Where Justice and Mercy Meet

Last week we saw in Isaiah 58 the idea that God is not pleased with our merely outward displays of religion that are not backed by a heart of desire for Him. We cannot expect to be blessed by Him for our actions, when in reality we are only doing those things for selfish reasons. We should never treat our standing with God as a business transaction, or think of God’s blessings as an ATM withdrawal from the account of our goodness.

But that poses a real issue, and that issue is exacerbated in Isaiah 59. You see, who among us can approach God in truly perfect and sincere faith? Who among us can come before God without an inkling of mixed motives or devotion? Who among us can come before the King and honestly bring anything that is worthy of his notice or his mention. The issue is that none of us can do these things.

We are naturally very legalistic in our religion as humans. We are natural-born believers in ideas like karma. Even those who totally reject the idea of the existence of life approach life from the perspective of cause and effect. Of “do this so we can get that result.” Its ingrained in our being to earn something. So when we think of God, we think of Him in the same respect. We think of coming before God as having to make our case, based on our goodness and righteous acts, so that he will hear us.

And when we do this, and we try our hardest, and continue to build up our collection of human merit and righteousness, and then we come to God in exhaustion and determination, just knowing that we have earned a right to be heard, and then He doesn’t listen, then we are appalled! We say, “God must be deaf, or ignorant, or blind, or uncaring” or at worse we say, “God is dead! He doesn’t listen to me!”

That is exactly where those in 58, who were seeking God with their religious fasting, found themselves. Do you remember the questions they asked in verses 3-4? “God we are fasting, why do you not see us! God we are humbling ourselves, why do you not hear us!” They thought God to be deaf or weak, or dead.

But God is not dead, or deaf, or blind. Isaiah 59:1 tells us that.

The most frightening verse in Isaiah 59 is verse 2

Isaiah 59:2 ESV

but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Imagine knowing that there is one answer for man’s greatest dilemma, one remedy for man’s greatest problem, one cure for man’s greatest disease, one solution for the fundamental flaw in all of human existence, and not being able to get to it.

Our sin has made a party wall. Do you know what a party wall is? A party wall is a dividing wall between to residences in a row of homes that are joined, or a duplex, or a townhouse. It is normally a thick, soundproof wall. It often times is dressed like a standard wall, but inside is masonry or brick.The property line is inside that wall. It divides two dwelling places. Two homes. Two families. Two groups of people.

Think of the problem of Isaiah 59 like this. You are locked in the house on one side of the party wall, and the mercy that you need to free you is on the other side of the party wall. You can’t get out, you can’t go around. You know where the answer is, you frantically seek to get to it. You start pulling pictures off the wall. You tear the wallpaper off. You tear paneling off. You get a hammer and smash through the plaster, and you expose an opening. You frantically pull enough material off to see the other side of the hole. You think, “If i can just break through, I will find mercy!” You keep going about your destruction with the hammer until you hit something solid - a brick wall. That brick wall is justice. It is impenetrable. No matter how many hammer blows it takes, you make no progress. You work to exhaustion and collapse in the pile of rubble with nothing to show for your labor except a big mess of destruction, having gotten no closer to the mercy that you require.

That is the problem. Ourj sin has has separated us from God, and between us and Him is the wall of Justice. There is nothing that can be said, the justice is sure. We absolutely deserve it. We can be angry, we can be fearful, we can shake our fist against it, but no matter how hard we try, the hammer blows of human effort cannot break down the wall of God’s justice - and we are separated.

In Isaiah 59, the problem is revealed, a realization of that problem is come to. We are under the justice of God, we need His mercy! But what is the answer? We find that the answer is God Himself. We find that the answer is His redemption. So In Isaiah 59, we

Behold the redemption of God, where justice and mercy meet.

1. Revelation - 1-8

You have heard it said, maybe in terms of counseling or even some sort of intervention, that the first step in overcoming a problem is admitting that you have the problem in the first place. However, when it comes to the spiritual separation between God and Man due to sin, man cannot even admit that they have a problem unless it is revealed to them.

Chapters 57, 58, and now 59 are fairly blunt. They are all intent on pointing out the inherent sinfulness of mankind. Now, that is a strategy that is not incredibly popular anymore. Its much more palatable to introduce the Gospel as a remedy for loneliness, or fear, or depression, or anxiety, or low self-esteem. Now hear me carefully, the Gospel is an answer that can and does address all of those symptoms. But they are just that - symptoms, symptoms that stem, either directly or indirectly, from the actual problem.

Mankind is separate from God, like sinful Israel here in Isaiah 59, not because of human insecurities. Mankind is separate from God because of sin - iniquity has made a separation between us and God.

The sins listed in verses 2-8 don’t need much explanation, listen to them as I read.

