Isaiah 59:16-18 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Bible Comments

I made but a short observation on the long passage before this, in order that I might enter upon the soul-relieving truth in the view of the Lord Jesus, which here succeeds the melancholy subject. He saw that there was no man. Whom is this spoken of, but of Jesus? Who was it saw the poverty and ruin of our nature, and determined to interpose for our salvation, but the Lord Jesus? Who, but he, could be both our Saviour and Intercessor? Precious Lord Jesus! it was, indeed, thine own arm that brought salvation; for the sins of thy people would have crushed every arm but thine, when, in the days of thy flesh, thou didst bear all the sins of thy redeemed in thine own body, on the tree! Oh! how truly lovely is it now, to behold thee, by faith, standing forth, the devoted head of thy body, the Church, and for her enduring the cross, and despising the shame! Oh! how truly blessed, to behold thee in thy priestly garments, and in a vesture dipped, in blood, triumphing over all the power of hell; and in our nature recompensing fury to thine enemies, and manifesting favor to thy chosen! And surely thy zeal to thy Father's house, and to thy Father's honour, may well, from the completeness of it, be compared to the covering of a cloke. Isaiah 63:1-6; Revelation 19:13; Psalms 69:9; John 2:16-17.

Isaiah 59:16-18

16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

18 According to their deeds,d accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.