Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Isaiah 59

In this chapter we have sin appearing exceedingly sinful, and grace appearing exceedingly gracious; and, as what is here said of the sinner’s sin (Isaiah 59:7, 59:8) is applied to the general corruption of mankind (Romans 3:15), so what is here said of a Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20) is applied to Christ, Romans 11:26. I. It is here charged upon this people that they had themselves stopped the current of God’s favours to them, and the particular sins are specified which kept good things from them, Isaiah 59:1-59:8. II. It is here charged upon them that they had themselves procured the judgments of God upon them, and they are told both what the judgments were which they had brought upon their own heads (Isaiah 59:9-59:11) and what the sins were which provoked God to send those judgments, Isaiah 59:12-59:15. III. It is here promised that, notwithstanding this, God would work deliverance for them, purely for his own name’s sake (Isaiah 59:16-59:19), and would reserve mercy in store for them and entail it upon them, Isaiah 59:20, 59:21. MHBCC 739.1