Isaiah 59:9 says, Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. The people of Israel were complaining about how they were being mistreated, They couldn’t find justice, but this was because of their own disobedience to God. They really didn’t want justice, but they wanted mercy instead. They said they were walking in darkness because they could not find the Light. They said the they were waiting on the Light, though. Until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will always be walking in the darkness of sin, but we need to ask God for mercy and not justice when we come to Him.
Verse ten adds, We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. The people of Israel said they were like blind men walking by using the wall to guide them because they were as blind as someone who had no eyes. They stumbled at noon just like they would at night. This was all because of their sin and their refusal to see God’s Light when He shined it on them. If we refuse to see the Light, Jesus Christ, and accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we will remain as spiritually blind as those who have no eyes. God’s Light will always shine, but we can allow sin to blind us to it. Until we come to Him in repentance accepting the gift of salvation made available by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we will remain spiritually blind and in the darkness of sin.
Verse eleven continues, We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. They said they were roaring like bears, I believe in their complaints against God, and were mourning like helpless doves. Still, they didn’t say they were repenting. We tend to cry out loudly when things aren’t going the way that we want them to go, and we also act as though we are helpless to do anything about our feeling that God has failed us. Like the people of Israel then, all we have to do is confess our sins and ask God to forgive us. He will always be not only ready to hear our plea, but He will be actively calling on us to come to Him.
Verse twelve states, 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; At least the people of Israel were willing to acknowledge that they were guilty of many transgressions and iniquities. I believe transgressions would be failing to follow God’s laws and iniquities would be sins against other people. Of course, failing to obey God often leads to our failing to treat other people as we should as Christians.
Verse thirteen adds, In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. The people of Israel then said that they were guilty of transgression and lying because they had departed from God. If we find ourselves downcast and feeling hopeless because of circumstances in the world or in our life in particular, we as followers of Jesus Christ should first examine our relationship with Him. It may be that we are no longer living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and if we aren’t, we need to repent and return to following God’s commandments.
Verse fourteen continues, And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Isaiah said that judgment was turned backward, or failing to act as it should by treating everyone the same when they came for justice, which they said was far off. They added that truth had fallen in the street and equity, or fairness to everyone, couldn’t even enter. Truth seems to have fallen in the streets today as too often people, even those who profess to be Christians, choose to believe lies instead of hearing the truth.
Verse fifteen concludes, Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. Isaiah said that things were so bad that those who spoke the truth were made prey to those who lived by lies. It is not unusual today to hear about people who are just telling the truth to be threatened with being charged with some crime or the other, but we as Christians should never do this nor support those who may. Just as God was displeased that there was no fair judgment with His people then, He will still be displeased if that is the case now.
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