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Book of Isaiah
Chapter 59
Chapter 58-66 give God’s gracious Promises of hope. Isaiah’s powerful message of hope shines out so clearly from the reminders to the wicked. Almighty God demands contrite hearts, renewed lives and personal faith in Him from those who sincerely want salvation. If anyone is easily turned away from the LORD by His continual reminders to put away sin, then that person most likely will never be able to continue to read on to the hope that is so beautifully revealed to us in the later Passages. In the last section of Isaiah (chapters 58-66), reform and repentance is mentioned far less, while the idea of hope in God's salvation seems to throb in our heart.
This section has another interruption (or detour). In the middle of chapters 58-66 lies (Isa.63:7 to Isa.64:12) describing an Israelite’s personal confession and pleading. Before and after this, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah in different prophecies. But, this sincere pleading of a godly Israelite’s pleading is placed here, in the middle, and is like the smell of sweet incense drifting up to God in the middle of a sacrifice to Him, which can be seen as a sense of balance between God’s sovereignty and man’s will, for as God predicts the future, man pleads with the LORD to fulfill the mighty acts of redemption. It is a wonderful song of praise, cry of hope and humble confession all rolled together . . . and stands as a tribute day and night, pleading to God for help. The Israelites deserve to be abandoned, just as we do. Their sin (and ours) totally fits like a glove for God’s judgment. They are far worse than their enemies because they betray the One and Only TRUE God. These two chapters become a firm monument calling the godly ones to hope in this faithful God and to remind God there are a few who really care.
The Hope of the Contrite
Chapter 58, exposes religious sins and extolls righteousness.
Chapter 59, convinces us of His desire to help us, even when it cost Him dearly.
Chapter 60, God gives the people a tremendous vision of the future.
Chapter 61, God calls the Servant to insure the peoples’ righteousness.
Chapter 62, God explains the participation of the people in realizing the vision.
Chapter 63:1-6, God uses the Servant to bring salvation to His people.
Chapter 63:7-64, helps us understand our sin and His grace.
Chapter 65, discovering the riches of His grace.
Chapter 66, confirming and expanding their (and our) hope.
Ch.40-48: Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. (KJV)
Ch.49-57: Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (KJV)
Ch.58-66: Isaiah 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. (KJV)
All three of these last sections end with the same idea . . . there shall be no peace, to the wicked. The Messiah brings peace, but any and all who reject Him will NEVER know peace. Turning TO idols is turning AWAY from the Messiah. As we have seen, this section has majored in a condemnation and rebuke of idolatry. Idolatry is a road that leads to Babylon. The LORD, in the Book of Isaiah, is traveling the lonely road to Calvary. BEWARE!!! ALL idolatry and witchcraft are an abomination to the LORD: (Deut.27:15; 1 Ki.11:7; 23:13; Isa.44:19; Jer.32:35; Eze.18:12; Dan.12:11; Mal.2:11; Rev.21:27)
ISAIAH 59 parallels with JAMES. Isaiah 59 describes human wickedness and God's judgment. James tells us how fierce and vicious the old creature is, and also speaks of God's judgment. Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
James 3:8-9 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Chapter 58 declared the hypocrisy and rigid observance of rules by those who profess to be religious. Chapter 59 states the errors and false doctrines, immorality and profane, nonreligious, worldly attitudes, which shall be widespread before the Coming reign of Christ, when the latter day glory begins; which is fully described in Chapter 60.
Reasons are given for God's withdrawing His awesome Presence from a professing people, which were not in lack of power and readiness in Him, but their sins and transgressions (vs.1-2), which are stated, such as murder, rapine, lies (vs.3-8), for which the judgments of God were upon them. They walked in darkness, groping for the wall like a blind man (vs.9-11), darkness, distress and misery, of which they were sensible, and confessing their sins and transgressions, and feeling sorrow for their wretched state and condition (vs.12-13), which displeased God (vs.14-15), who is represented as appearing for their salvation; moved to it by their desire of help, and the oppression of their enemies, in which He shows His power, justice, zeal, grace, and goodness (vs.16-18), the consequence of which shall be the conversion and salvation of many, owing to the effectiveness of the Spirit of the LORD, and to the Coming of the Redeemer (vs.19-20), and the chapter closes with a Promise of the continuation of the Spirit of the God, and the Gospel of Christ in His church, unto the end of the world (vs.21).
Chapter 59 Introduction
(Isaiah 59:1-8) Reproofs of sin and wickedness.
(Isaiah 59:9-15) Confession of sin, and lamentation for the consequences.
(Isaiah 59:16-21) Promises of deliverance.
Isaiah taught the Israelites that their sins had separated them from God. Isaiah prophesied of the last days, the role of the Promised Messiah, the Second Coming, and the Millennium.
You may remember that I said that the Book of Isaiah is like a Mini-Bible.
http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_isaiah_mini-bible.htm
Just as the Old Testament lays emphasis more on the law, holiness and judgement of God, so too, that is the focus of the First half of Isaiah. The New Testament focuses on grace and the Coming of Jesus, just as the Second half of the Book of Isaiah does. As we draw nearer to the end of the Book of Isaiah and the prevailing theme of the last part of Isaiah, amazingly it is the same as the last part of the Holy Bible . . . meaning the conditions at the day of the LORD (Joel 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Zep.1:14; Lk.26-30), and the Return of Jesus Christ (Zec.14:1-4; Rev.19:11-21). That is the background for Isaiah Chapter 59. The background is very much the last days, the time of the end and the subject is the trampling and failing of Truth leading to Jesus once again taking matters into His own Hands to bring salvation. Isaiah 59:16-21 is indeed a ‘Jesus plus nothing message’.
Theme: Condemnation of Israel; confession of Israel; coming of the Redeemer to Israel.
This is a remarkable chapter, that continues God's charges against Israel, and He names them one by one! Their sins is what had brought about their sad state. Religion had become a cover-up for their sins, then and now. God refuses to hear because of their iniquities (Ps.66:18; Isa.1:15; 59:2; Eze.8:17-18; Mic.3:1-4), not because He was hard of hearing, but because of their sins. Many people today think God has a hearing problem. God’s hearing is A-1! The problem is with us and our disobedience to the LORD!
Israel’s sins are referred to over 30 times. Many words are used to describe their sins: iniquities, sins, defiled with blood, lies, perverseness, vanity, mischief, adder's eggs, spider's web, viper, works, violence, evil, wasting, destruction, crooked paths, darkness, transgressions, departing, oppression, revolt, conceiving, and uttering of falsehood. There are over 20 charges brought against them. A sad picture indeed!
I think in the last days, that there will be a time of national confession of sin for Israel. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem for the rejection of the Messiah (Zec.12:9-14).
Condemnation of Israel (59:1-2)
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (KJV)
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save . . . these words closely resemble what Isaiah said in Chapter 58, when he tore the mask off the hypocrites, who vainly boasted of themselves, and after having shown that the punishment inflicted on them was just, he now replies to other objections. Hypocrites are in the habit of accusing the LORD either of weakness or extreme severity. Isaiah clearly states that the LORD does not lack either power or will to save His people, but because of their continued wickedness, He was restricted from exercising His lovingkindness to them. The LORD’S Hand is as long and as strong as ever, and is well able to reach His and His people’s enemies with the greatest power, or at the greatest distance, and to do every good thing for them. The problem is NOT the LORD, it is because the people will NOT turn loose of, or cast away their sin.
Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear . . . the prayers of His people, their cries unto Him on their fast days, of which He seemed to take no notice (Isa.58:3), this is not because of any lack of attention in Him, nor of readiness to hear prayer made unto Him; because He is a God who hears and answers prayer, and is always ready to help His people every time they need Him. But they must consider there are times when He will not hear. (See verse 2). Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (KJV) Isaiah 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (KJV) The LORD hates sin, and unless we turn from it, He can and will lower the boom on us! Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. (KJV)
*****The reason that Israel was not saved in Isaiah's time was not because of any weakness in the LORD’S Hand. His Hand was not shortened. Nor was it because there was a bad connection in His communicating with the people. It was their non-stop sin and wickedness, which boils down to disobedience to Him. When people insist on doing things their way, when in their mind, they know they go against God’s way, but . . . things have changed, and they have their rights! Dear one . . . sin separates you from God. Please consider this fact. Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. (KJV)
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (KJV)
But your iniquities have separated you from your God . . . again, the problem is NOT with God, the problem is with our iniquities. Sin always separates you from your God. HOW does sin separate us from God? Sin does not necessarily separate us from the Presence of God, because God is present everywhere (Ps.139:7), and even Satan can have a meeting with God (Job 1:6). Sin does not separate us from the love of God, because God loves sinners (Rom.5:8). But sin does separate us from our God:
<>Sin separates us from fellowship with God, because when we sin, we no longer think like God.
<>Sin separates us from being blessed by God, because when we sin, we do not trust and rely on God.
<>Sin separates us from the some benefits of God’s love, because even as the Prodigal Son (Lk.15:11-32) was still loved by the father, but he could not enjoy the benefits of God’s love when he would not repent of his sin.
<>Sin separates us from the protection of God, because He will allow, and even bring trials our way to correct us.
And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear . . . have hid his face meaning God has hid or withdrawn His Presence, as someone that turns away his face from some disgusting thing. He will not hear . . . He will not listen nor not grant the request (Hos.5:15; Isa.1:15; Jude 1:10-13). He will not hear; or He will hide Himself; withdrawing His gracious Presence; ignoring the prayers put up to Him; denying an answer to them.
*****How very easy it is for us to blame our problems on everything or everyone . . . except on us, our iniquities! We even try to blame God because we refuse to admit that the problem is with us! We also deny Who God is before finally admitting that the problem is with us!
Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. (KJV)
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity . . . Isaiah now proceeds to a precise account of the sins they were guilty of, and idolatry is not even mentioned; in order to show the magnitude and depth of their wickedness, he specifies the different members of the body . . . the hands, fingers, lips, tongue, and the feet as the agents by which people commit iniquity. Paul quoted this verse (Rom.3:13-18). The phrase your hands are defiled with blood means they were guilty of murder (1 Jn.3:15), oppression and cruelty. Isaiah uses a similar statement your hands are full of blood (Isa.1:15). Defiled means corrupted, tainted, ruined.
