Isa 59.1-21 tells us that it is not because God has a lack of power that he has withdrawn his Shekinah from Israel, it is because of the sins of the people. This chapter is a Rosh Ha Shanah passage, and is a Yom Ha Din (Day of Judgment) for that reason. As we read and study this chapter we will see many concepts found in the book of Ephesians and First Thessalonians because it is believed by some scholars that Paul wrote these books during the High Holy days of Rosh Ha Shanah and Yom Kippur. Isa 59.9-20 is an ancient reading from Rosh Ha Shanah and Paul will write from these concepts in Eph 6.13-17 and 1 Thes 5.1-5 for example.
v 1…Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save, neither is his ear so dull that he cannot hear (in other words, it is not for a lack of power that he cannot save or hear the prayers of the people).
v 2…But your iniquities have made a separation (chasm) between you and your God (that’s why he has not come to their aid), and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he does not hear (a Yom Ha Din).
v 3…For your hands (large acts of sin) are defiled with blood, and your fingers (smaller acts of sin) with iniquity; your lips have spoken falsehood (false doctrine). Your tongue mutters wickedness (contrary to the Torah).
v 4…No one sues righteously (brings a just case in court) and no one pleads for truth. They trust in confusion and speak lies, they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
v 5…They hatch adder’s eggs (evil in the beginning stage) and weave spider’s webs (of false doctrine to trap others); he who eats their eggs (takes in their doctrine) dies (because it is poison), and from that which is crushed a snake breaks forth (if you try and crush their evil, you will expose yourself to reproach and persecution).
v 6…Their webs will not become clothing (not fit for it), nor will they cover themselves with their works (Their false doctrines will not be of any use, can’t cover the nakedness of man); their works are works of iniquity, and an act of violence is in their hands (destroying the truth of the Torah).
v 7…Their feet run to evil (all their members are active in evil) and they hasten to shed innocent blood (murder); their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity (seeking it out; their purpose), devastation and destruction are in their highways (destroys anyone in their path).
v 8…They do not know the way of peace (with God-Isa 57.21), and there is no justice in their tracks (actions, their walk); they have made their paths crooked (contrary to the Torah). Whoever treads on them does not know peace (won’t experience it in this life or the next).
Isa 59.9-20 is an ancient reading for Rosh Ha Shanah, a Yom Ha Din (Day of Judgment). This is the text Paul will quote from in Eph 6.13-17 and 1 Thes 5.1-5.
v 9…Therefore (as a result), justice is far from us (the righteous notice what is happening), and righteousness does not overtake us (to inflict vengeance on their enemies, to save and protect, to enjoy the benefit of it); we hope for light (1 Thes 5.1-5) but behold darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom (mists of thick fog, hardly any light at all, ignorance, no faith, superstition, false teachings).
v 10…We grope along the wall like blind men (spiritually, not listening to the prophets but doing their own thing), we grope like those who have no eyes (they are not open or made use of by searching the Scriptures, as if blind). We stumble at midday (really blind if they can’t perceive the light) as in twilight (night), among those who are vigorous (healthy) we are like dead men.
v 11…All of us growl like bears (loud, looking for food), and moan sadly like doves (softly); we hope for justice but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us (neither has come and here is why).
v 12…For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us (and God is the witness); for our transgressions are with (on) us, and we know our iniquities (they are on our minds and conscience; heavy with guilt):
v 13…Transgressing and denying the Lord, and turning away from our God (the act), speaking oppression and revolt (by false doctrine contrary to the Torah), conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words (in thoughts contrary to the Torah and the covenant).
v 14…And justice is turned back, and righteousness stands away (Yehovah’s deliverance that would otherwise come, will not come); for truth has stumbled in the streets and uprightness cannot enter (the courts were at the gates in the street and justice was to be established there, but not now).
v 15…Yes, truth is lacking (deprived) and he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey (those who do not give in to evil and follow the Torah will be seen as “mad” and ridiculed); now the Lord (Yehovah) saw (took notice) and it was evil (“ra”) in his sight (eyes) that there was no justice (in the courts to deliver the innocent; no one helped).
v 16…And he saw that there was no man (to deliver them), and was astonished that there was no one to intercede (as an intercessor, an agent); then his own arm (Hebrew “zeroah” and has the root “zera” or seed-Gen 3.15. A term for the Messiah and God himself) brought salvation to him (through the Messiah; and his righteousness upheld him (sustained him).
v 17…And he put on righteousness (as defined by the Torah) like a breastplate (here Messiah is seen as a warrior who will intercede and make war on behalf of Israel as the “Warrior Messiah”-Rev 19.11; Isa 63.1-6. Paul uses these terms in Eph 6.11-17) and a helmet of salvation on his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself with zeal as a mantle (to attack his enemies).
v 18…According to their deeds, so he will repay (future tense), wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies (Rev 16.6-20); to the coastlands he will make recompense (the nations and remote parts).
v 19…So they will fear the name of the Lord (Yehovah) from the west and his glory (kivod) from the rising of the sun (of the world-east), for he will come like a rushing stream (intense) which the wind (ruach) of the Lord drives (the Ruach Ha Kodesh, or Holy Spirit, came on Shavuot in Acts 2 on the day God God gave the Torah on Mount Sinai, the driving force).
v 20…”And a redeemer (Hebrew “goel” or kinsman redeemer) will come to Zion (from this point on the context will be the second coming of Yeshua as Messiah), and to those who turn (teshuvah or repentance) from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.
v 21…”And as for me, this is my covenant with them” says the Lord, “my Spirit which is upon you (Messiah, Yeshua) and my words which I have put in your mouth (Deut 18.18-19) shall not depart, nor from the mouth of your offspring (seed), nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring (Israel and those grafted into the olive tree-Eph 2.11-22)” says the Lord, “from now and forever (this is a prophecy about the coming of the Ruach Ha Kodesh upon believers. From this point on to the end of the book the context is the second coming of the Messiah).”
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