Isaiah 59:1-6

Watch, Yahveh’s hand is not too short from delivering,[1] nor his ear too dull from hearing. ² Instead, your iniquities have caused a division between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, keeping him from listening. ³ Because your palms[2] are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters malice. ⁴ No one brings suit fairly, no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak worthless words, conceiving mischief and giving birth to iniquity. ⁵ They hatch vipers’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web; whoever eats their eggs dies, and the crushed egg hatches out a viper. ⁶ Their webs cannot serve as clothing; they cannot cover[3] themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are hidden in their palms.

our real problem

Our generation thinks that God is broken, or that he has somehow vanished.  God has not changed, but we have.  Our sins have defiled us so much that God can no longer stand to even listen to us.  A division has occurred, creating, in effect, a new species of animal, who thinks he can cover up his own evil and violence.  We still need God’s grace, and we have to come to him in repentance, or else our sins will keep him away.

LORD, forgive us for thinking you have changed.  Open our eyes to see how much we have changed.  Restore us to you.

[1] 17:10; 19:20; 25:9; 30:15; 33:22; 35:4; 37:20, 35; 38:20; 43:3, 11f; 45:8, 15, 17, 20ff; 46:7; 47:13, 15; 49:25f; 51:5; 59:1, 16; 60:16; 61:10; 62:11; 63:1, 5, 8f; 64:4.

[2] 1:6, 15; 28:4; 33:15; 36:6; 37:25; 38:6; 49:16; 55:12; 59:3, 6; 60:14; 62:3.

[3] 6:2; 11:9; 26:21; 29:10; 37:1f; 51:16; 58:7; 59:6; 60:2, 6.