Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59:5

They hatch cockatrice’s eggs, and weave the spider’s web; he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

All their projects and actions are either vain or wicked; full of deadly poison, to the envenoming of all that deal with them: whosoever, therefore, meddleth with them cannot be free from the danger of infection and death.

Isaiah 59:6

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

Their works and designs, which are least harmful, are yet utterly vain and unprofitable: however they may undertake much, their labours come to nothing, either for the benefit of others, or their own safeguard, &c.

Isaiah 59:8

Whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Whosoever walketh in them shall never have and enjoy true peace in his soul; nor expect to be blessed and prospered from above.

Isaiah 59:9

Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice

ISAIAN, CHAP. XVII.—LIX. overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness, Therefore hath God withdrawn the hand of his merciful protection and gracious administration from us; and we are yielded up to be a prey of rapine and injustice: we wait for comfort and prosperity, but we find nothing but sorrow and misery.

Isaiah 59:10

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

All the light of our former comfort is taken from us; and we are so affected with the judgments of God, as that we know not how to guide ourselves in our present condition: we cast about for helps and directions in vain, and miscarry in the use of them: we are carried captive into desolate places, out of the society of men; as if we were dead carcasses, cast aside for the grave.

Isaiah 59:11

We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves.

We do, in all fashions of sorrow, bemoan ourselves; either roaring out in the extremity of our grief, as bears in a forest; or more silently murmuring our complaints, as doves on the house top.

Isaiah 59:15

Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.

Yea, truth, and honest sincerity, is failed amongst men; and he, that will not run with men into the same excess of riot, but maketh conscience of their evil ways, is exposed to the scorn and spoil of the world.

Isaiah 59:16

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness it sustained him.

And he saw that there was no man, that would interpose himself, and labour for the reforming of these foul corruptions; and wondered to see so general a barrenness of grace, as that there was not one man to stand out for his Church, either to sue for it, or to endeavour the redress of it: therefore God resolved, since there was no help or hope in human means, to take the cause into his own hand; and to work mightily the deliverance and salvation of his people, by his own power and justice.

Isaiah 59:17

For he put on righteousness as a breast plate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.

To which purpose, the Almighty hath completely armed himself, with righteousness, and salvation, and zeal, and means of vengeance upon his enemies; that his people may well see, how both forward and powerful he is, to rescue them, and to plague their oppressors.

Isaiah 59:19

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

When the enemy shall come furiously upon them, like a raging and impetuous flood, the Almighty shall wage war with him, and join battle accordingly against him to his destruction.

Isaiah 59:20

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

The Redeemer of the World shall, in his due time, be revealed, and shall personally come to mount Zion; and shall save all penitent sinners, in his whole Church upon earth.

Isaiah 59:21

My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Amongst and above all other testimonies of my favour to thee, my Church, this shall be most remarkable; that I will give thee my word and my Spirit for instruction, for sanctification: the one shall not depart out of thy heart, nor the other out of thy mouth; but shall perpetually continue to thee, and to thy seed after thee, unto the end of the world.