Sin separates us from God...but... (Part 1)
Hey all!
As I read through Isaiah 59 this morning, I found so much in it that I decided to write it in a few emails. This is kinda new for me, this whole Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 thing, but we’ll see how it goes.
Again the reason I’m sending this to you is not so much to exhort you or to point out your sin, but to share with you how He has pointed out mine, to share with you His exhortation to me, and because I thought it gave a clear picture of what it looks like when we are in our sin and “separated from God.” If you read ahead in the chapter, you will see that “there is a redeemer”, and that we can’t do it on our own. You will see that God has a promise for us and for the descendants before us and the descendants before them.
I’m never quite sure how to break up the text, I’m sure as I continue doing these that it will become clearer to me, but for now, I’ll just interject where I believe the Spirit has led me to. Keep in mind, we are all still growing in the life of God and in the path of Jesus, no one has grasped it completely, or fully understands it.
Paul says in Philippians 3:12-14;
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Then he exhorts us in verses 15-16:
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
So let’s get into it and see where The Lord leads!
Isaiah 59:1-21
Separated from God
1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
First we have to think about who Isaiah is writing to, he’s writing to the Israelites. He’s replying to their grumbling. The Israelites are once again complaining that God hasn’t given them enough, that He’s not hearing their prayers. They’re in essence saying that they are in the dark and that God is not rescuing them. The fact is, God has rescued them, He’s rescued them from the bondage of slavery, and not just from Egypt, but from the bondage they have brought on themselves. More importantly, He has rescued many of them for all eternity.
Their grumblings sound like; “Okay, so You brought us out of Egypt, we’re here in the desert, so now what Lord? Where are You? Have You taken Your hand off us, do You not hear our prayers anymore?” We also have to think about who/whom else Isaiah is talking to? When we read Isaiah’s words, which are actually God’s words spoken through His Word to us, we have to face the fact that He (God) is talking to us too. We grumble just like them, we overlook ALL that He has done for us, even Him giving us His only begotten Son, and ask “God where are you Lord? “How come You don’t hear us Lord? How come I don’t feel You anymore Lord?” which really can mean, “How come You’re not doing it my way? Why haven’t you answered my prayer sooner?”
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
Here’s the answer to the Jews (and us). Our sin, when we were unbelievers, had separated us from God, our sin had “hidden His face” from us. Think about what it was like in the garden before the fall, God walked with Adam and Eve. That blows my mind...God walked with Adam, THE God of the universe, the creator of life itself, walked with Adam in the garden, nothing was hidden, it was the purest form of fellowship. But because of sin, Adam and Eve hid themselves from God, because of our sin even as believers, we cause God to turn away because He is still Holy! Even our Savior experienced that emptiness, that darkness on the cross, the One who knew no sin became sin for us, God even had to turn His back on Jesus for a moment. The reality of that moment then and the reality of that moment now, is that it still breaks the heart God. God’s sees our beginning and our end, but He also grieves when we choose our will and not His.
Isaiah goes on to describe their sin;
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.
I would say that if we had a show of hands, most of us are not guilty of our hands being “defiled with blood”, but as for the rest of it, my hand, like yours is raised.
4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth.They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
I have one question; “WHY!?” Why would they (we) not call out for justice, they knew who has it! Why would we not plead for the truth, they know who has it! But it says “they trust in empty words and speak lies”. It seems to me this is one of those pictures of the digression into sin; we don’t call on the Lord and plead for truth, so we begin to listen to empty words of man, which means we stop seeking His truth and begin listening to man’s truth. From that point on we begin to speak what we’re told, which if it’s not from God but from man more times than not we are speaking lies. Then from there we begin to buy into their lies and believe the lies we espouse as truth then spread that which conceives evil, and that brings forth iniquity. The word iniquity according to Webster’s is; gross injustice, wickedness, sinful, outrageous.
James tells us in 1:14-16;
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
I think I’ll stop there and continue on PART 2. Hey, that was easy!
Father Thank You for Your word. Thank You that it is living and breathing. I pray that You would continue to grow me into Your righteousness, that I would not be ashamed of The gospel, that I would receive Your strength and courage to continue to write out what You have shown me in my life, and given me the ability to share with others in my writings. Jesus, it’s all about you Lord! You are our redeemer; you are The One that is the meaning of life. Thanks You Lord for what You did on the cross so that we don’t have to walk in darkness any longer. We’re not like the blind who bump into walls. You have shown us favor! We love You! Amen.
In HIS Grip
Tony
Hey all!