And your fingers with iniquity . . . the fingers in the Scriptures are represented as the agents by which any purpose is performed (Isa.2:8; 17:8). But it seems likely that it means that they were guilty of violent seizure of someone's property and theft. The fingers are the instruments by which is performed. We use the phrase light-fingered to mean anyone who is expert in taking things, or anyone who is addicted to petty thefts.
Your lips have spoken lies . . . or falsehood, false doctrines, damnable heresies (2 Pet.2:1), commandments of men (Mat.15:9) so called because lies always oppose the Word of God, and always deceive and mislead people.
Your tongue hath muttered perverseness . . . muttered (Isa.8:19). This likely includes the idea that they not only spoke evil, but that they did it with a complaining, discontented, or malicious spirit. It may also mean that they made false and offensive statements about the government of God, and complained of His laws; or it may mean, that slander abounded among them. Perverseness . . . means disobedient, evil, rebellious, willful . . . and refers to the false doctrines, which were contrary to the Word of God, and which deceive men . . . perverse is the same as lies. Perverse words are those that oppose God's Word, and that perverse words were in every way contrary to God's will.
Isaiah 59:4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. (KJV)
None calleth for justice . . . there were none who went into court for the purpose of obtaining justice. There was a love of lawsuits; a desire to take every advantage which the law can give; a desire to appeal to the law, not for the sake of having strict justice done, but for the sake of doing injury to others, and to take some undue advantage. This sounds like today’s world. There is also another way to look at this: Justice means righteousness; NOT for civil justice in courts, as if there were no advocates for it there; or that see to put the laws against sin in execution, and to relieve those that are oppressed; though of this there may be just cause of complaint in some places . . . but there were none or few that call for evangelical righteousness, either that preach it, proclaim and publish it to others; not even the righteousness of Christ, the outstanding doctrine of the Gospel, which is revealed from faith to faith (Rom.1:17). One version says, there is none that preacheth righteously; and another says, no one speaks righteous things; another says no one calls for righteousness. The fact is, in that day and in today’s world, no one wants to hear the doctrine of the righteousness of Christ preached to him or her. No one hungers and thirsts (Mat.5:6; Jn.6:35) after it; but most then and now, do NOT choose the doctrine of justification by faith alone . . . they instead choose the doctrine of justification by works, which is the belief that a person becomes righteous before God by doing good works: the doctrine against which Luther protested when he set up the Protestant Reformation. Justification by faith: (Hab.2:4; Jn.3:15-18; 5:24; Acts 13:38-39; Rom.1:17. 3:22, 24-28, 30; 4:5, 24-25; 5:1-2, 9, 18; 9:30; 10:10; Gal.2:16; 3:11-14, 25; 5:4-6; Phil.3:9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.hisservants.org/w_why_is_justification_important.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_galatians_intro.htm.htm
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_books_why_do_I_need_christ,html.html
http://www.hisservants.org/once_saved,_always_saved_h_s.htm
Nor any pleadeth for truth . . . no one pleads for the Truth of the Gospel, especially for the main Truth, the justification of a sinner by the righteousness of Christ alone (Rom.3:24; 5:1-2). Very few (Mat.7:13-14) or none, earnestly argue or state in a strong and certain way, the Truth of the Gospel. Christ Jesus IS the Messiah, and He IS the only Way anyone can be justified before God (Rom.1:16-17; 3:24-28; 5:1-2, 9). Christ Jesus is the only Way to Heaven (Jn.14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom.5:1-2; Eph.2:18; Heb.7:25; 10:19-22; 1 Pet.1:18-21). NO one gets to Heaven (where the Father is Jn.14:6), without Christ Jesus, the Messiah (Jn.10:7, 9, 11, 28-30; Acts 4:12; 1 Pet.2:4; 3:18; 1 Jn.2:23; 2 Jn.1:9; Rev.20:15). ALL who are truly Christians (Acts 11:26), must boldly, earnestly and sincerely stand up for their faith in Christ. We cannot deny, cannot be ashamed of our Redeemer, or He shall be ashamed of us, now and on Judgment Day. Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (KJV) . . . Justification of self is absolutely impossible in God’s Eyes: (Ps.143:2; Jer.2:22; Lk.10:29; Rom.3:30; Gal.5:4). BEWARE!
They trust in vanity . . . vanity is pride, arrogance, self-importance, it is trusting in their own strength, wisdom, riches and especially their own righteousness.
And speak lies . . . lies is also vanity; vain things and false doctrines or damnable heresies (1 Per.2:1; 2 Pet.2:1).
They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. . . they form plans of evil, and then fulfil them when they are fully ripe (Job 15:35). The idea is, they invent plans to hurt others, and they bring them about by fraud, deceit and lies. They did what was criminal, evil and sinful, by words and actions, by slander and by violence and persecution. They simply brought out in the open, what was in their hearts. James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (KJV)
Isaiah 59:5 They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (KJV)
They hatch cockatrice eggs, and weave the spider's web . . . cockatrice or adder is proverbial speech put for any poisonous creature. By their hatching them, shows that hatred and malice is natural to them, and they cannot do otherwise. Hatching them means they invent false doctrines agreeing to their own hopes, but are poisonous and wicked, and as useless and unprofitable as the spider's web; serving only to ensnare and entangle the minds of men, and will not stand up before the Word of God. Their doctrine of justification by the works of men, are like the spider's web, spun out of their own bowels; being totally of and from themselves (Mat.15:9), for the doctrine of justification by the works is a scheme and trick of man, and is absolutely NOT of God (vs.4).
He that eateth of their eggs dieth . . . a reference, meaning that he who has business with them, and approves their counsels, which are the eggs which they hatch, will be poisoned with them. Supposedly, a man that eats cockatrice eggs dies immediately, being strong poison . . . so he that approves of false doctrines, receives them and feeds upon them, and dies spiritually and eternally, meaning these damnable doctrines, which bring to mankind swift destruction (2 Pet.2:1), for they are pure poison, and eat away like a cancer, destroying the souls of men.
And that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper . . . when the egg is broken, out comes a viper, a snake. Their plans, however false in the undeveloped form like the egg, when they are developed, are evil, malicious and wicked. If anyone tries to crush and stop their plans, they will seek his ruin, and will be as a viper to him. Viper: (Mat.3:7; 12:34). BEWARE! The more you take part in the guidance of these false teachers (heretics), the more you will become infected, because there is such a frightful and deadly poison deep inside them. Believe God and His Holy Word, NOT false teachers!
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_word_faith_not_biblical.htm
http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_word_faith_reasons_to_reject.1.htm
http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_lies_about_christianity.1.htm
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_ec_ecumenism.htm
I could bring you many more of our web site articles, but I will not. I simply agree with the prophet Isaiah about how to be saved, that being, faith in Christ Jesus alone, and I agree with him that the continued, unrepentant sin against God, will bring God’s displeasure down on you. PLEASE do NOT subject yourself to the many damnable heresies (2 Pet.2:1), in the world today. PLEASE believe God and His Holy Word, NOT false teachers!
Isaiah 59:6 Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. (KJV)
Their webs shall not become garments . . . a spider’s web is not fit for clothing; the idea here is that their works are just as unfit to secure salvation as the weak web of a spider is for clothing.
NO work of man can produce TRUE piety, righteousness, virtue, wisdom nor religion. The works of the self-righteous and the wicked are utterly hopeless, and their wrong opinions, their murky reasoning, and their customs are like the spider’s web. Isaiah confirms what he said in verse 5, that everything that they attempt or undertake is totally useless to mankind; because they deliberately avoid all acts of kindness. It shows a mind devoting itself entirely to evil, which is barren and deprived of all goodness and honesty. No man can cover himself with their works, because they have absolutely nothing solid or durable. Their webs are not garments, but are like the fig-leaves (Gen.3:7) that Adam and Eve vainly tried to cover their shame, as contrasted with the coats of skins which the LORD God made to clothe them with (Gen.3:21; Isa.64:6; Rom.13:14; Gal.3:27; Phil.3:9). The self-deceiving false arguments of humanism are meant (1Tim.6:6; 2 Tim.2:16, 23).
Neither shall they cover themselves with their works . . . just as spiders' webs are not fit to make garments of, so too, neither the false doctrines of men will be of any use to themselves, or to any others that receive them; especially the doctrine of justification by works (vs.4). These are not proper garments to cover the nakedness of a sinner from the sight of God, or screen him from avenging justice; for his hope which is placed on them will be cut off, and his trust in them will be a spider's web, of no avail at all to him (Job 8:14).
Their works are works of iniquity . . . both of preacher and hearer; for even their best works are sin, not only as being flawed, but are as filthy rags (Isa.64:6), and insufficient and totally unsatisfactory to justify them before God. They tended to believe wrong principles and wrong views, and cast aside the justifying righteousness of Christ, which is God's only Way of justifying sinners, which was abominable to them.
And the act of violence is in their hands . . . they persecuted all those that preached and professed any doctrine contrary to what they believed and taught.
Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. (KJV)
Their feet run to evil . . . in many ways Isaiah paints a picture of what could be called extreme wickedness. When men shake off and cast away the fear (respect, reverence) of God, they put themselves into the path of every kind of wickedness, which always breaks out into crime, cruelty and extortion. He says that they run, because they are eager and hurry to their evil actions. Isaiah formerly spoke of the hands and the tongues, he now adds the feet, in order to show that they are experts in every kind of wickedness. There is no part of their body that is entirely free of corruption.
And they make haste to shed innocent blood . . . no one can doubt that this was the character of the nation in the time of Manasseh. It is not unlikely that Isaiah refers to the bloody and cruel reign of this prince, and that it was also the character of the nation when Isaiah began to prophesy is clear from Isaiah 1:15-21.
