I have commented in the past on the bizarre Eucharistic imagery that ends Isaiah 49: “And I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine; And all flesh will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the . . . . Continue Reading »
Throughout the 40s of Isaiah, Yahweh promises to do something unprecedented, something new, for Israel. He will bring them from bondage - but he’s done that before. This time, he will bring them back by using Gentiles as agents of Israel’s liberation. That’s a new thing, better . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 59 ends with Yahweh’s pledge of covenant faithfulness (v. 21). “This is my covenant with them.” What is that covenant?Two things: Spirit and words. Yahweh’s Spirit is “upon you” (cf. Isaiah 11:2; 42:1) His words are “in your mouth.”Spirit and . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 59:18 is neatly symmetrical:A. According to their deeds (gemulah), accordingly He repays (yeshallem) -B. wrath to adversaries,C. recompense (gemul) to enemies,B’. to coastlandsA’. He repays recompense (gemul yeshallem)The literary symmetry mimics the symmetry of the message, . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 59:15b is a sharp turn in the chapter. It’s the first time Yahweh does something: He “sees,” and in Scripture when Yahweh sees He’s getting ready to act. Sight means inspection, surveillance, gathering of evidence. God sees in order to judge.What he sees . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 59:14 deftly sketches a portrait of a corrupted city. Judgement and righteousness are far away, and the reason is because of the way truth and uprightness is treated. When truth is spoken or done, it stumbles in the street, probably tripped. Uprightness doesn’t even get into the city: . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 59:13b begins and ends with similar phrases: “speaking oppression” translates dabber-‘osheq , and the verse ends with the phrase “lying words” ( dibbre-shaqer ). In between, Isaiah uses an analogy of conception and birth to describe the plans of the wicked: They . . . . Continue Reading »
Few passages of Scripture have so high a concentration of terms for sin as Isaiah 59. To wit: pasha’ = rebel, transgress (once as verb, v 13; 3x as noun, vv 12, 20) awon = guilt (3x, vv 2, 3, 12) awen = sin, iniquity (3x; vv 4, 6, 7) chattat = sin (2x; vv 2, 12) ra’ = evil (2x vv 7, 15; . . . . Continue Reading »
“Fine linen are the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8). Believers are clothed in Christ (Galatians 3), but in Revelation their clothing is their own righteous works. Not everyone’s clothing is acceptable. Some dress in pride and violence (Psalm 73:6). At the center of . . . . Continue Reading »
Throughout the Old Testament, separation and division is a moment in an act of creation. Yahweh “divides” ( badal ) this and that five times in Genesis 1. He separates and sets apart Israel from the nations (1 Kings 8:53), Levites from the rest of Israel (Numbers 8:14; 16:9), priests . . . . Continue Reading »
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