Listen! (Isaiah 59:1-6)

Listen! The Lord is not weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf.  He can hear you when you call.

But there is a problem---your sins have cut you off from God.  Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.  Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin.  Your mouth is full of lies, and your lips are tainted with corruption.

No one cares about being fair and honest.  Their lawsuits are based on lies.  They spend their time plotting evil deeds and then doing them.  They spend their time and energy spinning evil plans that end up in deadly actions.  They cheat and shortchange everyone.  Nothing they do is productive; all their activity is filled with sin.  Violence is their trademark.

I just came across this passage last night and the Lord spoke to me through it.  "Don't be surprised when evil comes your way after many prayers and supplications.  I can hear you but sin is in the way.  I can't do anything."

To the nations that claim openly to trust God but kill people.  He can't look to them anymore.  Self-help has taken over.  Why do you still claim me to be your God, you do your own thing with your own money and time?

To that nation, God says: "I can't do anything for you anymore, your sin is between us.

To the person who has trouble in their life but doesn't want to have anything to do with God, God is saying: "Your sins separate me from you, you are now on your own because you have chosen that way."

That is what essentially this passage talks about.  Our world today.  The Bible is very relevant.  Violence is your trademark.  Look at the News everywhere.  Look everybody is trying to sell you something sometimes with no commitment on your part of paying it back.  You can now buy and finish paying it in 7 or 10 years. Greed is everywhere.  Murder is everywhere.  We are disillusioned if we think God doesn't see anything or hear anything.  His time of retribution has not yet come and he can use evil against us or against a nation that is like an ostrich with its head in the sand.  He loves all nations and not one more than another.  Every nation is capable of trusting him or reject him and so is a person.

One who has done righteously and goes back into sin will not be rescue for the good it has done previously but will be judge for the sin it has just committed.

When righteous people turn from being good and start doing sinful things, they will die for it.  Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.  And if wicked people turn away from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives  (Ezekiel 18:26-27)

Then in these verses, we see the contrast between the righteous and sinful life:

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord. ( Romans 4:7-8)

What joy for anybody or any nation to turn to God and have their sin forgiven!

The answer to what you need is found in no other than Jesus, the Son of God.  Accept him today in your heart and don't forget to leave me a comment.

Have a great day!