Confession of Israel
May 13, 2019
Commentary
Why is the world in such a mess? The problem is not with God, but with man (vv. 1-3). This passage describes the wickedness of Israel and the wickedness of the whole world. God says there is something wrong with us. It is foolish for any of us to deny it, but that’s exactly what we do (vv. 4-8). Man is reluctant to admit that he is contributing to the problems he faces. This is true of both Christians and non-Christians. However, there is a dramatic change. A group comes forth who does 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!
God observes that there was no one to stand for truth and intercede on behalf of a sinful society. Like a warrior He goes forth to fight for His people (v. 16). Isaiah describes the clothing that God had already prepared for the salvation of Israel. Righteousness is His breastplate, and salvation is His helmet (v. 17). His other garments are vengeance and zeal. He supplies righteousness and salvation for His people as He zealously executes vengeance on His enemies (v. 18). Because of this people everywhere will acknowledge His glory, majesty and strength (v. 19). He will be the redeemer of those Israelites who turn to Him in repentance (v. 20). He will inaugurate His Covenant, pouring His Spirit on believing Israelites and redeeming them by instilling His words within them (v. 21).
Sin fills the vacuum left when God’s truth no longer fills our lives. Only God can defeat sin and redeem us. He would rescue the nation from enemy armies and punish wicked Israelites as well. He would also rescue His people from sin, because this is an impossible task for any human. Whether we sin once or many times, out of rebellion or out of ignorance, our sin separates us from God and will continue to separate us until we ask God to forgive us and remove it.
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. I can respond to God’s will and distinguish between good and evil because the Holy Spirit dwells within me and has redeemed me (John 14:26).
Isaiah 59:1–21 (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.
16 He sees there is no advocate; he is shocked that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; his desire for justice drives him on.
17 He wears his desire for justice like body armor, and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. He puts on the garments of vengeance and wears zeal like a robe.
18 He repays them for what they have done, dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries and punishing his enemies. He repays the coastlands.
19 In the west, people respect the Lord’s reputation; in the east they recognize his splendor. For he comes like a rushing stream driven on by wind sent from the Lord.
20 “A protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” says the Lord.
21 “As for me, this is my promise to them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,” says the Lord.
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