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity . . . their thoughts continually planned sinful things which were vain and unprofitable to them, and hateful to others. Their thoughts, words and actions were evil; their tongue, lips, hands and feet were always working in sin, show their general corruption and depravity.
Wasting and destruction are in their paths . . . I think Isaiah means that wherever they go, they will be like wild beasts, grabbing and consuming whatever they meet with, leave nothing behind. They waste and destroy any and all that come across their path. The ways in which they walk lead to ruin and destruction, which will also be their portion on Judgment Day. Wasting is devastation, oppression and violence. Destruction means breaking an opening; then a breaking down or destroying, as of a kingdom (Lam.3:47), or of individuals (Isa.1:28; Ps.1:6; 5:6; 37:38; 73:27; 2 Thes.1:8-9; 2 Pet.3:7). It seems to mean here, that they broke down or trampled on the rights of others. Are in their paths instead of marking their ways by acts of compassion and kindness, they could be tracked by cruelty and murder. The path of the wicked throughout the Earth can always be seen by the miseries they leave behind.
Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. (KJV)
The way of peace they know not . . . they have such stormy spirits, living in constant arguments and conflicts. They break the bonds of society, for they do not know:
<>1. How to make and keep peace,
<>2. Do they feel or enjoy the sweet fruits of peace; and so the sad result is,
<>3. They do not take the path that leads to success and happiness.
They neither know the way of peace with God, because they think peace is to be made not by Christ, but by man, and they are totally unaware of how to obtain it. Neither do they know how to obtain peace of conscience (Acts 3:1; 24:16; 1 Tim.1:5, 19; 1, Pet.3:16, 21), nor how to reach what is true and solid; nor the way to eternal peace and happiness, which is by Christ Jesus alone (Jn.14:6; Acts 4:12). They are strangers to the Gospel of peace, and are not at all concerned about it, so they do not seek after it, nor do they make effort to secure it.
And there is no judgment in their goings . . . there is no justice in their actions when dealing with men. Their religious duties are done without any respect to God’s divine rule, nor can they give a reason for what they do; for they have no judgment in matters of doctrine or worship; nor can they recognize the difference between true and false doctrines. Since they have absolutely no knowledge of the Word of God, they do not know what is spiritual and what is idolatrous or superstitious in their worship service. Word of God: (Rom.10:17; 1 Thes.2:13; 1 Pet.1:23; 19:13).
They have made them crooked paths . . . they have created paths and methods of worship of their own (Mat.15:9), in which they walk, and which they observe, that are not according to the rule of the Word of God; but depart far from it, oppose it; and so it may be said to be crooked, for their paths did not agree with the Word of God. Crooked paths are a symbol of corruption, deceit, dishonesty, fraud. A straight path is a symbol of sincerity, truth, honesty and uprightness (Ps.125:5; Pro.2:15; Isa.40:4), their counsels and plans were non-stop stubborn and evil.
Whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace . . . the way of peace with God means either peace of conscience, peace with God, peace among themselves, or peace with their fellow-men. It may well refer to all these, because the sense is, in their whole lives they were strangers to true contentment and happiness. From no section did they have peace, not in relation to God, not with their own consciences, not with each other, nor to their fellow-men. Their lives of the wicked were and are, nothing but continual strife and agitation (Isa.3:11; 48:22; 57:20-21; Rom.3:16-17).
Confession of Israel (59:9-10)
Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. (KJV)
Therefore is judgment far from us . . . this seems to be spoken in the person of those Jews that did take part of these sins, giving the reason by way of complaint of those evils that they groaned under. Judgment is justice (Isa.1:27), and means deliverance. As works are sometimes put for the reward of works (Job 7:2; Ps.109:20; Isa.3:11; Hos.4:9; Oba.1:15; Mat.6:2, 16; 2 Pet.2:15; Rev.18:6; 22:12), so too, judgment and justice is put for the reward of judgment and justice. When wicked men are in power and in seats of administrating justice, they perform no judgment or justice in the behalf of the oppressed.
Neither doth justice overtake us . . .justice here is not to be considered that they had a special claim on the LORD, nor that they were now suffering unjustly . . . but instead, I think it means the characteristic of justice in God, and the idea is, that the Just God, the Avenger of Wrongs, did not come to vindicate their cause, nor to save them from the power of their foes.
We wait for light . . . light and darkness (Isa.58:8, 10). The idea seems to mean that they eagerly waited for returning prosperity.
But behold obscurity, for brightness . . . they saw only darkness, no light at the end of the tunnel. Their disasters continued, and relief was nowhere in sight.
But we walk in darkness . . . or in such a thick mist, that whatever way they looked, they could see no way out, nor any hope of deliverance. In thick fog, there is hardly any light at all. This seems to mean, they waited for deliverance and salvation; but instead they had the darkness of affliction and distress. Some think that this seems to respect the following: Zec.14:6-7 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. (KJV) . . . Quite possibly this refers to the last days, when although they were still in captivity, and would be until they see judgment and justice executed, then, they could expect good days.
*****The change of pronouns in verse 9, shows that another is speaking. Instead of your and their, it is we, our and us. This is the confession of the Israelites that realized that they were in darkness (sin, iniquities). They confess that their religious rites, rituals and customs have all been a deception. Many people should do this today. They go to church for the wrong reasons. Rich liberal churches abound with false teachers in the pulpits, preaching damnable heresies (2 Pet.2:1) that can NEVER lead a lost soul to Heaven! They teach and preach commandments of men (Mat.15:9), NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only doctrine that can save!
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_word_faith_not_biblical.htm
http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_word_faith_avoid.1.htm
http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_word_faith_reasons_to_reject.1.htm
http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_religion_or_christ.1.htm
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_ec_ecumenism.htm
Israel's humble confession follows.
Isaiah 59:10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. (KJV)
We grope for the wall like the blind . . . a blind man cannot see his way, so he feels along a wall, a fence, or something that will guide him. Israel was like the blind (Job 12:25). They had no right views of Truth, and they were trying to feel their way along in life. Isaiah may be referring to the threat made by Moses. Deut.28:28-29 The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: 29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. (KJV)
And we grope as if we had no eyes . . . as if we were totally blind; and being here put for yea, thereby aggravating the misery in repeating the expression.
And we grope as if we had no eyes . . . they grope, stagger and stumble as if they had no eyes.
Nor did they make use of the eyes of their reason and understanding in searching the Scriptures, to come to the light and knowledge of the things of God. This did not apply to all of them, but the greater part of them.
We stumble at noonday as in the night . . . this states their exceptional blindness, for it is only common sense that there is much more light at noon than at midnight (Deut.28:29; Job 5:14; 12:25; Pro.4:19). There was no remission, no relaxation of their evils. In some places where the Gospel and the Truths of it are clearly preached; men stumble and fall into the greatest errors, as in the night of the greatest darkness, refusing to believe the Truth in Holy Word of God and believing false doctrines (vs.9).
We are in desolate places as dead men . . . desolate means deserted, abandoned, forsaken. We are as dead men who have no hope left . . . . for while others are prosperous, we wander about as dead men, which is true of all unbelievers (Ps.106:43; Pro.1:32; Ecc.3:16; Isa.26:10; Hos.13:6; Rom.2:4-5; Rev.2:21). They compare their captivity to men dead without hope of recovery; their bonds render them as free among the dead (Ps.88:5). They cannot see the way, nor how get out of their captivity, any more than a dead man can get out of his grave. They had no more light, joy nor comfort, than those in the graves have.
*****IF we shut our eyes against the light of God’s Truth, it is right and fair for the LORD to hide from our eyes the things that can bring us peace . . . and IF we do not use our physical eyes and our eyes of our reason and understanding as we should . . . it is right and fair for the LORD to let us go around as if we had no eyes at all. We cannot blame the LORD for our wrong choices and mistakes. Anyone that refuses to see the Truth will not see God’s goodness.
Romans 1:20-21 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (KJV)
Those whom God has given up to judicial blindness are strangely obsessed; stumbling in the brightness of noon as though it were midnight when the clouds cover the moon. And in their night; they cannot see either the dangers or the advantages, which all around them clearly see.
All those who keep on keeping on in their sin, anger the LORD, and He eventually infatuates or inspires with an intense passion, those whom He means to destroy. All those that love darkness rather than light shall have their doom accordingly. Judgment according to works: (Ps.62:12; Pro.24:12,29; Isa.59:18; Jer.21:14; 25:14; 32:19; Lam.3:64; Eze.7:8-9; 18:30; Hos.12:2; Zec.1:6; Mat.16:27; Rom.2:6; 2 Tim.4:14; Rev.2:23; 18:6; 20:12-13; 22:12).
Words of Wisdom: Judge ourselves, so God does not have to: (1 Cor.11:31).
Isaiah 59:11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. (KJV)
We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves . . . this is intended to further describe the heavy judgments which had come upon them for their sins. Some of their roars are harsh and noisy, others in a quieter way, but all in private, for when the bear is robbed of its cubs, it goes to its den and roars. Roar sometimes means to snarl, as a dog (Ps.59:7, 14); it is also applied to waves that roar (Isa.51:15); to a crowd or unrestrained assembly (Ps.46:6; 74:23; 83:2; Isa.37:29) and to music (Isa.16:11; Jer.48:36). And mourn sore like doves, the cooing of the dove, a sorrowful sound, is often used to mean grief (Eze.7:16; Isa.38:14; Nah.2:7). When a dove loses its mate, it mourns in solitude, and this expresses the secret groaning of the saints under a sense of sin, and the neglected state of religion.
We look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us . . . We look for judgment (vs.9). They again repeat that in vain they looked for judgment and salvation, meaning that the people were deprived of help from God, which they wanted above all things. They use the word salvation, in order to describe more fully and completely what they formerly meant by the word justice (vs.9) and now again by the word judgment. They conclude that it is their own fault that they were wretched (Rom.7:24; Rev.3:17), growing old and wasting away in their wretchedness, and that they must repent (turn away from sin) and turn to God. All people may actually moan and howl, but no one can obtain relief of their grief without sincere repentance. There can be no end of our afflictions, as long as we continue to provoke the LORD’S wrath, and have NO heart-felt desire to be reconciled to Him.
