Confession of Israel
May 13, 2019
Commentary
This chapter answers the question many are asking today, “Why is the world in such a mess? God’s answer to this question is given in the opening words of chapter 59. The problem is not with God, but with man (vv. 1-3). This passage describes the wickedness of Israel (particularly since this chapter is addressed to the nation), and beyond that, to the whole world. The Apostle Paul quotes Romans 3 to show that this applies to the whole race of men (Rom 3:7-8). This is an excellent description of what theologians call “the depravity of man.” God says there is something wrong with us. It is foolish for any of us to deny it.
The problem is not so much the presence of human sin, for God has an answer for that, but the problem that separates man from God is an unwillingness to admit to that evil (vv. 4-8). That is what keeps God from acting on our behalf. Man is reluctant to admit that he is contributing to the problems he faces. People seem to be blind to the fact that selfish ways and self-centered actions and attitudes are directly connected with the terrible evils that flood our land and fill our newspapers today. It is very difficult to get them to accept the fact that God’s wrath comes upon mankind because of our wrong attitudes and actions. This is why so much drug abuse, child abuse, wife beating, incest, homosexuality, pornography, and other terrible things are happening. We are unwilling to admit our evil and this is oftentimes true of Christians as well as the world. However, there is a dramatic change. A group comes forth who do admit their part in the problem (vv. 9-15). They are the remnant of Israel, the tiny believing band of Jews who acknowledge they have done wrong. They give a full acknowledgment that the problem is with you and me and not God!
Application
I want to be quick to admit that it is my sin that separates me from God, tell Him that I am sorry and ask Him to forgive me.
Isaiah 59:1– 15 (NET)
1 Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak to deliver you; his ear is not too deaf to hear you.
2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.
3 For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin; your lips speak lies, your tongue utters malicious words.
4 No one is concerned about justice; no one sets forth his case truthfully. They depend on false words and tell lies; they conceive of oppression and give birth to sin.
5 They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, a poisonous snake is hatched.
6 Their webs cannot be used for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are sinful; they commit violent crimes.
7 They are eager to do evil, quick to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful; they crush and destroy.
8 They are unfamiliar with peace; their deeds are unjust. They use deceitful methods, and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.
9 For this reason deliverance is far from us and salvation does not reach us. We wait for light, but see only darkness; we wait for a bright light, but live in deep darkness.
10 We grope along the wall like the blind, we grope like those who cannot see; we stumble at noontime as if it were evening. Though others are strong, we are like dead men.
11 We all growl like bears, we coo mournfully like doves; we wait for deliverance, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us.
12 For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, and our sins testify against us; indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds; we know our sins all too well.
13 We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord; we turned back from following our God. We stir up oppression and rebellion; we tell lies we concocted in our minds.
14 Justice is driven back; godliness stands far off. Indeed, honesty stumbles in the city square and morality is not even able to enter.
15 Honesty has disappeared; the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed. The Lord watches and is displeased, for there is no justice.