How does Isaiah 59:7 connect with Proverbs 6:16-19? Why These Two Passages Belong Together • Isaiah 59 describes the national guilt that has cut Israel off from God, while Proverbs 6 names individual sins God hates • Both texts spotlight the same dark patterns of behavior, proving that what grieves God in personal conduct also ruins a society The Texts Side by Side Isaiah 59 : 7 “Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.” Proverbs 6 : 16-19 “16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift to run to evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict among brothers.” Shared Vocabulary—Point-by-Point • Hands that shed innocent blood ⟶ “swift to shed innocent blood” • Feet that are swift to run to evil ⟶ “their feet run to evil” • A heart that devises wicked schemes ⟶ “their thoughts are sinful thoughts” The repetition shows Isaiah signaling, “Our nation has become everything God detests.” What This Says About God’s Character • God’s moral standards are fixed; centuries have passed between Solomon’s proverb and Isaiah’s prophecy, yet the same sins remain abhorrent to Him (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). • The LORD hates not just the outward acts but the inner motives—“thoughts,” “heart,” “schemes” (1 Samuel 16:7; Hebrews 4:12). What This Says About Human Nature • Left to ourselves, we quickly move from evil thoughts to evil feet and hands (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9). • Society merely multiplies personal sin; Isaiah’s plural “their” turns individual failures into national crises (Romans 1:28-32). New-Testament Echoes • Paul quotes Isaiah 59 : 7 in Romans 3 : 15-17 to prove universal guilt—Jew and Gentile alike stand condemned. • Jesus deepens Proverbs 6 by tracing murder back to anger and contempt (Matthew 5 : 21-22). • 1 John 3 : 15 repeats the warning: hatred—a heart issue—places a person in the realm of murder. The Gospel Brightly Foreshadowed • Isaiah continues, “The Redeemer will come to Zion” (Isaiah 59 : 20); the very chapter exposing sin also promises salvation. • At the cross, Jesus shed His innocent blood to save those guilty of shedding it (2 Corinthians 5 : 21; 1 Peter 2 : 24). Practical Takeaways for Today • Guard the heart first; sinful thoughts quickly find feet and hands (Proverbs 4 : 23). • Repent quickly when any of these seven traits surface; God’s Word has already declared His verdict. • Pursue the opposite virtues—humility, truth-telling, peacemaking—empowered by the Spirit (Galatians 5 : 22-23). |
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