talks about the blinding effect that sin has on our lives. Because of sin, we can’t see God, ourselves or others correctly. Sin also has a weakening and deadening effect on our lives (“among the strong, we are like the dead” -v10b). Sin sucks the strength and joy out of our lives.
Notice also that Isaiah has gone from “you” to “they” and now to “we”. This is most important. Study the great intercessors in the Bible like Isaiah, Daniel, and Nehemiah and you’ll find that the greatest leaders don’t simply point the condemning finger at others and say, “you have sinned” or “they have sinned”. Rather they take ownership and say, “We have sinned”. If we truly want to help others and lead them to Christ, we need to recognize the ways we ourselves have fallen short and our own propensity to sin as well. We need to realize that we’re all in the same boat. That is why Paul would later write, “Christ died for sinners, of whom I am the worst.”
Isaiah 59:11 (NIV)
11 We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away.
On verse 11: Sin also has a dehumanizing effect on us. In other words, when we’re under sin’s control, we treat others as less than fully human, we forget that we are all made in the image of God, and we start seeing ourselves as something other than who we really are. This is why Isaiah likens us in our sin to snakes, spiders (v5-6), growling bears and mourning doves (v11). The idea is that sin turns us into brute beasts (see Psalm 73:21-22).
Isaiah 59:12-15 (NIV)
12 For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
On verses 12-15: No matter how good we try to be, we can never get away from our sins. “Our offenses are ever with us” (v12). That’s why we need God’s help. When sin occupies the life of an individual or a group, justice, righteousness, trust, and honesty are driven back, and the LORD Himself cannot fill that life (v14-15).
Verses 1-15 describe the problem. Verses 16-21 will describe the solution.
Thank You Father that as great as our sin problem is, You are greater. Thank You that You provide a solution to our biggest problem. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
