Isaiah-Chap-59
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Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE
WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may
keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago and of today have, and are shamefully disobeying this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
In Chapter 59, the Prophet Isaiah addresses a community that feels abandoned by אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God). They are complaining that their prayers go unanswered and their rituals are ignored. Isaiah bluntfully corrects them: the problem isn’t that אֱלֹהִים has lost His power or His hearing; the problem is that their own moral corruption has built a wall between them and the Divine. The chapter moves from a harsh “prosecution” of their sins into a humble, collective confession, ending with the glorious promise of a Redeemer who steps in when humanity fails to save itself.
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Let us now read Isaiah Chapter 59: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanach).
1. “Behold, יְהוָה - the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear;
2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your אֱלֹהִים, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.
3. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness.
4. None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth; they trust in vanity, and speak lies, they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5. They hatch basilisks’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web; he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
6. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall men cover themselves with their works; their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
7. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, desolation and destruction are in their paths.
8. The way of peace they know not, and there is no right in their goings; they have made them crooked paths, whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.
9. Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but behold darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10. We grope for the wall like the blind, yea, as they that have no eyes do we grope; we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; we are in dark places like the dead.
11. We all growl like bears, and mourn sore like doves; we look for right, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12. For our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are present to us, and as for our iniquities, we know them:
13. Transgressing and denying יְהוָה - the LORD, and turning away from following our אֱלֹהִים, speaking oppression and perverseness, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14. And justice is turned away backward, and righteousness standeth afar off; for truth hath stumbled in the broad place, and uprightness cannot enter.
15. And truth is lacking, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And יְהוָה - the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice;
16. And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him;
17. And He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation upon His head, and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompense.
19. So shall they fear the Name of יְהוָה - the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; for distress will come in like a flood, which the breath of יְהוָה - the LORD driveth.
20. And a redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith יְהוָה - the LORD.
21. And as for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith יְהוָה - the LORD; 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 יְהוָה - the LORD, from henceforth and for ever”.
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Let us now look at the ‘verse by Verse’ Item with good Explanations’:
Verse 1: Behold, יְהוָה - the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it
cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear;
Explanation: Isaiah
starts by defending אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
capability. אֱלֹהִים is still all-powerful (the “hand”) and
all-knowing (the “ear”). The “shortened hand” is a metaphor for a lack of
strength, which Isaiah denies.
Verse 2: But your iniquities have separated between you and your אֱלֹהִים, and your sins have hid His face
from you, that He will not hear.
Explanation: This is the core thesis of the
chapter. אֱלֹהִים hasn’t moved; the people have. Their “iniquities”
(twisted actions) act as a physical barrier or a veil.
Verse 3: For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with
iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth
wickedness.
Explanation: Isaiah gets specific. He describes a
total bodily corruption, from the “hands” that commit violence to the “tongue”
that spreads deceit.
Verse 4: None sueth in righteousness, and
none pleadeth in truth; they trust in vanity, and
speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Explanation: This refers to a breakdown in the
legal system. People are using the courts to exploit others rather than to find
justice.
Verse 5: They hatch basilisks’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web; he
that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is
crushed breaketh out into a viper.
Explanation: A poetic way of saying their “plans”
are toxic. If you participate in their schemes (eat the egg), you are
destroyed. If you try to stop them (crush the egg), the evil only multiplies.
Verse 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.
Explanation: Just as a spider’s web is too thin to
be a blanket, their deceitful schemes will never provide them with real
security or cover their shame.
Verse 7: Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent
blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are
in their paths.
Explanation: Sin here is described as an active,
energetic choice. They aren't just stumbling; they are running toward harm.
Verse 8: The way of peace they know not, and there is no right in
their goings; they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein doth
not know peace.
Explanation: By choosing “crooked paths”, they have
lost the ability to even recognize what a peaceful, righteous life looks like.
Verse 9: Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness
overtake us; we wait for light, but behold darkness; for brightness, but we
walk in gloom.
Explanation: The tone shifts from “you” to “us”. The
prophet joins the people in confession. Because of their actions, the “light"
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
favour is replaced by spiritual and social darkness.
Verse 10: We grope for the wall like the blind, and as they that have
no eyes do we grope; we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; we are in dark
places like the dead.
Explanation: This highlights the confusion of a
society without moral truth. Even when the truth is as plain as the “noonday”
sun, they cannot see it because they have rejected spiritual sight.
Verse 11: We roar all like bears, and moan sore like doves; we look
for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
Explanation: This describes the different ways
people express their suffering,some through anger
(roaring bears) and some through quiet grief (moaning doves).
Verse 12: For our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our
sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our
iniquities, we know them:
Explanation: The people stop making excuses. They
admit that their sins are witnesses that prove their guilt.
Verse 13: In transgressing and denying יְהוָה - the LORD, and turning away from following our אֱלֹהִים, speaking oppression and
perverseness, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Explanation: They acknowledge that their social
sins (oppression) are rooted in their spiritual sin (denying אֱלֹהִים).
Verse 14: And justice is turned away backward,
and righteousness standeth afar off; for truth is
fallen in the street, and uprightness cannot enter.
Explanation: A personification of virtues. Truth
has been “knocked down” in the public square, and Honesty is barred from
entering the city.
Verse 15: And truth is lacking; and he that departeth
from evil maketh himself a prey. And יְהוָה - the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.
Explanation: In such a corrupt world, the person
who tries to be good is targeted as a victim. אֱלֹהִים observes this and is deeply “displeased”.
Verse 16: And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was
no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him; and His
righteousness, it upheld Him.
Explanation: This is the turning point. אֱלֹהִים looks for a human leader to fix the mess,
finds none, and decides to act directly.
Verse 17: And He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet
of salvation upon His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים is described as a warrior putting on armour. Note that His “weapons” are virtues like
righteousness and zeal.
Verse 18: According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to
His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the islands He will repay
recompense.
Explanation: Justice is finally served. אֱלֹהִים pays back those who have caused the
corruption, extending His judgment even to the distant "islands" (the
whole world).
Verse 19: So shall they fear the Name of יְהוָה - the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; for
distress shall come in like a flood, which the breath of יְהוָה - the LORD driveth.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s intervention is so
powerful that it causes a global shift in reverence. His power moves like a
wind-driven flood, sweeping away evil.
Verse 20: And a redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn
from transgression in Jacob, saith יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: The “Redeemer” (Goel)
is a specific Hebrew concept of a kinsman who buys someone out of slavery. אֱלֹהִים promises to rescue those who are willing
to repent.
Verse 21: And as for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith יְהוָה - the LORD; 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 יְהוָה - the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Explanation: The chapter ends with a promise of a
permanent Covenant. אֱלֹהִים guarantees that His Spirit and His Word
will be passed down through generations, ensuring the truth is never “fallen in
the street” again.
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My Closing Message:
Isaiah 59 is a journey from the “darkness” of
human failure to the “light” of Divine intervention. It teaches that while our
mistakes can create a wall between us and אֱלֹהִים, that wall is not
permanent. When we stop making excuses and start confessing, אֱלֹהִים stops being a “judge” and
becomes a “Redeemer”. He doesn't just fix the world; He provides His Spirit and
His Word to ensure that future generations have the tools to stay on the “path
of peace”.
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...
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Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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