Isa 59:16-21 | JFB | STEP | 16. no man-- namely, to atone by his righteousness for the unrighteousness of the people. "Man" is emphatic, as in ; no representative man able to retrieve the cause of fallen men ( ; , ; ; ). no intercessor-- no one to interpose, "to help ... uphold" ( ). his arm-- ( ; ). Not man's arm, but His alone ( ; ). his righteousness-- the "arm" of Messiah. He won the victory for us, not by mere might as God, but by His invincible righteousness, as man having "the Spirit without measure" ( ; , ; ; ; ).

‏ Isaiah 59:16-21

16. no man--namely, to atone by his righteousness for the unrighteousness of the people. "Man" is emphatic, as in 1Ki 2:2; no representative man able to retrieve the cause of fallen men (Is 41:28; 63:5, 6; Jr 5:1; Eze 22:30).

no intercessor--no one to interpose, "to help ... uphold" (Is 63:5).

his arm--(Is 40:10; 51:5). Not man's arm, but His alone (Psa 98:1; 44:3).

his righteousness--the "arm" of Messiah. He won the victory for us, not by mere might as God, but by His invincible righteousness, as man having "the Spirit without measure" (Is 11:5; 42:6, 21; 51:8; 53:11; 1Jo 2:1).

17. Messiah is represented as a warrior armed at all points, going forth to vindicate His people. Owing to the unity of Christ and His people, their armor is like His, except that they have no "garments of vengeance" (which is God's prerogative, Ro 12:19), or "cloak of zeal" (in the sense of judicial fury punishing the wicked; this zeal belongs properly to God, 2Ki 10:16; Ro 10:2; Php 3:6; "zeal," in the sense of anxiety for the Lord's honor, they have, Nu 25:11, 13; Psa 69:9; 2Co 7:11; 9:2); and for "salvation," which is of God alone (Psa 3:8), they have as their helmet, "the hope of salvation" (1Th 5:8). The "helmet of salvation" is attributed to them (Ep 6:14, 17) in a secondary sense; namely, derived from Him, and as yet only in hope, not fruition (Ro 8:24). The second coming here, as often, is included in this representation of Messiah. His "zeal" (Joh 2:15-17) at His first coming was but a type of His zeal and vengeance against the foes of God at His second coming (2Th 1:8-10; Re 19:11-21).

18. deeds--Hebrew, "recompenses"; "according as their deeds demand" [Maurer]. This verse predicts the judgments at the Lord's second coming, which shall precede the final redemption of His people (Is 66:18, 15, 16).

islands--(See on Is 41:1). Distant countries.

19. (Is 45:6; Mal 1:11). The result of God's judgments (Is 26:9; 66:18-20).

like a flood--(Jr 46:7, 8; Re 12:15).

lift up a standard--rather, from a different Hebrew root, "shall put him to flight," "drive him away" [Maurer]. Lowth, giving a different sense to the Hebrew for "enemy" from that in Is 59:18, and a forced meaning to the Hebrew for "Spirit of the Lord," translates, "When He shall come as a river straitened in its course, which a mighty wind drives along."

20. to Zion--Ro 11:26 quotes it, "out of Zion." Thus Paul, by inspiration, supplements the sense from Psa 14:7: He was, and is come to Zion, first with redemption, being sprung as man out of Zion. The Septuagint translates "for the sake of Zion." Paul applies this verse to the coming restoration of Israel spiritually.

them that turn from--(Ro 11:26). "shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob"; so the Septuagint, Paul herein gives the full sense under inspiration. They turn from transgression, because He first turns them from it, and it from them (Psa 130:4; La 5:21).

21. covenant with them ... thee--The covenant is with Christ, and with them only as united to Him (He 2:13). Jehovah addresses Messiah the representative and ideal Israel. The literal and spiritual Israel are His seed, to whom the promise is to be fulfilled (Psa 22:30).

spirit ... not depart ... for ever--(Jr 31:31-37; Mt 28:20).