Isaiah 59:12 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; (KJV)
For our transgressions are multiplied before thee . . . transgressions are iniquities that pass over or beyond; to go beyond everything that is contrary to the Truth of God’s Word, it is man’s will, against the light that the LORD makes available to us (Rom.1:20-21), it is rebellion against Almighty God. Are multiplied before thee . . . they can come up with no excuse, for they sinned before Him, and multiplied over and over again those transgressions against Him, and because of this, they rightly provoked the LORD to deny them His help. There was not only an increase of immorality among the people, but also among professors of religion (hypocrites); and because their transgressions are committed against the LORD, those sins are clearly seen by Him as loathsome and abominable, and calls out loudly for His judgments on them.
http://hisservants.org/a_1_hypocrisy_runs_wild.htm
http://hisservants.org/hard_mat.23.13-30_h_s.htm
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_ec_ecumenism.htm
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_books_me_a_pharisee.html
And our sins testify against us . . . God is a witness against us, in whose sight their sins were done, and their consciences are witnesses against them. They had been cruel to others, neither had they executed judgment nor justice, and they suffered all kind of cruelties and disgraces from the Chaldeans, as the true and just condemnation of their own works (Jude 1:6-11). As witnesses called in court and examined, answer the questions asked, so too, our sins, being brought as you might say, into open court, answer and bear testimony against us; and it must be owned, for the punishment for our sins answers to them. The punishment is the echo of our sins, what they call for, and which rightly comes upon us because of those sins. The LORD does not make mistakes. We will never be able to hide any sin from God on Judgment Day, for they are all recorded, either in books, or in our LORD’S memory (Ps.56:8; Ecc.12:14; Dan.7:10; Mal.3:16; Mat.10:30; Rom.2:16; 1 Cor.4:5; Heb.4:12-13; 1 Jn.3:20; Rev.20:12).
For our transgressions are with us . . . their unpardoned sins, and ours, are like a load of lead upon their consciences, and ours. We lie under the guilt of them, and they are a great burden. But, when God forgives us (1 Jn.1:8-9), He remembers our sins no more (Heb.8:12; 10:17). He casts our sins away: (Ps.103:12; Isa.38:17; Mic.7:18-19).
And as for our iniquities, we know them . . . they knew all about their sins, the number of them, and the maddening circumstances that attend them, so they must own and acknowledge them, and then confess, cry and hate them, as the LORD does.
Isaiah now numbers some of the specific sins of which they admit to. He does not mean the sins of some particular persons, or some lesser sins, but a general defection and corruption of Israel.
Isaiah 59:13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. (KJV)
In transgressing and lying against the LORD . . . and the Word of the LORD, for they disobey the doctrine of Jesus Christ, as well as the Law of God, and deny Him to be the only LORD God, even our LORD Jesus Christ, deny His proper deity, His righteousness and His satisfaction, which is notorious in today’s world. In transgressing we rebel against God (Isa.1:2), meaning they had been guilty of this continually.
We have denied the Lord . . . the LORD that bought them (Eph.1:4; 2 Pet.2:1).
http://www.godcannotlie.org/eph_ch1.htm . . . This is the sad case of many today who make a profession of Christ (to be Christians). http://www.godcannotlie.org/true_children_of_god.htm
And departing away from our God . . . by the worship of idols, and by the violation of His Law, they stop following Him, stop walking in His ways, stop worship of Him, stop reading His Word, stop prayer and stop fellowship with other believers.
Speaking oppression and revolt . . . they took advantage of the poor and the defenseless, and planned revolts against God. This seems to refer to those who are in public office and church; who speak what is oppressive and burdensome to the minds and consciences of those who are truly kind and gentle, and make them confused and sad by their false doctrines, and which tend to cause men to rebel against the LORD, turn their backs on Him, abandoning Him and His Word and speak great blasphemy and slander. All lies and false doctrine lead to apostasy from Christ, with which the next clause agrees. http://judgmentcoming.org/j_c_apostasy.htm
http://worldlychaos.org/w_c_apostasy_in_the_last_days.1.htm
http://www.hisservants.org/Books_apostacy.html
Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood . . . (vs.3-4). False doctrines do NOT agree with the Word of God, but conflict with and oppose it! False doctrines come from their own conceiving and contriving, and Jesus calls them commandments of men (Mat.15:9; Mk.7:7). False doctrines are called damnable heresies by Peter (2 Pe.2:1). NO false teaching agrees with the Holy Word of God . . . but may I add a warning here . . . BEWARE!!! ALL false doctrine does include some truth. Satan is a wise old bird (Mat.13:4, 19)! He knows IF it were all lies, most people would not fall for it, so he has to add just a little bit of truth.
http://www.hisservants.org/books_false_teachers.html
http://www.godcannotlie.org/1_promises_alternative_doctrines_of%20_hell.htm
Ten Reasons for Judgment in Isaiah 59
#1. Multiplied transgressions (vs.12)
#2. Many different sins
#3. Knowledge of transgressions without stopping them
#4. Iniquities known but not repented of, nor cast out of the life
#5. Transgressing and lying against God
#6. Departure from God (vs.13)
#7. Speaking oppression
#8. Speaking revolt (rebellion)
#9. Conceiving falsehood
#10. Uttering heart words of falsehood
Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. (KJV)
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off . . . some interpret this of the vengeance of God, and His righteousness in His judgments that are not immediately executed. This speaks of the sentences and decrees in courts, which are carried out opposite to right and justice. God would deny them justice, just as they had denied help to others. They had been influenced by prejudice and by bribes, and they had condemned the innocent and acquitted the guilty. So much of this going on in today’s world. The dollar talks!
For truth is fallen in the street . . . where Truth should be preached, exalted, recognized and established . . . but now is thrown down and trampled on. Very few or none try to help it up, and fewer still, stand by it. Again, this goes on in today’s world.
And equity cannot enter . . . fairness, justice nor truth enter into civil courts nor Christian congregations. Those on the side of Truth and in the service of it, cannot stand their ground through the violence of their opposers. Those who are faithful and stand by the doctrine of faith, are forced to hide themselves, and fear to appear in declaring it.
Isaiah 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. (KJV)
Yea, truth faileth . . . meaning that Truth is not to be found anywhere, it is not there. Truth falls in the street and just lies there, with no show of respect to it. Truth fails and seems as if it had given up the ghost and died. So very widespread will error be, before Light and Truth spring up again and be victorious, as they certainly will be in the last days.
And he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey . . . I think that Isaiah most likely means that all honesty and uprightness was so greatly hated, that the meager few TRUE worshippers of God, were not safe. He describes the utmost area of wickedness; showing that Truth hath failed, where no good man is allowed to remain among them; because everyone that does not go along with visible acts of injustice lays himself open to be a prey. Proverb 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. (KJV) Psalm 10:8-9 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. (KJV) . . . The people of honesty and piety were subject to the greed of the covetous and the oppression of the mighty. They regarded them as lawful prey, and took every advantage in stripping them of their property, and reducing them to poverty. This seems to complete the statement of the crimes of the nation, and the existence of such deeds of violence and iniquity constituted the basis on which God was led to intervene and bring about their deliverance. Such a brutal and cruel state of crime and resulting suffering demanded the LORD’S divine intervention, and when Almighty God saw it, He was led to provide a way for deliverance and change.
And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment . . . the LORD took notice of all this and greatly resented that although they were a professing people, that there was no right judgment or pleasure in matters of doctrine and worship. There was no order or discipline nor any justice done in civil courts, nor in the church of God. There was absolutely no reformation, no improvement, nor any change in church or state. The mind of Isaiah is fixed upon the corruption, depravity and wickedness of the Jewish nation. Their hands, tongue, eyes, feet and fingers (vs.2-3), were all polluted. The whole nation had sunk deep into immoral and wicked corruption, which totally displeases the LORD. This is what is happening in our world today. BEWARE!!! All un-repented sin brings forth God’s Judgment and condemnation! (Jn.3:18, 36; 5:24; 8:24; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb.2:3; 10:26-29; 12:25; 1 Jn.5:11-12; Rev.20:15)
Salvation is Only by God
JESUS PLUS NOTHING MESSAGE
Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. (KJV)
And he saw that there was no man . . . was no man to intercede, or no man to help and appear on the behalf of justice (vs.4). Similar circumstances are found in (Eze.22:29-30, where there were none fit to intercede. There was no wise and honest man qualified to govern the affairs of the people. There was no man qualified to intervene and put an end to the evils; no one qualified to bring about a restoration, and to save the nation from the calamities which their sins rightly deserved. That is the reason why God provided a Redeemer, for such was the extent and nature of human depravity and wickedness, that NO one on earth could stop it, and save the world. A similar expression occurs in Isaiah 41:28-29.
And wondered that there was no intercessor . . . to stand up and pray for them. It seems that a spirit of prayer and supplication will be greatly lacking in the latter days of darkness, before the later days of glory appears. And wondered . . . this cannot be taken literally, as if God was amazed by suddenly coming to the knowledge of this fact. It is designed to express, with great emphasis, the Truth, that there was NO one to intercede, and that the wicked world was lying in a totally helpless condition.
Therefore his arm brought salvation to him . . . to His people, the ones that became a prey to their enemies (vs.15). These He rescued out of their greedy hands, by His own arm of power He saved them (Deut.11:2; Ps.98:1; 136:12; Isa.40:10-11; 52:10; 62;8; 63:12), meaning He Himself alone wrought out salvation for them, and delivered them from the insults, reproach and persecution of men, under whatever name; so when the Antichrist and all anti-Christians every where shall be destroyed, salvation will be ascribed to the LORD our God alone (Rev.19:1).
