ISAIAH 59: 9-15a
AN HONEST CONFESSION
This section continues describing the people’s sin, but now its seriousness, their helplessness to change, and the effects of their sins become realized by people. Isaiah has just boldly confronted the people (59:1-8) with their sinfulness. The people start to awake up and begin to realize their rebellious wick condition and the effect their sin has had on them and society. Once they understand the damage their sin is causing they can become sorrowful for it. Isaiah can then pour out their confess of sin to God.
God’s victory over sin (59:15b-21) is not provided until genuine repentance is entered. The outpouring of God’s grace in our lives awaits our humble honest admitting to the hideousness of our sins and our powerlessness to save ourselves from them.
I. A REALIZED CONDITION, 9-11.
II. A HEARTFELT CONFESSION, 12-15b.
As a result of Isaiah’s preaching the people begin coming to their senses. This new awareness permits Isaiah to confess their condition beginning with verse 9. Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold, darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
The prophet now changes to first person plural pronouns (us, we, our) to show his identification with the tragic condition of the people. Therefore indicates results of the people’s sin. Isaiah acknowledges that he too is being impacted by the results of his society’s sinfulness. Along with the people Isaiah feels the responsibility and pain of their sinful condition.
Isaiah lists the miserable conditions that existed within Israel or in any society that has forsaken God. If society is not experiencing justice or righteousness, it is because the people have not behaved in a just or righteous manner.
Society was hoping for light, for clarity, for revival, but they dwelt in darkness. They desired to live in brightness of soul but lived gloom.
Verse 10 continues the admission of their condition. We grope along the wall like blind men. We grope like those who have no eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight, among those who are vigorous (we are) like dead men.
They have been trying to gain insight into or understand the reason for their life through their own efforts, but now admit their blindness as to what gives life meaning. A blindness that is so serious that its as if they don’t even have eyes. It is a plain recognition that their attempts and efforts to find real life have failed and that it must come from outside of themselves. Only when that awareness dawns will they have hope for life beyond this life.
In giving the best of their effort and strength, like a midday sun, they still don’t accomplish what they desire. Even the best and brightest are groping for a way out. This is a fulfilment of Deut. 28:29.
They saw no way open of relief, nor knew what to do to find it or to bring it about. If we shut our eyes against the light of divine truth, it is just that God hides from our eyes the way of peace and deliverance and, if we use not our eyes to see as we should, it is just for God to let us be as if we had no spiritual insight.
The conditions Isaiah confronted in his country were strikingly similar to those that surround us today. Violence, deceit, injustice, and self-destructive conduct abounded (Isa. 59:3-8). In looking for solutions to their problems, the people resembled a person without eyes, stumbling about in darkness.
Today the public is REACTING TO CRIME by demanding action. Some politicians advocate gun control; others urge all law-abiding citizens to have a gun and know how to use it. All the while we are spending billions to enlarge our prisons. The problem is that these efforts only deal with the symptoms; they don’t cure society’s illnesses.
Today, as in Isaiah’s time, the real problem behind the ills of society is rebellion against the Lord. If people repent, He will show mercy. If they don’t, God will bring judgment.
As Christian citizens, we should promote what God says is right and just, but we can do much more. Because we know that God is in control, we can proclaim the good news of His salvation. We may not be able to effect great changes in our society; but we can be God’s instruments in delivering individuals from eternal destruction. Instead of going with the crowd, we are to show the way.
Verse 11a employs two figures that describe the physical-psychological impact of their condition. All of us growl like bears, and moan sadly like doves.
The impatience, frustration and stress of their situation escapes them like growling bears or moaning doves. The second part of verse 11 describes the failed society. We hope for justice, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us.
They now recognize the need for justice and salvation, that it must come from outside them and that deliverance is not on any approaching horizon. The more they tried to make it happen and deliver themselves from their predicament the further away deliverance became. The tone of desperation indicates they have finally come to the end of themselves and are willing to seek God according to His way and not their way.
II. A HEARTFELT CONFESSION, 11b-15b.
Verse 12 begins the heartfelt confession that recognizes their sinfulness. For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. For our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities:
The people recognize why their deliverance is so far away. It is because the multiplied number of their rebellions are heaped up directly in front of (neged, before) God (Ps. 90:8). Finally their iniquities are seen not only by God but also by the people. Therefore the people admit to an authentic awareness (we know them) of their condition, an awareness that they cannot escape (they are with us).