Paul draws from this passage, and others in Isaiah when he speaks of mankind’s sinfulness in Romans 3

Romans 3:9–18 ESV

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Perhaps, over the last few weeks you have grown weary about hearing this. All of these chapters, why so much talk about mans sinfulness? Why so much attention to wickedness and evil? You may say, “i’m tired of hearing about this.” Perhaps you would say, “Pastor Aaron I know the problem with mankind is their sinfulness. I understand the Gospel, I’ve heard it time and time again from when I was a little child!” But perhaps the reason that it keeps coming up, perhaps the reason that it is addressed over and over again, not just in Isaiah, but in all of the scripture, is because the moment we forget what our calamity was, the moment we forget just what God has redeemed us from, the moment we move beyond the glory of the Gospel as reconciliation of Sinful man with Holy God, then that is the moment we cut ourselves off from experiencing the joy and wonder of the Gospel every day.

But there is another danger. There is a possibility that becoming tired of hearing about man’s sinfulness stems from a lack of concern about it. It is possible that when someone is so sick of hearing the real depth of the Gospel that it is because they have never fully come to grasp the real depth of the gospel. That is where those addressed in this chapter, and in the last two chapters also, find themselves. They had become so comfortable in their religious experience that they never realized they were still under God’s wrath.

Their sins had “hidden God’s face from them.” What an image. God’s face is the absolute face. God’s face is the all-present face. God’s face, of course, is an anthropomorphism. This is analogy. But hear this. The presence of God is imminent. God’s presence literally cannot be escaped. Those of us who are children of God take comfort in His presence. To us it is a balm and a blessing. To us it is a welcome thing. And though we don’t see with our eyes the glory and the presence of God, we are indwelt by the Spirit and one with Christ through the union he purchased for us. Part of that presence is the intercessory work of Christ.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:26–27 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

What an unimaginable and infinite blessing to know that we have an audience with the God of the universe because of his intercessory work. We can go boldly before his throne because of what has been done for us.

But not so for these in Isaiah 59. God’s face is hidden from them. Now notice, his presence is still there. But for these, the presence of God is not blessing and comfort. The presence of God is eerily hidden. Not because He is not around, not because he cannot see or hear, but because they are blind. And in this we see a great truth - the presence of God is everywhere, and inescapable. It is either there by revelation and comfort and blessing, or it is there but hidden, shadowed, and shaded by blindness.

This idea was troubling to the disciples, and was explained by Jesus in this way.

Matthew 13:13–16 ESV

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

Beloved, may I say this as clearly as possible. If you are here today and you have ears to hear, that is spiritual ears, and eyes to see, that is spiritual eyes, the depth of your sin and depravity, and the vast gulf of separation that lay between you and your God, then praise be to His Name, because the majority of the people in this world, just like these in Isaiah 59, walk around each day totally ignorant to the real cause of all human heartache, suffering, depression, loneliness, doubt, disease, and all trouble. If you have an understanding of your sin, it is because the God of heaven has revealed it to you. If that is the case, rejoice. But don’t stop there.

2. Realization - 9-15a

The language changes in verse 9. It goes from a third person description of the sins of the people, to a first person confession that what has been revealed is true. Isaiah puts himself with the people and says, “yes Lord! you are right! There is a great gulf between us because of Sin! Every evil and trouble that mankind faces is because of our sin!”

This is a beautiful moment, it is the moment that God’s people are coming to a true realization of their need of mercy.

Vs. 9 - they realize all the while they have been longing for justice and righteousness - things that have been out of reach and distant - they had been ignoring the source of justice and righteousness.

Vs. 10 - grasping at straws, groping in the darkness. Trying to feel their way along. Their best efforts at reaching righteousness had been no more effective than a dead man trying to compete with those who are full of life.

Vs. 11 - growling like bears and moaning like doves. These are meant to be symbols of deep human emotion. Perhaps the growling of bears is anger. They had experienced deep anger because of human sinfulness. The moaning of doves perhaps indicates sadness. Deep sadness had come upon them because of the state of the people. But all the anger and sadness, no matter how truly and deeply those emotions were felt, could bring the the justice and salvation that was so far off.

Vs. 12 - here is the confession. The full realization. They say “our transgressions are multiplied before you. our sins testify against us.” Whatever case they could have made for themselves, however tactfully and cunningly they could have explained their poor choices before the judge of all the earth, the evidence had been literally piling up against them. If they had one good word to speak for themselves, their sins had a million more declaring the opposite.

Vs. 13 - what they had realized, what it finally came to, the lightbulb that finally illuminated in their mind was these basic facts.

They had denied the LORD

they had turned away from the LORD

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The dismal condition of verses 14-15a, they realized, was because of the dismal condition of the human heart.

why do justice and righteousness turn back? Why are they far away?

Why has truth stumbled in the public square? Why can uprightness find no place in man’s societies?

Why is truth lacking? Why do those who pursue righteousness find themselves to be the prey of evil ones?

Because of the sinfulness of man’s heart.

This realization may sound depressing - but it is oddly liberating, and that is the case for two reasons.

Coming to the realization of our own sin is evidence of the work of God in us. The fact that our eyes are opened to our condition is an impossibility without Divine intervention. In this case, truly, admitting that we have a problem is the first step to coming to a resolution.