And his righteousness, it sustained him . . . His righteousness (Isa.5; 42:6, 21; 51:8; 53:11),
shall take vengeance on His and His people's enemies; and His faithfulness (Deut.7:9; Ps.36:5; Isa.49:7; Lam.3:23; Tit.1:2), shall perform His Promises, will support Him and carry Him through His work, even though accompanied with great difficulties that would seem impossible to men. This is to be understood of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, who shall come in an age in which there are none but wicked men. This world today is going at break-neck speed to accomplish this fact. Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (KJV) God brought Judgment on the whole world then . . . and He shall do so again in the future in the last days! History repeats itself. I think the LORD could come at any time to remove the TRUE church (1 Thes.4:13-18) before He lowers the boom on sinful world (the Great Tribulation).
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_1.pre-trib_rapture_why_I_believe.html
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_signs_rapture.htm
http://hisservants.org/rapture,_second_coming_h_s.htm
Isaiah 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. (KJV)
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate . . . the LORD is represented as a warrior clothed with armor, and as Christ is, and will appear in the last days on the behalf of His people, and against their enemies. He is called Faithful and True, and shall come (Zec.14:1-5; Rev.19:11-21), and in righteousness will make war. He will absolutely rule according to honesty and fairness in righting the wrongs and avenging the injuries of His people. He shall both save them and destroy their enemies (Ps.2). He shall lock in the honor of His faithfulness, uprightness and decency to His Name and character; which will be preserved by His actions and conduct, as faith, love and righteousness are parts of the breastplate (Eph.6:14; 1 Thes.5:8).
And an helmet of salvation upon his head . . . the salvation He will work out for His people will be very clear; it will be seen by all, as the helmet upon His Head (1 Thes.5:8); and He will have the glory of it, on whose head are many crowns (Rev.19:12). The apostle Paul borrowed these phrases from here, and applied them to the Christian armor (Eph.6:13).
And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing . . . or garments made of vengeance (Deut.32:35-43; Ps.2:9-12; 94:1; Isa.61:2; 63:4-6; 2 Thes.1:8-9; Heb.10:30), for God is said to put on vengeance for the sake of those whom He would preserve, thus He puts on garments of vengeance for clothing, for their sakes, when He destroys His people's enemies, the Chaldeans, and other enemies of the Jews then, and ALL their enemies in the last days. He shall wrap Himself in vengeance at that time, determined to perform it on His and His people's enemies; for the time being come to avenge the blood of His servants, by shedding the blood of their enemies, with which His vesture will be stained; and therefore is represented as having on a vesture dipped in blood (Rev.19:13). The great day of the LORD: (Ps.76:7; 130:3-4; Isa.13:6-22; Jer.30:7; Joel 2:11, 30-31; Zep.1:14-18; Zec.14:1-21; Mal.3:2; Rom.2:5; Jude 1:6; Rev.6:12-17; 11:18; 16:14).
And was clad with zeal as a cloak . . . zeal is eagerness, enthusiasm, passion for His own honor, which had been given to idols, and the interest of His people, and against the Antichrist, and all the anti-Christian doctrine and worship; and therefore His Eyes are said to be as a flame of fire (Rev.1:14; 2:18; 19:12). It could also be zeal for His own people, who were now in distress; or zeal and resentment against the Babylonians, who were terrible oppressors of His people, which are the things that His garment of vengeance and His cloak of zeal is made of. It seems that the sum of all these expressions is to describe both the cause and result together; the cause was righteousness and zeal in God, the result is salvation to His people, and vengeance on His enemies, as is very clear from the next verse.
Isaiah 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. (KJV)
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay . . . deeds, the LORD shall repay His enemies with the correct amount of His fury (wrath) that they deserve. He that is mighty to repay shall get revenge. Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord (Isa.63:4; Rom.12:19).
In order to accomplish the deliverance of His people, it was necessary to take vengeance on those who had oppressed and enslaved them. So in order to redeem His people in the last days, it shall be necessary to inflict punishment on the nations that oppose Israel, He shall remove by death, the opponents that stand in His way. The punishment that shall be inflicted, shall be strictly according to their deeds. Just as the enemies of His people have treated them, so will the LORD deal with them; as they have shed their blood, He will, according to the laws of retribution and retaliation, give them blood to drink (Rev.16:6), as they deserve. The whore of Rome (Rev.17), shall be rewarded as the followers of Christ have been rewarded by her, and double shall be rendered to her double, according to her works (Isa.40:2; 61:7; Jer.16:18; 17:18; Zec.9:12; Rev.18:6). According to deeds: (Ps.62:12; Pro.24:12,29; Isa.59:18; Jer.21:14; 25:14; 32:19; Lam.3:64; Eze.7:8-9; 18:30; Hos.12:2; Zec.1:6; Mat.16:27; Rom.2:6; 2 Tim.4:14; Rev.2:23; 18:6; 20:12-13; 22:12).
Fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies . . . the church's opponents and enemies are also Christ's, and so His wrath and fury is poured out by way of repayment to them, for all the cruel and hostile things they have done to them, even the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath (Rev.16:19).
To the islands he will repay recompence . . . islands is often a symbol for Gentiles in the Bible, referring here to Gentiles who lived in the more distant and remote parts of the anti-Christian territory; for when the cup of wrath shall be given to mystical Babylon (Rome) in the last days, every island will flee away (Rev.6:14; 16:20; 20:11).
***** God would take vengeance on His enemies and on all those that opposed His people. He would pay them back according to their deeds, as to how they dealt with His people. The setting refers to deliverance from sin in a general way, but the reference to the coastlands indicates that the LORD will also defend and deliver Israel from Gentile opponents in the last days, at His Second Coming (Zec.14:1-5; Rev.19:11-21). In the last days, the LORD will absolutely repay every enemy of His and His people for the way they acted.
Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. (KJV)
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun . . . when the Antichrist is destroyed (Rev.19:17-21), the way shall be wide open for the spread of the Gospel, from the east to the west; which shall be embraced everywhere by everyone, and the TRUE worship of God shall be set up; and the glorious Name of the LORD shall be treasured by all. It will then be, that the LORD who is outstanding in His Name, His nature, His works and His perfections, shall be feared (respected and reverenced) and shall be served from the rising of the sun to the setting of the same, by ALL nations under the heavens (Mal.1:11) . . . even those that remain from the anti-Christian states, and who escape the wide-ranging ruin, for they shall be terrified at His judgments. They ALL shall fear His great and awesome Name, and give honor and glory to the God of Heaven (Rev.11:13).
When the enemy shall come in like a flood . . . Satan is the common enemy of all mankind, the confirmed and persistent enemy of Christ and His people. He shall come into the world and into the church in the last days, and he shall come in like a flood, threatening to carry away all that is before him. Satan shall bring with him, a flood of immorality and profaneness, as there was in the days of Noah (Gen.6:5), and Lot (Gen.13:13; 18:20; 19:4-11, 25, 28). When the Son of Man comes again to the Earth (Zec.14:1-5; Rev.19:11-21), this shameful flood of immorality, profaneness and utter wickedness will be what meets Him. This flood will be one of inaccuracy and heresy of all sorts; and a flood of persecution, as will be when the witnesses are killed (Rev.11:7). That hour of temptation is the Great Tribulation that shall come upon all the Earth, to try the inhabitants of it (Rev.3:10). I firmly believe that TRUE Christians shall be kept from the hour of temptation (Rev.3:10; 1 Thes.1:10, 5:9), by Christ removing them at the Rapture (1 Thes.4:13-18), before the Tribulation begins (Dan.9:27; Mat.24). This Passage compares with and illustrates it as that time of trouble which will be, such as never was since there was a nation (Dan.12:1; Mat.24:21; Mk.13:19; Lk.21:23-24; Rev.16:17-21). This will be the case when Christ Jesus returns to Earth (Zec.14:1-5; Rev.19:11-21), which truly seems to be near at hand (Mat.3:2; 4:17; 10:7; 16:1-4; Mk.1:15; Lk.12:51-57; 21:31). Man’s evil heart: (Gen.6:5; 8:21; Deut.29:19; Job 15:16; Pro.4:23; 6:14, 18; 11:20; 12;20; Ecc.7:29; 8:11; 9:3; Ps.140:2; Jer.3:17; 4:14, 18; 7:24; 11:8; 13:10; 16:12; 17:9; 18:12; Eze.8:9, 12; Hos.7:6; Zec.7:10; 8:17; Mat.15:19; 24:48-51; Mk.7:21-23; Rom.1:21; Heb.3:12)
The Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him . . . when God's people are weak and helpless, and have no standard to lift up against the invading power, God will give a banner to those that fear Him (Ps.60:4), will by His Spirit lift up a standard, which will draw multitudes together to appear on the church's behalf. He shall come like a straight river, the Spirit of the LORD lifting Him up for an ensign. Christ by the preaching of His Gospel shall cover the Earth with the knowledge of God, as with the waters of a flood, the Spirit of the LORD setting up Christ as a standard to the Gentiles Isa.11:10). Knowledge of God: (Pro.2:5; Hos.4:1; 6:6; Rom.11:33; 1 Cor.15:34; 2 Cor.10:5; Eph.1:17; Col.1:10; 2 Pet.1:2).
*****Some think that the flood is a reference to the river Euphrates (Rev.9:14; 16:12), which shall be stirred up by Satan to distress the church . . . but it seems to me that all this can be applied to all believers under the non-stop attacks of their worst enemy, Satan; who desperately grabs every chance to disrupt their peace and quell their comfort. Although the devil cannot touch the souls of mankind, he does come in and distracts them any way he can. But when the Spirit of the LORD within them (Rom.8:9), who is much greater than he that is in the world (1 Jn.4:4), lifts up Christ as an banner or standard to them; and guides them to His precious Blood (1 Pet.1:18-19) for peace and pardon, for the cleansing of their souls and the atonement of their sins; they then can see that they have free and full remission of their sins (1 Jn.1:8-9; Heb.8:12; 10:17), and are totally satisfied with the justice of God.
