59:9–15 Confession of sins: the cause of calamities acknowledged
59:9–10 “Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity [rsv ‘darkness’]; for brightness, but we walk in darkness [rsv ‘gloom’]. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men [rsv ‘among those in full vigour we are like dead men’].”
“Therefore” connects with the previous verses – the sins listed are owned and the cause for calamity and social disintegration recognised. By use of the first person plural, we and us, Isaiah identifies himself with his people. Here is a national confession and repentance, much like 53:2–6. Both of these prophecies will have their great fulfilment when the Redeemer comes to Zion and turns away ungodliness from Jacob (v20).
The metaphorical reference to light and darkness is a common theme almost exclusive to Isaiah in the prophets (exception, Micah 7:8). It is often used in relation to Messiah (9:2; 49:6; 60:1, 3), though here it describes the last days of the world in which God’s people live, as well as Judah in the days of the prophet.
“we wait … for brightness, but we walk in darkness” Everywhere there is gloom and disintegration of all that was stable. Though looked for there is no glimmer of hope in the institutions of men (cp Isa 24); and this aptly describes our day and age. But saints know that the darkest hour precedes the dawn of a new day, the millennial reign of Messiah.
Verse 10 presents an even bleaker state of affairs, blindness without remedy, “we grope as if we have no eyes”. The only hope lay in recreation by Him Who made man’s eyes (Exod 4:11).
“we stumble at noonday” The defect lies with God’s people, not in the circumstances – likened to the noon day. Sin debilitates and blights all endeavours. By comparison with others they are a shadow of what they should be, “as dead men”.
In summary then they were blind, not seeing life’s guiding light revealed in the Word of God (Psa 119:105); stumbling had replaced certainty, stability in life; and they were exhausted, devoid of life’s vitality.
59:11 “We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment [Heb mishpat], but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.”
They are bemoaning their fate, angry now at the havoc sin has wrought in their lives and in their world: they are in despair because of the inequities in society, desperate for someone to bring deliverance to them. In contrast, when the looked-for Messiah came, he too groaned when he saw human frailty and need: miracles of healing followed (Mark 7:34; John 11:38)! Paul also shared the groaning of a frustrated creation, earnestly awaiting the redemption of the body (Rom 8:22–23). Hezekiah, Isaiah’s contemporary, was “sick unto death”, and implored his God for deliverance: he said, “I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me” (Isa 38:14).
We likewise mourn the absence of our Lord and bemoan the sin that so easily besets us, earnestly awaiting the promised gift of life eternal, unmarred by sin.
59:12–13 “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against Yahweh, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”
The protest of righteousness (58:3) has been silenced and now there is confession of sin and guilt. A court scene is depicted with God as judge and Sin as the prosecutor! So many and so undeniable were their transgressions that effectively they ‘testified’ against them – plural nouns are linked with a singular verb; each one of their sins testifies! So effective were the testimonies that there was no point in defence, and not only that, the accusations were true – their transgressions were with them like constant companions: and of their iniquities they said, “we know them”, we are personally and intimately united with them.
Verse 13 lists in detail the four major sins in the confession.
- “In transgressing [mlb ‘rebelling’] and lying against Yahweh” The Judge before Whom they stood (v12) is the One against Whom they had rebelled and been treacherous. There was unwillingness to heed His Word or hearken to His prophets.
- “and departing away from our God” (niv ‘turning our backs on our God’) abandoning the Truth, apostatizing. As a young bride Israel had vowed to do all that her Lord had said (Jer 2:2; Exod 24:7); and likewise the ecclesias are espoused to one husband, as a “chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor 11:2).
- “speaking oppression and revolt” Oppression is the mistreatment of those over whom we are in a position to exercise power, a social crime against one’s fellows. But it also needed to be confessed for it is not possible to have a harmonious relationship with God if fellow man is abused: Jesus made this clear when he answered the scribe, he that loves God must love his neighbour also (Matt 22:36–40; 1 John 4:21). “Revolt” is arrogant departure from God.
- “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood” (lb ‘for we carefully plan our lies’)e heart, the mind is the fountain of words and deeds: what is said and done outwardly is a reflection of what has been determined internally! It is impossible to plead purity of heart if our conduct is otherwise; and God is very interested in the heart, the motives, and searches them (Jer 17:10).
59:14–15 “And judgment [rsv ‘justice’, cp v9,11,14 – Heb mishpat] is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey …”
This is a dramatic summary of the preceding confession: the moral absolutes, essential for orderly, godly living, for individuals and society at large, have disappeared and collapsed. These foundation moral qualities are personified and their estrangement from society is described!
- “judgment” (rsv ‘justice’) is represented as trying to intervene, but is made unwelcome and dismissed.
- “justice” (rsv ‘righteousness’) will not come near such a hostile environment, for ‘he’ sees what has happened to “truth”!
- “for truth is fallen in the street” “Truth” is integrity, trust, probity, and is a casualty. It has collapsed and is non-existent as a moderating force in public and personal life.
- “and equity cannot enter” (lb ‘justice is outlawed’, rsv ‘and uprightness cannot enter’, mlb ‘honesty is unable to enter’) The prevailing absence of any respect for God and His Word, has left this world bereft of integrity. Here equity, honesty, straight dealing have gone missing!
Verse 15 affirms that “truth is lacking” (rsv, lb ‘is gone’) and anyone attempting to make a stand for what is right is liable to attack and violence. Such are the depths to which society has fallen.
It is not hard to see these conditions in our world: “the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.”