As I read through Isaiah 59 this morning, I found so much in it that I decided to write it in a few emails. This is kinda new for me, this whole Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 thing, but we’ll see how it goes.
Again the reason I’m sending this to you is not so much to exhort you or to point out your sin, but to share with you how He has pointed out mine, to share with you His exhortation to me, and because I thought it gave a clear picture of what it looks like when we are in our sin and “separated from God.” If you read ahead in the chapter, you will see that “there is a redeemer”, and that we can’t do it on our own. You will see that God has a promise for us and for the descendants before us and the descendants before them.
I’m never quite sure how to break up the text, I’m sure as I continue doing these that it will become clearer to me, but for now, I’ll just interject where I believe the Spirit has led me to. Keep in mind, we are all still growing in the life of God and in the path of Jesus, no one has grasped it completely, or fully understands it.
Paul says in Philippians 3:12-14;
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Then he exhorts us in verses 15-16:
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
So let’s get into it and see where The Lord leads!
Isaiah 59:1-21
Separated from God
1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
First we have to think about who Isaiah is writing to, he’s writing to the Israelites. He’s replying to their grumbling. The Israelites are once again complaining that God hasn’t given them enough, that He’s not hearing their prayers. They’re in essence saying that they are in the dark and that God is not rescuing them. The fact is, God has rescued them, He’s rescued them from the bondage of slavery, and not just from Egypt, but from the bondage they have brought on themselves. More importantly, He has rescued many of them for all eternity.
Their grumblings sound like; “Okay, so You brought us out of Egypt, we’re here in the desert, so now what Lord? Where are You? Have You taken Your hand off us, do You not hear our prayers anymore?” We also have to think about who/whom else Isaiah is talking to? When we read Isaiah’s words, which are actually God’s words spoken through His Word to us, we have to face the fact that He (God) is talking to us too. We grumble just like them, we overlook ALL that He has done for us, even Him giving us His only begotten Son, and ask “God where are you Lord? “How come You don’t hear us Lord? How come I don’t feel You anymore Lord?” which really can mean, “How come You’re not doing it my way? Why haven’t you answered my prayer sooner?”
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
Here’s the answer to the Jews (and us). Our sin, when we were unbelievers, had separated us from God, our sin had “hidden His face” from us. Think about what it was like in the garden before the fall, God walked with Adam and Eve. That blows my mind...God walked with Adam, THE God of the universe, the creator of life itself, walked with Adam in the garden, nothing was hidden, it was the purest form of fellowship. But because of sin, Adam and Eve hid themselves from God, because of our sin even as believers, we cause God to turn away because He is still Holy! Even our Savior experienced that emptiness, that darkness on the cross, the One who knew no sin became sin for us, God even had to turn His back on Jesus for a moment. The reality of that moment then and the reality of that moment now, is that it still breaks the heart God. God’s sees our beginning and our end, but He also grieves when we choose our will and not His.
Isaiah goes on to describe their sin;
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.
I would say that if we had a show of hands, most of us are not guilty of our hands being “defiled with blood”, but as for the rest of it, my hand, like yours is raised.
4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth.They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
I have one question; “WHY!?” Why would they (we) not call out for justice, they knew who has it! Why would we not plead for the truth, they know who has it! But it says “they trust in empty words and speak lies”. It seems to me this is one of those pictures of the digression into sin; we don’t call on the Lord and plead for truth, so we begin to listen to empty words of man, which means we stop seeking His truth and begin listening to man’s truth. From that point on we begin to speak what we’re told, which if it’s not from God but from man more times than not we are speaking lies. Then from there we begin to buy into their lies and believe the lies we espouse as truth then spread that which conceives evil, and that brings forth iniquity. The word iniquity according to Webster’s is; gross injustice, wickedness, sinful, outrageous.
James tells us in 1:14-16;
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
I think I’ll stop there and continue on PART 2. Hey, that was easy!
Father Thank You for Your word. Thank You that it is living and breathing. I pray that You would continue to grow me into Your righteousness, that I would not be ashamed of The gospel, that I would receive Your strength and courage to continue to write out what You have shown me in my life, and given me the ability to share with others in my writings. Jesus, it’s all about you Lord! You are our redeemer; you are The One that is the meaning of life. Thanks You Lord for what You did on the cross so that we don’t have to walk in darkness any longer. We’re not like the blind who bump into walls. You have shown us favor! We love You! Amen.
In HIS Grip
Tony
posted by In His Grip at 3:50 PM
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