Isaiah 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. (KJV)
And a Redeemer shall come to Zion . . . Isaiah again confirms what he said before, that the people shall be delivered, and that God will be the One from whom this blessing comes! He encourages the people to be of good cheer in their captivity, for it shall not be permanent; and then he urges them to place their hope of redemption in God alone, so that they may keep their minds only on His Promises. By Zion he means captives and exiles . . . for no matter how far away from their country they had been exiled, they still must have carried the Temple in their hearts. A Redeemer here is not Cyrus, as some think; but the Messiah, and some understand that the enemy (vs.19), to be Gog and Magog (Eze.38:2; Rev.20:8), for all the wickedness in the last days will be under the control of Satan. This does not refer to the First Coming of Christ to redeem His people by His Blood, from sin, Satan and the law . . . but of His Second Coming to Zion to the TRUE church of God in the last days.
And unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD . . . meaning, to those among the Jews, the posterity of Jacob, who repent of their sins, and turn from them; and especially their sin of rejecting the Messiah, and their disbelief of Him, and refusing to turn to Him, and denying Him as their Saviour and King.
*****Many people ask, Will all Israel be saved? The answer is No. Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: (KJV)
The ones saved will be only a remnant. And it seems that only a few in the church who are actually saved (Mat.7:13-14), according to God’s Holy Word.
But the Redeemer shall one day come to Zion, and in those last days, there shall be a great confession of sin. Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (KJV) http://www.godcannotlie.org/zec_ch12.htm
Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. (KJV)
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord . . . which shall be manifested and made good to them that repent of their sins, and, believe in Christ; and to whom the actual blessing of it shall be applied, the forgiveness of their sins (Rom.11:27). My covenant with them is the Promise which God through Christ would introduce. It is the Promise of Christ and His salvation, and with them only when they are united to Him (Jn.10:29; 17:6-12; Heb.2:13). Christ the Messiah is representative of ideal Israel. The literal and spiritual Israel are His seed, to whom the Promise is to be fulfilled (Ps.22:30). Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (KJV)
Hebrews 10:16-17 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (KJV)
My Spirit which is upon thee . . . the Spirit of God, with His gifts and graces, which were upon Christ the Redeemer not by measure (Jn.3:34); and the doctrines He received from His divine Father to teach others, and which He gave to His apostles. The same Spirit by measure was put upon them, and the same Truths were delivered to them.
And my words which I have put in thy mouth . . . Isaiah states that God speaks to us in such a way that He chooses to employ the ministry and agency of men. He might indeed speak from Heaven or send angels; but He refers to our advantage all the more by addressing and urging us through good men, that, by their voice and word, He may more gently draw us to Himself. It is in vain for those who reject His ministers to boast that they are willing to obey God.
Shall not depart out of thy mouth . . . shall not depart is here a command or encouragement. A warning may without a doubt be drawn from it, but the importance of it is due to the Promise, which is that the LORD will assist His Church, and will take care of it, so as never to allow it to be deprived of correct doctrine. So, it is to this, that we should always look any time we come by hard times, and when everything does not go as we had hoped. We must remember that we are supported and upheld by the Word and the Spirit, of which the LORD states that we shall never be left alone to suffer by ourselves. His Word tells us He will never leave nor forsake us (Heb.13:5). The Truth of God should be continuous meditation and conversation. The Promise should be considered so precious that it would constantly dwell on the tongues of those who truly loved the LORD and His Word.
Nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever . . . thy seed’s seed is their descendants; their children. From henceforth and for ever . . . this is in agreement with the Promises which everywhere occur in the Scriptures, that God would bless the descendants of His people, and that the children of the righteous would partake of His kindness. Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (KJV) . . . Also see: (Deut.4:37; 5:29; 7:9; Ps.89:24, 36; Jer.32:39-40). There is no Promise anywhere in the Bible that has more comfort to the godly, or that has been more amazingly fulfilled than this. And even though it is true that not all the children of holy parents become holy; and even though there are examples where they are totally wicked and abandoned by God (Lev.10:1-2; 1 Sam.2:12-36), yet it is also true that rich spiritual blessings are conveyed to the children of those who serve God and who keep His commandments.
*****Oh, that we would only learn from what God has said in His Book; we could form right decisions, both of the LORD'S Hand in helping His people, and of the LORD'S Ear in hearing their prayers. If at any time the enemy wins out in us, and the LORD seems to hide His Face, we should humbly search for the reason, and trace our iniquities to their source. Shame should be present in us because our iniquities are increased, and our trespasses reach up to the Heavens.
Our precious LORD Jesus in this wonderful Chapter is shown by Isaiah as coming as the Advocate, the Conqueror of Death, the Intercessor (Mediator), the Shepherd of God’s sheep, the Propitiation (Appeasement), the Redeemer and the Saviour of all perishing sinners. By Your own Arm, O LORD, You decided and formed a Way of deliverance for Your people; for no one can be redeemed without Christ Jesus. See Special Comments: TITLES AND FUNCTIONS OF CHRIST JESUS
The most gracious God and Father, for His dear Son's sake, shall fulfil all the Promises that He ever made in His Holy Word, and He shall put His blessed Spirit in us (Jn.14:16-18; Rom.5:5; 8:11,15-16, 26-27), and we shall live: for the everlasting success of Christ's precious Blood (1 Pet.1:18-19) and His righteousness (1 Cor.1:30), produce everlasting blessings of both, among the redeemed, from this day forward and forever!
We have great Promises relating to salvation in Isaiah 59:
<> That the Son of God shall come to be our Redeemer (vs.20). The Redeemer shall come, and it is applied to Christ (Rom.9:26-28). The Coming of Christ as the Redeemer is the summation of all the Promises both in the Old and New Testaments, and this was the redemption in Jerusalem which the believing Jews looked for (Lk.2:38).
<> The place where the Redeemer shall appear is in Zion, for there, on that Holy Hill, the LORD would set Him up as His King (Ps.2:6-7). In Zion the chief corner stone was to be laid (1 Pet.2:6). He came to His Temple there (Mal.3:1). There salvation was to be placed (Isa.46:13), for from Zion shall the Law go forth (Isa.2:3). Zion was a type of the Gospel church, from which the Redeemer acts in all His appearances.
<> The persons that shall have the comfort of the Redeemer's Coming, that shall then lift up their heads, knowing that their redemption draws nigh Lk.21:28). He shall come to those that turn from the ungodliness in Israel, to the praying seed of Israel, in answer to their prayers; for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel (Rom.9:6). He shall come to only those that repent and turn from their transgressions (vs.12-13), and forsake those sins which Christ came to redeem them from. The sinners in Zion (or anywhere else) will never be any better for the Redeemer's coming to Zion IF they continue on in their trespasses.
<> The Spirit of God shall come to us to be our Sanctifier (vs.21). With the Redeemer there was a new covenant made (Jer.31:31; Rom.6:14; Heb.8:8, 13; 12:24), a covenant of great Promises; and this is the great and wide-ranging Promise of that covenant . . . that God will give and continue His Word and Spirit to His church and people throughout all generations. God's giving the Spirit to those that ask Him includes the giving to them all good things (Mat.7:11; Lk.11:13; 2 Cor.9:8-15; Tit.3:4-7). This covenant is said to be made with those that turn from their transgression; for when they cease to do evil, they shall be taught to do well.
It seems to me that the Promise is made to a single Person, Christ Jesus, as the Head of the church, who received that He might give to others. The Spirit promised to the church was first given upon Him, and from His precious Head to His weary Feet (Isa.11:1-3; 61:1-3; Jn.1:32-34; 3:34). My Spirit that is upon thee (vs.21), the Father first gave His Spirit to His Son, and He in return, gives it to all believers, who are His seed, in whom He prolongs his days (Isa.53:10).
It is to the church, a Promise of the continuation and permanence of the church in the world to the end of time, the same as those Promises that the throne and seed of Christ shall endure for ever (Ps.89:29, 36; 22:30-31). The church shall be kept up, as the world of mankind is kept up, by the seed and the seed's seed. When one generation passes away another generation comes.
How long it shall be kept up? The answer is henceforth and for ever (Ps.125:2; 131:3; Isa.9:7; 59:21; Mic.4:7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.godcannotlie.org/micah_ch4.htm
How shall it be kept up? By the constant residence of the Spirit and the Word of God and in it. The Spirit that was upon Christ shall continue in the hearts of the faithful for ever (Jn.14:16; 2 Jn.1:2); there shall be some in every age on whom He shall work, and in whom He shall dwell, so the Comforter shall abide with the church for ever. The Gospel of Jesus Christ shall always continue in the mouths of the faithful few (Mat.7:14); for there will be some in every age who believe with the heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Rom.10:9), and shall with the mouth confess this unto salvation. The Spirit and the Word of God go together, hand in hand . . . and by them the church is kept up.
Some Predictions in Isaiah 59, that have not been fulfilled as of yet:
#1. His own arm brought salvation . . . refers to Messiah's future redemption of Israel (vs.16).
32. His righteousness sustained Him (vs.16).
#3. He put on righteousness as a breastplate of armor (vs.17).
#4. He put a helmet of salvation on His head (vs.17).
#5. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing (vs.17).
#6. He put on zeal as a cloak (vs.17).
#7. He will repay according to the deeds of His enemies (vs.18).
#8. He will repay fury to His adversaries (vs.18).
#9. He will repay recompense to His enemies (vs.18).
#10. He will repay recompense to the islands (vs.18).
#11. They will fear the Name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun (vs.19).
#12. The Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against the enemy (vs.19).
#13. The Redeemer shall come to Zion, unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob (vs.20).
#14. My Spirit and My words will not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed's seed from henceforth and forever (vs.210.
Things Christ shall do at His Second Coming
#1. Come to Zion, meaning Jerusalem, NOT any other place on Earth (Isa.59:20; Zec.14:4).
#2. Come to them that turn from sin in Jacob or Israel (Isa.59:20; Zec.12:10; 13:1; 14:1-5, 14; Rom.11:25-29).
#3. Make a new covenant with them in that day (Isa.42:6; 48:9; 55:3; 57:8; 59:21; Jer.31:31; Heb.10:16).
