Isa. 59 Sin separates between God and us, Isa. 59:1–2. Murder, theft, falsehood, injustice, cruelty, Isa. 59:3–8. Calamity for sin, Isa. 59:9–15. Salvation only of God, Isa. 59:16–19. The covenant of the Redeemer, Isa. 59:20–21.

The Lord’s hand is not shortened; he is not grown weaker than in former times, as omnipotent as ever he was: hand is here by a synecdoche put for arm, and so for strength, because the strength of a man doth generally put forth itself in his arm; and thus it is applied to God in his bringing Israel…

Have separated; have been as a thick wall between God and you; have set him at a great distance, Prov. 15:29. Have hid his face: this may be put synecdoehically for the whole person; and the prophet speaking of God by an anthropopathy, may understand his presence; and then it is, hath made him hide…

Your hands are defiled with blood: here the prophet comes from a more general to a more particular charge against them; by blood we are to understand either murders and bloodshed properly so called; or ways of injustice, extortion, oppression, and cruelties, whereby men are deprived of a…

None calleth for justice, i.e. none seek to redress these wrongs and violences; they commit all rapines and frauds under impunity; either, 1. Because the judges are corrupt. Or, 2. Because none will warn the judges of their duty. Or, 3. Because none seek to bring offenders to justice. Or, 4.

They hatch cockatrice eggs; or adder, or basilisk; one kind put for any venomous creature; a proverbial speech, signifying by these eggs mischievous designs, and by hatching them their putting them in practice: this is to show that mischief is natural to them, and they can do no otherwise, poison…

Their webs shall not become garments, i.e. their contrivances and deep designs shall not advantage them, they being like a thin and raw garment, either through which all their wretchedness and malice will appear, as the next words intimate; or, for want of solidity and substance, shall not be able…

Their feet run to evil: this seems to be taken from Prov. 1:16. See Poole “Prov. 1:16”. He had spoken of their hands, lips, and heart, &c. before, and now of their feet, to show that they were wholly set upon mischief. Their thoughts, i.e.

The way of peace they know not; they are of such turbulent spirits, living in such continual contentions and discords, that, breaking in pieces the very bonds of society, they neither know, 1. How to make and keep peace; neither, 2.

Therefore is judgment far from us: this seems to be spoken in the person of those Jews that did partake of these sins, giving the reason by way of complaint of those evils that they groaned under. Justice: judgment, and so justice, is herb taken for deliverance, Isa. 1:27; q.d.

We grope: as a blind man that hath no other eyes than his hands feels for the wall, from whence he expects either direction or a resting place to lean on; so they expect salvation as it were blindfold, not taking direction from the prophets, but hoping to obtain it by their cries and fasts, though…

We roar: this signifies the greatness of their anguish, that forced from them these loud outcries. And mourn: this notes some sense of their condition, that wrought in them these sorrowful lamentations; or it may relate to the condition that both sorts of people were in under their oppressing…

Our transgressions: the word here signifies sins of a high nature; such as wherein there is much of man’s will against light; rebellious sins. Are multiplied before thee: q.d.

He now enumerates some of those particular sins they profess themselves to be convinced of, whereby he doth not mean the sins of some particular persons, or some slight sins, but a general defection and corruption of the whole body.

Judgment is turned away backward: he speaks here of the sentences and decrees in courts of judicature, which are carried quite contrary to right and justice. God denies you justice, as you have denied help to others.

Truth faileth: q.d. Truth is more than fallen, which he had said in the former verse; it faileth. For being only fallen it may recover itself again, but failing notes the loss of its very vitals; as being every where neglected, in court, in city, in country, in inferior as well as superior ranks,…

No man, viz. to intercede, which is supplied from the following words; or no man to help in such a case, to show himself and appear in such a corrupt state in the behalf of equity, as Isa. 59:4; the like circumstances we have Ezek. 22:29–30; or none fit to intercede. Wondered, Heb.

He put on righteousness as a breastplate; God, resolving to appear as a man of war against Babylon, that did now oppress his people, puts on his arms, Heb.

Deeds, Heb. recompences or deserts, i.e. he will recompense his adversaries with those effects of his fury that they have deserved. Fury; a metonymy of the efficient, for the effects of his fury.

Fear the name of the Lord, i.e. either worship the Lord; for the name of God is put for God himself, as hath been often showed, and fear is put for his worship; or make his name renowned. From the west, viz. the western part of the world. His glory, or the glorious God.

And, moreover, or to wit; and being here not so much copulative as expositive. The Redeemer: the word notes a redemption with power, viz. 1. Cyrus, the instrument for the efficient, viz. God the Redeemer, Isa. 43:14, Isa. 45:13. Or, 2. Christ, of whom the apostle expounds it, Rom.

This is my covenant, or what I have promised, and so am engaged to see fulfilled, viz. to them that turn from their iniquity; or rather, the promise of his word and Spirit to abide in his church, upon which account it is also that the Spirit is promised in the next words, by which is understood…