Whenever we become aware of our condition, we can hope for God’s power to be unleashed in our lives. So long as we are ignorant of or ignore our sins, or try to explain them away, or blame them on somebody else, we can have no real hope for change. It is only when we agree with God’s assessment of our condition that God’s healing powers may be released in us, and our frustration can come to a glad end. [Oswalt, Isaiah, 522]
A group of students at Renaissance High School in Detroit decided to CUT CLASSES to attend a rock concert in Hart Plaza. They felt they had gotten away with it, but the next day when The Detroit News appeared on the newsstand, it carried a color photo of the concert - right there on the front page. And who was in that picture? That’s right - the delinquent students of Renaissance High, easily recognizable by anyone.
The Bible teaches that we cannot hide our iniquities. Oh, we may be able to cover them up for a while and even get away with them for an extended period of time. But the day will inevitably come when we must face up to them, either in this world or in the next. Paul told the Galatians, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7).
Perhaps you have some secret sin that you are hiding. If so, I urge you to confess and forsake it. Or maybe you are gradually being drawn into a situation that you know is wrong and you’re tempted to pursue it, thinking you won’t get caught. Then I plead with you to go no further. Your picture may not appear on the front page of a newspaper, but the Bible says you won’t get away with it! The seeds wrongdoing of may be sown in secret but the crop cannot be concealed. -Dave Egner
The sinful things that we may do Are often hid from human view,
But judgment day will bring to light Those things that we have not made right. -D.DeHaan
In verse 13 they confess some of their major sins. Transgressing and denying the Lord, and turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
Six Hebrew infinitives translated as English participles express what they now understand about themselves. The first three seem to be sins (or apostasy) against God and the next three sins against man. Rebelling (or transgressing) is active defection from God’s ways. Denying or lying against the Lord is committing treachery. Turning away (or back) from our God is neglecting to follow Him or apostasy.
Whenever people live life under their own power they are living lie so it is natural for them to speak lies. They speak oppressively to those who are weaker and rebel against the right way. They have become so twisted and dark that what they conceive in their heart and what they utter to themselves is falsehood. First lies are told because it is way to get what we want or because they are expedient, but in the end they are told because truth can no longer be recognized. The heart has become completely corrupt.
Verse 14 gives the result of the previous depravity of man on society. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the street, and uprightness cannot enter.
Justice knocks at the gate and is turned back. Righteousness stands far off not even trying to intrude. Public faithfulness to truth has collapsed and honesty doesn’t even appear. Justice, righteousness, truth, uprightness or honesty stand at the very center of a right society and a right life. Tragically it did not stand at the center of these lives or this society. These concepts were on the periphery but couldn’t get in. But praise be to God they now saw them and knew they didn’t have them.
When a PARTICULAR JUDGE WAS ASSIGNED to a potentially volatile trial involving racial issues, many lawyers praised the choice. "He’s fair-very fair-and he’s just," said one; He cares about people-victims and defendants," said another. Many others also spoke highly of his qualifications as a fair judge.
Such praise should be common, not the exception, for we expect justice from a judge. But God, the Judge of the universe, requires fairness from all of us and wants us to plead for justice for the oppressed. Israel’s failure to do this accounted in part for the nation’s downfall (Isaiah 59:9-15).
Today in many countries, more people are living in cities than ever before. And deep within those densely populated areas are conditions that breed anger, hopelessness, and despair. Landlords charge high rent for rundown apartments. Double standards of justice prevail for different races and nationalities. Unfair hiring and housing practices are common. And many other inequalities lead to new injustices.
As Christians, we must be among the first to work for justice in every area of society, not primarily for ourselves but for others. And we must banish prejudice and unfair attitudes from the inner citadel of our hearts.
Verse15 indicates how difficult it is to remedy such a society. Yes, truth is lacking; and he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.
Wrong was so prevalent that the individual who turn aside from it became a victim of those who insisted on continuing in it. When neither faithfulness nor integrity no longer exist within society it falls into self-seeking. Be crooked to someone before someone is crooked to you. Those who refuse dishonesty find no refuge within such a society for truth has left it. God and God alone must be there refuge.
CONCLUSION / TIME OF RESPONSE
Because of Israel’s willful, persistent rebellion the nation became unable to take action against its sins. When God’s truth is pushed out, sin pours in, be it in a life or in a society. The only hope for people or society is a heart-renting turning to the Lord God.
