HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ISAIAS 59

CHAPTER LIX.

Ver. 2. Iniquities. The history of Susanna shews that the captives were not all free from sin, which alone prevented their liberation. Lam. iii. 44. C. --- God is willing and able to save. He punishes for sin, to cause us to repent. v. 20. W.

Ver. 4. Justice. They arraign unjustly. None call upon the just God, but trust in idols. --- Iniquity. They kill themselves, while they strive to injure others. Ps. vii. 15. Mic. ii. 1.

Ver. 5. Basilisk, or viper. C. --- The young ones "burst through the viper's sides." Pliny x. 62. --- So the works of the wicked are useless or destructive.

Ver. 8. Peace, or prosperity. They quarrel with all, and ruin themselves. Ps. xiii.

Ver. 9. Therefore. The wicked Jews nevertheless confess that their sins prove their destruction.

Ver. 10. Dead. The Jews will not recognize Christ, notwithstanding the prophecies and miracles.

Ver. 11. Judgment, that God would avenge us, (v. 9.) and regard our fasts. C. lviii. 3.

Ver. 14. In. Where truth is disregarded, there can be no justice.

Ver. 16. Himself, to arrest his arm, stretched out to chastise his son; or to second him. There is nothing in man to stop God's vengeance. He therefore pardons out of his own goodness. C. lix. 2. and lxiii. 4. C. --- He became man to redeem us, as no pure mortal could do it. W.

Ver. 17. Justice. None can blame his conduct.

Ver. 19. On. Heb. "is standard-bearer." Aq. S. Jer. --- Cyrus, the figurative redeemer, proceeds rapidly.

Ver. 20. To Sion. Sept. "from Sion, and will turn away iniquity from Jacob. (21) And this," &c. H. --- S. Paul hence proves that the Jews will at last be converted. Rom. xi. 26. The return of the captives prefigured this event. C.

Ver. 21. Covenant. Note here a clear promise of perpetual orthodoxy to the Church of Christ. Ch. --- She hath still the spirit of truth. W. Mat. xxviii. 20. --- None will apply this to the synagogue, which is visibly in the dark, and abandoned. C.