#4. Pour out the Holy Spirit upon them (Isa.32:15; 34:16; 44:3; 59:21;Joel 2:28-32; Zec.12:10; 13:1).
#5. Put the Words of God in their mouths and in the mouths of eternal generations to come (Isa.59:21).
Special Comments
TITLES AND FUNCTIONS OF CHRIST JESUS:
Shepherd (Ps.23; 80:1; Isa.40:11; Zec.13:7; Mat.2:6; Jn.10:1-18; 21:15-17; Heb.13:20; 1 Pet.2:25; 5:4; Rev.7:17)
Servant (Isa.53:11; Acts 3:13, 26; 4:27, 30; Rom.15:8)
The Righteous One (Isa.53:11; Jer.23:5; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 22:14)
Branch (Isa.11:1; Jer.23:5; Zec.6:12-13)
Creator (Jn.1:3; Col.1:16; heb.1:2)
King of Israel or of the Jews (Jer.23:5; Mat.2:2; 21:5; 25:40; 27:11, 29, 37; Mk.15:32; Jn.1:49)
The LORD our righteousness (Jer.23:6; 33:16)
Messiah [Christ] (Dan.9:25-26; Jn.1:41; 4:25, 29; 7:26-27, 31, 41-42; 10:24; Acts 3:20; 9:22; 18:28; Rom.9:5)
Son of David (Mat.1:1; 9:27; Mk.12:35; Lk.20:41)
Son of Abraham (Mat.1:1)
Ruler (Mat.2:6; Rev.1:5; 11:15; 20:4, 6)
Bridegroom (Mat.9:15; 25:1-10; Jn.3:29; 2 Cor.11:2; Eph.5:23-32; Rev.19:7-9)
Revealer (Mat.11:27; 13:16-17, 36; Jn.1:17-18; 14:9; 16:12; Acts 1:1-3; Gal.1:12; 2 Tim.1:10; Heb.1:1-3; 2 Pet.1:14; Rev.1:1)
Prophet, like Moses (Mat.13:57; 21:11, 46; Lk.24:19; Jn.4:19; 7:40)
Judge (Mat.16:27; 25:31-46; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Cor.5:10; 2 Tim.4:1, 8; Rev,19:11-21)
Leader (mat.23:10)
Rabbi or Teacher (Mat.26:25; Mk.5:35; Jn.1:38, 49; 3:2)
Redeemer (Job 19:25; Ps.19:14; Pro.23:11; Isa.41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7, 26; 54:5, 8; 59:20; 60:16)
Saviour (Lk.2:11; Jn.4:42; Acts 5:31; 13:23; Eph.5:23; Phil.3:20; 2 Tim.1:10; Tit.1:4; 2:13; 3:6; 2 Pet.1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18; 1 Jn.4:14; Jude 1:25)
The Word (Jn.1:1, 14; Rev.19:13)
The Light (Mat.4:16; Lk.2:32; Jn.1:9; 8:12; Eph.5:8-14; Col.1:12-13)
Lamb, or the Lamb of God (Isa.53:7; Jn.1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Pet.1:19; Rev.5:6; 6:16; 7:14; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7; 21:9; 22:1, 3)
The Bread of life (Jn.6;35, 48)
The door (Jn.10:7, 9: 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph.2:18)
The life (Jn.1:4; 11:25-26; 14:6; Col.3:4; 1 Jn.1:1-2)
The way (Jn.10:9; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom.5:2; Eph.2:18; Heb.7:25; 9:8; 10:19-22; 1 Pet.1:21)
LORD of all (Acts 10:36; Rom.10:11-13; 14:9; 1 Cor.15:27; Eph.1:20-23)
The first-born (Rom.8:29; Col.1;15, 18; Heb.1:6; Rev.1.5)
LORD of glory (Ps.24:7-10; 1 Cor.2:8; Jam.2;1)
Head of every man (1 Cor.11:3)
Last Adam (1 Cor.15:45)
Head of the church (Eph.1:22-23; 4:15; 5:23; Col.1:18; 2:10, 19)
The chief cornerstone (Ps.118;22; Isa.28:16; Mat.21:42; Eph.2:20; 1 Pet.2:6-7)
Foundation of the church (Isa,28:16; 1 Cor.3:11)
The image of God (Col.1;15; Heb.1:3)
Preserver (1 Sam.2:8; Ps.75:3; Jn.5:17-18; Col.1:17; Heb.1:3)
Mediator (Gal.3:20; 1 Tim.2:5; Heb,8:6; 9:15; 12:24)
High Priest (Heb.2:7; 3:1; 9:11, 24)
Guardian (Ps.23:1-3; 80:1; Isa.40;1; Eze.34:11-16, 23-24; Jn.10;11-16; Heb.13:20; 1 Pet.2:25)
Advocate (1 Jn.2:1)
Master (Mat.8:19. 19:16; 22:16; 23:8, 10; 26:18, 49; Mk.4:38; 9:5, 18; 10:17; 14;45; Lk.3:12; 5:5; 8:24, 45; 17:13; 18:18; Jn.1:38; 13:13-14; 20:16)
Witness (Ps.89:36-37; Isa.55:4; Rev.1:5; 3:14; 1 Jn.5:5-10)
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Ps.136:3; 1 Tim.6:15; Rev.17:14; 19:16)
The Alpha and the Omega (Rev.1:8, 11, 17; 21:6; 22:13)
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRIST JESUS:
Atoning work (Jn.1:12; Rom.5:10-11; 8:32; 2 Cor.5:18-19; Eph.2:16; Heb.2:17) Compassionate (Mat.9:36; 15:32; 20:34; Mk.1:41; Lk.7:13; 23:34; Jn.19:25-27; Phil.2:1)
Eternal (Mic.5:2; Jn.1:1-2; 8:58; 12:34; Rev.1:18)
Faithful (Isa.11:5; Heb.2:17; 3:2; Rev.1:5; 3:14; 19:11)
Full of grace (Ps.45:2; Lk.4:22; Jn.1:14, 16-17; Rom.5:17; 2 Cor.8:9; 1 Tim.1:14)
Gentle (Isa.40:11; Mat.11:29; 12:19-20; 21:5; 26:52; 2 Cor.10:1)
Good (Mat.4:23-24; Mk.10:17-18; Jn.10:11, 14; Acts 10:38)
Great (Mat.12:6, 41-42; Mk.5:19-20; Lk.8:9; Tit.2:13; Heb.4:14; 13:20)
Guileless, honest, open (Ps.32:2; 73:1; Jn.1:47; 1 Pet.2:1, 22; Rev.14:5)
Hardworking (Isa.50:7; Mal.3:1; Mk.1:35; Jn.4:31-34; 9:4; 17:4; 19:30; Heb.12:2-3)
Holy (Isa.53:9; Mk.1:24; Lk.1:35;23:22, 41, 47; Jn.8:29; 14:30; Acts 3:14; 4:27; 2 Cor.5:21; Heb.4:15; 7:26; 9:14; 1 Pet.1:16; 1:19, 22; 1 Jn.2:2; 3:5; Rev.3:7)
Humble (Zec.9:9; Mat.11;29; Jn.13;3-10; Phil.2:6; Heb. 5:5)
Immutable [never changing] (Heb.1:12; 6:18; 13:8; Ps.90:2; 102:26; Mal.3:6; Jn.8:56-58; Jam.1:17)
Impartial, fair, having no favorites (Mat.22:16; Mk.12:14; Lk.20:21; Jam.3:17)
Impeccable, spotless (Jn.1:1; 8:29; 10:30; 20:30; Heb.13:8)
Innocent (Mat.27:4, 24; Lk.23:47; Heb.23:47; 1 Pet.2:22)
Knew sorrow, grief and distress (Isa.53:3-4; Mat.26:37-38; Lk.19:41; Jn.11:35; Heb.5:7) Loving (Mk.10;21; Jn.11:3, 5; 13:1, 21, 23; 14:21, 23, 31; 15:13; 17:23; 19:26; Rom.8:35, 37; 2 Cor.5:14; Gal.2:20; Eph.3:19; 5:2, 25; 1 Jn.3:16; Rev.1:5; 3:19)
Magnificent (Eze.1:26-28; Dan.7:9, 13; 10:5-6, 16; Mat.17:2; Mk.9:2-3; Lk.9:29; Rev.1:13-16; 14:14; 6:16-17)
Meek (Mat.11:29; 21:5; 2 Cor.10:1)
Merciful (Mat.9:27; 15:22; 17:15; Mk.5;19; Lk.23:34; 1 Tim.1:16; Heb.2:17; Jude 1:21)
Never leave nor forsake us (Gen.28:15; Deut.31:6, 8; Josh.1:5; 1 Sam.12:22; 1 Chron.28:20; Ps.37:25, 28; Isa.41:10, 17)
Obedient (Ps.40:8; Isa.50:5; Lk.2:51; Jn.4:34; 8:29; 14:31; 15:10; Rom.5:19; Phil.2:8; Heb.5:8; 10:7, 9)
Omnipotent, all powerful (Isa.9:6; Mat.8:26-27; 28:18; Jn.5:19; Acts 10:38; 1 Cor.1:24; 2 Cor.12:9; 2 Pet.1:16)
Omnipresent, present everywhere (Mat.18:20; 28:20; Jn.3:13; Eph.1:23; Heb.13:5)
Omniscient, knows and sees everything (Mat.9:4; 11:21; 16:21; 16:21; Lk.6:8; 11:17; 22:7-13; Jn.1:47-50; 2:24-25; 4:17-19, 25-26, 29; 16:30)
Paid our sin debt, propitiation (Rom.3:25-26; 1 Pet.2:24; 3:18; 1 Jn.2:2; 4:10)
Patient, longsuffering (Isa.53:7; Mat.27:14; Rom.2:4-5; 1 Tim.1:16; 1 Pet.3:20; 2 Pet.3:9, 15)
Persistent in prayer (Mat.11:25; 14:19, 23; 26:36-44; 27:44; Mk.1:35; Lk.6:12; 22:32; 23:34-46; Jn.17;1-26; Heb.5:7)
Righteous, just (Isa.9:7; 11:5; 53:11; 59:16-17; Jer.23:5-6; Zec.9:9; Mat.3:15; 27:19; Lk.23:47; Jn.5:30; 18:38; Acts 3;14; 7:52; Rom.5:18; 1 Cor.1:30; 2 Tim.4:8; Heb.1:9; 1 Pet.3:18; 2 Pet.1:1; 1 Jn.2:1, 29)
Saviour, Redeemer, Rescuer, Deliverer (Lk.2:11; Jn.4:42; Acts 5:31; 13:23; Phil.3:20; 2 Tim.1:10; Tit.1:4; 2:13; 3:6; 2 Pet.1:1, 11; 2:20;3:18; 1 Jn.4:14)
Self-denying (Mat.20:28; 26:39; Lk. 22:27; Jn.6:38; 10:17-18; Rom.145:3; 2 Cor.8:9; Phil.2:5-8; Heb.10:1-10; 1 Jn.3:16)
Sense of humor (Mat.19:24; 23:24; Mk.3:17; 10:2-25; Lk.18:25)
Sinless (Isa. 53:9; Lk.1:35; Jn.8:29, 46; 2 Cor.5:21; Heb.4:15; 7;26-28; 9:14; 1 Pet.1:19; 2:22; 1 Jn.3:5)
Tempted (Mat.4:1-11; Lk.22:41-42; 22:35-37; Heb.2:18; 4:15)
Took time to rest (Mk.4:2, 38; 6:31; 8:24; Jn.6:3, 15)
True (Mat.22:16; Jn.1:14; 7:18; 1 Jn.5:20; Rev.19:11)
Unique, exclusive, flawless, irreplaceable, matchless, One of a kind, perfect, spotless. superior (Mat.11:27; 28:18; Jn.1:3; 5:20-29; 13:13; 17:23; Acts 2:36; 4:10-12; 5:31; Eph.1:20-23; 4:5; Phil.2:9-11; Col.1:16-17; 1 Tim.2:5-6; Heb.1:2-3; 1 Pet.1:21; Rev.1:18)
Victorious over sin, Satan and the world (Mat.4:1-11; 12:20; Jn.12:31; 14:30; Heb.2:14; 4:15; 1 Jn.3:8; Rev.20:10)
Wrathful, furious (Rev.1:14; 6:16-17; 19:11-21; 20:10-11, 14-15)
Zealous, passionate (Ps.40:8; Mal.3;1; Mat.21:12; Lk.2:46-49; Jn.2:16-17; 4;34; 5:17; 6:38; 8:29; 9:4)
Salvation of Israel
Those that will turn from transgression in Israel in that day, will be the one-third of the nation who will come through the Tribulation Period alive, the two-thirds will be killed (Zec.13:8-9). They will be the ones to say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord (Mat.23:39).