This is the case both in coming to Christ initially, but also for those who walk with Christ. Wrestling with sin is a sign of the Spirit’s work in us.

Have you, as a believer been in a place where God has revealed your sin to you? Have you wrestled with giving something up - with confessing something that you have been harboring? Have you feared the repercussions of being honest? I have been there, dear ones. Wearing a facade of false perfection is deception. Run to Christ!

1 John 1:8–9 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. We don’t have to view the bad things that happen to us as judgment from God on us. When you realize that the world in total is cursed because of sin, you no longer have to go around wondering if every little thing that goes wrong is because of your own doing. Those who know God and know the condition they were rescued out of understand that the whole world is in this condition of groaning and hoping for something better to come.

And that “better” is not just a prospective hope, it is part of God’s plan.

3. Resolution - 15b-21

The Key to this final paragraph in Isaiah 59 is this little phrase, “The Lord Saw.”

While man is described as being blind and powerless in our sin, The Lord is very much alert and powerful. That reminder in verse 1 that “The Lord’s Hand is not shortened, and the Lord’s ear is not deaf.” Is strengthened and extended here. Not only is the Lord able to do something about evil and injsutice, not only does he know about evil and injustice, the Lord Sees the very evil and injustice that is taking place - He is intimately aware of it. His face, although hidden from those with no spiritual eyes, is ever watching and keenly tuned to man’s condition.

The Lord saw when Adam ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden. The Lord saw when man tried to build a tower to heaven. The Lord saw when Joseph was unjustly imprisoned. The Lord Saw when his people were enslaved and oppressed in Egypt. The Lord is keenly aware of everything that takes place.

Psalm 14:1–2 ESV

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

But does the Lord simply see? Is He simply aware of evil and injustice?

Psalm 14:7 ESV

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

That prayer in Psalm 14 finds its answer in Isaiah 59. The Lord does not simply see, the Lord sees and He acts!

The Lord is described in these verses as a conqueror, a warrior. His weapon of salvation is his own arm - he needs no humanly crafted weapon, his own arm has brought salvation!

Even his armor is spoken of as only figurative - he puts on righteousness like a breastplate. His helmet is salvation. His righteous vengeance is his clothing, and his cloak is zeal for the battle.

In Ephesians 6, Paul borrows from some of this langauge when he speaks of the armor of God. Why can God’s children be protected with the armor of God? It is because God Himself has proved them and shown them to be worthy! We can don the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation because they first and rightfully belonged to the Lord, and in His victory he has passed them on to us.

The promise is that the justice and salvation of the Lord will be known abroad! Verse 19 - the west and the east. Like a rushing stream.

This imagery is of a torrential downpour in a dry desert wadi. In the parched desert, all the water from a sudden rainstorm would quickly run downhill into the low spot. Where there was a dry wadi, a rushing and powerful stream can rise up in mere minutes. So it will be with the salvation and justice of the Lord - it will be quick, powerful, and unmistakable.

So what is the hope in all of this? Where do Justice and Mercy meet?

The promise of this salvation, to all who turn to the Lord from their transgressions, is the promise that the Lord will not just enact vengeance and justice, but he will also be a redeemer.

Vs. 20.

And this Redeemer will do more than save them in a temporal, physical sense. He will place His Spirit upon them. His presence will never depart from them.

Dear ones, Jesus is both the avenger and the redeemer. Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb.

In Revelation, Jesus is described as both a valiant warrior with a sword proceeding out of his mouth, and the lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world. He is pictured as a mighty warrior with garments dipped in blood, having slain his enemies with his sword, and also the one who is faithful and true, the one who wipes every tear from the eyes of his people, the one who welcomes his chosen ones into perfect peace forever.

Is this a contradiction? Can Jesus be both meek and mild, and also a mighty warrior? I say to you that not only can he be, but he must be. Jesus is out faithful high priest who has been tempted and tested in every way we have, and he is also our victor, our captain, our battle-ready champion. He is the Redeemer in whom Justice and Mercy meet.

Love and justice, truth and mercy, are not mutually exclusive. They coexist perfectly and wonderfully in the Godhead. They coexist perfectly and wonderfully in the work of our Redeemer, both in Saving us, and also in his ultimate judgment on evil and unrighteousness.

Hebrews 10:11–14 ESV

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

The wrath of God and the Love of God are met joyfully in Christ. So we can say, praise be to God that he has revealed our sins to us. Praise be to God that we have come to realization of our need of mercy. And praise be to God that we have a Redeemer, who has bought our salvation from sin, and who will prove to be the ultimate champion and the final victor over all sin and unrighteousness. The hope of Isaiah 59 is an eschatological hope, and we share in that hope. A Redeemer is here, he has brought salvation with his own arm, and he will be the true and ultimate champion. So until we see Him face to face, we rejoice and say to all who have ears to hear,

Behold the redemption of God, where justice and mercy meet.