Isaiah 59:1-21
Q.1. What prevents the Lord from saving His people? Does the sinfulness of humanity nullify the Gospel? What hope is there for sinners? What makes God’s grace so amazing? – (Isa.59:1-16 c.f. Rom.3:15-17)
There has never been a problem on God’s side of the ledger, since He devised His way of salvation, based on grace. The problem is always with the unwillingness of sinners to repent. God reminded His people – 1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear (Isa.59:1-2). He described the people as wicked in the extreme, and stated – 4 … They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity … 6 … Their works are works of iniquity … 7 Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity … 8 They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, whoever treads on them does not know peace (Isa.59:4-8). This was taken up by Paul in Romans, when stating that all have sinned and come short of God’s standard (Isa.59:7-8 c.f. Rom.3:15-17). Isaiah spoke on behalf of his people and concluded – 11 … We hope for justice, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us. 12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us … (Isa.59:11-12). He revealed the shocking truth – Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the Lord saw, and it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice (Isa.59:15). Their plight was hopeless without God, Who – … saw that there was no man and was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him (Isa.59:16). We have utterly offended God and have transgressed His holy demands. We are completely at His mercy. However, God stepped in to save, without violating His holiness. This is truly amazing.
Q.2. Will God reduce His righteous demands? How does He overcome the legal dilemma? What Covenant brings hope to the people of God? – (Isa.59:17-21 c.f. Jer.31:31-34; Rom.11:25-27)
God will not reduce His demands, lest this writhing mass of wickedness destroy hope of joyful eternity. No – He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle (Isa.59:17). None of His enemies will escape as – according to their deeds, so He will repay, wrath to His adversaries, and recompense to His enemies; To the coastlands He will make recompense (Isa.59:18). However, there is hope for His own – “A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord (Isa.59:20). God overcame the legal dilemma of sin’s curse, by providing a Redeemer – So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun … (Isa.59:19). He brought in the Gospel of the New Covenant of the Spirit, that has brought hope. Paul revealed that this will change the remnant of Israel in a day – “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.” (Isa.59:21 c.f. Jer.31:34; Zech.12:10-13:1; Rom.11:25-27). This Gospel is the hope of Israel, and of all the nations of the world ((Isa.59:19-21).