Why does Isaiah 59:15 suggest that truth is often opposed or suppressed? Text of Isaiah 59 : 15 “Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD saw, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.” Immediate Literary Context Isaiah 59 is a prophetic “covenant-lawsuit.” Verses 1–14 catalog national sins—violence, deceit, injustice. Verse 15 functions as the climax: society has become so morally inverted that honest people are hunted, while deceit prospers. The verse explains the pattern, then reports Yahweh’s reaction—divine displeasure that provokes the redemptive action of vv. 16-21. Canonical Theme: Truth vs. Falsehood Isaiah’s contrast (cf. 5 : 20; 30 : 10-11) echoes Genesis 3 where the serpent opposes truth. Throughout Scripture, truth is portrayed as God’s character (Exodus 34 : 6; John 14 : 6); suppression of truth is rebellion against Him (Romans 1 : 18). Isaiah 59 : 15 crystallizes this theme: when culture rejects God, truth is marginalized. Theological Reasons Truth Is Opposed 1. Total Human Depravity Humanity’s fall means intellect, will, and affections are corrupted (Jeremiah 17 : 9; Ephesians 4 : 18). Deceit becomes easier than repentance; hence society collectively “drives away” truth. 2. Spiritual Warfare Satan is called “father of lies” (John 8 : 44) and “god of this age” who blinds minds (2 Corinthians 4 : 4). Isaiah 59 stylistically personifies this conflict: lies dominate public life, the truthful suffer. 3. Covenant Consequences Under Mosaic covenant, Israel’s injustice activates covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28). Isaiah’s lawsuit shows that suppression of truth is not random but judicial: God hands rebels over to self-chosen delusion (Isaiah 6 : 9-10; 2 Thessalonians 2 : 11). 4. Sociopolitical Power Dynamics Amos, Micah, and Isaiah repeatedly link lies with oppression. When leadership gains through deceit, truth-speakers threaten the status quo (cf. 1 Kings 22 : 8; Acts 24 : 5). Thus “whoever turns from evil becomes prey.” Historical Illustrations • Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38) lowered into a cistern for prophesying truth. • Jesus crucified despite Pilate’s admission of innocence; He warned, “You will be hated… because of My name” (Matthew 10 : 22). • Early Church: Tacitus records Nero blaming Christians for Rome’s fire, illustrating cultural scapegoating of truth-bearers. • Modern Example: Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn observed, “In our country, the lie has become not just a moral category but a pillar of the State.” Philosophical and Behavioral Analysis Behavioral science notes “motivated reasoning”: people reject information that threatens identity or profit. Isaiah 59 : 15 anticipates this: truth-tellers endanger prevailing narratives and are attacked to preserve group cohesion. Christological Fulfillment Jesus personifies ’emet (John 14 : 6). He faced the fate Isaiah describes—truth persecuted—yet His resurrection (attested by the minimal-facts data: empty tomb, post-mortem appearances, origin of Christian faith) vindicates both Him and the principle that ultimate reality favors truth even when society suppresses it. New Testament Echoes • 2 Timothy 4 : 3-4—people “will not endure sound doctrine.” • Romans 1 : 18—men “suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” • 1 Peter 4 : 4—believers “are maligned” for not joining worldly excess. Practical Implications for Believers 1. Expect opposition; it confirms biblical realism (John 15 : 18-20). 2. Speak truth lovingly yet boldly (Ephesians 4 : 15). 3. Trust divine justice; God “saw… and was displeased,” then acted (Isaiah 59 : 16). 4. Rely on the Spirit, “the Spirit of truth” (John 16 : 13), promised in Isaiah 59 : 21. Conclusion Isaiah 59 : 15 teaches that in a fallen world, truth is countercultural and therefore targeted. The verse diagnoses the spiritual, moral, and societal mechanisms that expel truth and victimize the righteous. Yet God’s response—culminating in the Messiah’s redemptive work—assures that truth ultimately triumphs, calling believers to persist in proclaiming it despite inevitable suppression. |
    |