No one in Israel or any among the Gentiles will be saved and blessed by God in the eternal program until he/she turns from sin. This is the reason Israel is now scattered among the nations, and why God has not been able to fulfill His everlasting covenants with them. He can never do so until they stop their sin, and turn to Him and holy living (Mat.18:3; Jn.1:12-13; 3:3-8).
Who is “all Israel”?
Although Israel is discussed in different ways in Romans 9-11. Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (KJV) . . . I think that all Israel is all elect Israel. Consider carefully the following.
Romans 9:6-13 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (KJV)
The Word of God has NOT failed. For they are not all TRUE Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all TRUE Israel because they are Abraham’s descendants.
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (KJV) . . . It was through Isaac, that Israel was named. It is not the children of the flesh (Gen.16:3-4; Rom.9:7-8), who are children of God, but the children of the Promise are regarded as descendants. For this is the word of promise: Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (KJV)
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (KJV)
And there is also something else to consider. Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) KJV) . . . BEFORE the twins were born, BEFORE they had done anything, good or bad, Rebecca received a message from God. What God told her, proves that God chooses according to His own plan. Those boys were twins, same father and same mother, yet God chose the younger one (Jacob) and rejected the older one (Esau).
So that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, NOT because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her: Genesis 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. (KJV)
Romans 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (KJV)
Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. (KJV)
Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (KJV)
In the entire section of Romans 9-11, Paul stresses the fact that the children of promise are those whom God chooses and calls (9:23-24). These are the elect such as Isaac and Jacob (9:8-13). Some are Jews and some Gentiles (Gal.3:26-29), for God says in Hosea 1:10, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Romans 9:25-26 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. (KJV) . . .
Israel as a national unit has rejected God’s offer of Christ, and it is only the remnant that will be saved (Rom. 9:27). So, whatever you think about the phrase, and so all Israel will be saved (Rom.11:26), you must remember that it will only be the remnant that will actually be saved among Israel and that remnant is the only TRUE Israel about whom the Promises were made.
http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_romans_ch.9.htm
Who Responds by Faith?
Romans 10 tells us national Israel as a whole has NOT responded by faith in Christ. Even though Israel has a passion for God, they refuse to accept God’s Way of righteousness through Christ (Jn.14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom.5:1-2, 21, 1 Cor.1:30; Phil.3:9; 2 Pet.1:1), and continued in law works (Gal.3:10-26). The option of belief was so close to Israel, but it was the Gentiles who responded. Israel, being stubborn, rejected Christ, and because of this, God stretched out His hand (Isa.5:25) and hardened the hearts (Ex.4:21; 7:3; 14:4, 17) of Israelites, as He did to Pharaoh and the Egyptians . . . except for the elect remnant.
Are God’s Promises to Israel Cancelled?
Chapter 11 is where the often misinterpreted phrase is found . . . and so all Israel will be saved.
God’s Promises to Israel are being fulfilled through the remnant of Israel (the few, Mat7:14) who believe in Christ. Only the chosen ones found what Israel was seeking, and the rest were blinded (Rom.11:7). Paul makes it very clear that salvation for Israel is NOT by law, NOT by works, but through FAITH, just as it is for the Gentiles (Rom.9:30; Gal.2:16, 20; 3:7-22).
Although Israel was severely judged, she did not completely fall . . . nor will she ever!
Jeremiah 31:35-37 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. 37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. (KJV) . . . Israel is here to stay! The LORD says so!
God’s partial hardening of Israel did do some good, for their rejection of Christ opened the door so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ came to Gentiles. Paul tells these Gentiles not to forget who were first to believe. They are grafted into the trunk of the olive tree of God’s salvation and blessing, which was the first believing Jews (Rom.11:17, 24). This kindness of God to the Gentiles makes Israel jealous. It seems that Paul preaches to the Gentiles, partly to encourage this jealousy, so that some of Israel will be saved. But the Gentiles were reminded that they are grafted in only because of their faith. Since God was willing to take Gentiles who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft us (Gentiles) into His own good tree which is a very unusual thing to do; He will be far more eager to graft the Jews (the broken-off branches) back to their own tree again, back where they belong.
The Mystery Revealed
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (KJV)
“The fulness of the Gentiles” began many years ago; when God called out the church. Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (KJV) . . . It will conclude with the Rapture of the church (1 Thes.4:13-18).
“Mystery” needs to be explained. In Paul’s day there were ‘mystery’ religions. Today, a mystery is an unrevealed plot or person. In the Bible it is neither of these. In Scripture, mystery refers to something that was concealed in the Old Testament, but revealed in the New Testament. The mystery here is the identification of the fulness of the Gentiles which was NOT revealed in the Old Testament.
Many Jews have hard, unbelieving hearts; but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ. After that, after the Rapture, God will start dealing with Israel in the Great Tribulation period. Millions of Jews will hear the Gospel brought to them by the 144,000 (Rev.7).
See our articles on the Rapture and Second coming of Christ, and the Great Tribulation Period: http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_rapture,_second_coming.htm http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation_what.htm http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation,_why.htm
Romans 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (KJV)
Some say “All Israel will be saved” means that the majority of Jews in the last generation before Christ’s return will turn to Christ for salvation. Others say that “all Israel” means Israel as a whole will have a role in Christ’s Kingdom. Their identity as a people will never be discarded. God chose the nation of Israel, and He has never rejected it, nor ever will.
Paul does NOT mean that every Jew will be saved. In Elijah’s day only a remnant was saved; in David’s day only a remnant was saved; in Paul’s day only a remnant was saved; in today’s time only a remnant is saved and in the Great Tribulation there will also be just a remnant saved. But . . . ALL of the remnant will be saved. Isaiah 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. [KJV] . . . The LORD says to His people, “I will come to Jerusalem to defend you and to save all of you that turn from your sins.” This message is to EVERY individual in the nation Israel! They MUST “turn from their transgression” and TO the Redeemer (the Messiah, the Christ). It is exactly the same way we Gentiles receive salvation. There is but ONE God. There is NOT one God for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. We ALL have the same God!
Remnant: (Isa.1:9; 10:20-22; 11:10-12,16; 46:3; Jer.23:3; 31:7; 39:9; 40:11; Eze.6:8-10; Joel 2:32; Mic.2:12; 5:3-8; Zep.2:7-9; Zec.8:6-12; Rom.9:29; 11:5; Rev.12:17).
God also chose the church, through Jesus Christ, and He will never reject it either. This does NOT mean, that all Jews or all church members will be saved. We can belong to a nation or an organization and never respond to Christ in faith. But, just because some people have rejected Christ does not mean that God stops working with either Israel or the church. He continues to offer salvation freely to all. See our articles on Israel: http://www.hisservants.org/israel_h_s.htm . . . http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_israel.htm
Book of Isaiah . . Isaiah's Mini-Bible
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Isaiah's Introduction to the Suffering Servant
Isaiah's Suffering Servant Prophecy. . . Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Isaiah's Redemption Through the Suffering Servant . . . Isaiah Ch.49 . . Isaiah Ch.50 . . Isaiah Ch.51 . . Isaiah Ch.52 . . Isaiah Ch.53 . . Isaiah Ch.54 . . Isaiah Ch.55 . . Isaiah Ch.56 . . Isaiah Ch.57 . . Home Page
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