November 5, Isaiah 59
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God; and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. - Isaiah 59:1-2
It could be your car that's having the problem. It's just not running like it should. You look under the hood, close it, and long for the days of simpler vehicles and shade tree mechanics. When you take the car to the service department, the tech connects it to a diagnostic computer that reads the codes coming from the car's computer to identify the source of the problem. Once the problem's cause is determined, the trained tech knows what to do to repair the vehicle.
Or it could be your health. You've not felt well for several days and you don't know what's wrong. The doctor orders some tests to check your blood and look at some internal organs. When the test results are in, the doctor should be able to pinpoint the problem and treat the illness.
Ancient Israel had a problem. God's covenant people were far distant from their God. It was not a problem of geography, but a problem of infidelity. God had not moved or forsaken them. They had moved away from him, turning to the pagan gods of their neighbors, abandoning the life-guiding principles God had given them in his law. What caused the distance? God identified the source of the problem, and pointed the Israelites to the cure.
God is a holy God. He called his people to be holy and to keep his covenant. But they sinned and forsook the covenant the Lord made with them. Their sin was the cause of the problem. God described their ungodly behavior. They had shed blood, told lies, focused their thoughts on doing wrong, and ran to do evil. They were unjust and violent people. God told them it was their own sin that had separated them from God and hidden his face from them. As long as they persisted in their rebellion against God, they would hope in vain for light, brightness, justice or peace.
Isaiah modeled the kind of confession the Israelites needed to make. They should acknowledge their multiple transgressions and iniquities. They needed to admit they had denied the LORD and turned back from his laws. God loved these people and wanted them to return to him. He wanted to bless them and give them what was best.
But the LORD knew there was no one among the sinful people who could intercede on their behalf. So he intervened. He would do the work to redeem them from their vileness. He would bring them back to himself in a way that he could be just in forgiving them. So God promised to send a Redeemer, a near kinsman who could redeem them. There's the promise of the Incarnation and the saving work that Christ would do when he came. He would deal wrath and repayment to his enemies and bless his people with a new covenant. He would offer himself for their sins to close the gap that sin had brought between them and God. And his Spirit would be in them.
Of course you and I can see all those blessings and promises come together in Jesus. He is the Redeemer who came, making himself like us, taking our sins upon himself, satisfying the wrath of God. Jews and Gentiles alike can share in the blessings of redemption and restoration to God.
This chapter reminds us of our own sin and our only hope. It calls us to confess and forsake the sin that separates us from God. It reminds us of the futility of looking for joy, light and salvation apart from God. And it assures us that God loves us and has compassion for us in our ruined state. He sent his Son as our Redeemer, to deal with our problem and make us whole.
Sin is our problem, just as it was ancient Israel’s. It's what separates us from God. We can't fix ourselves or save ourselves. But God's saving work in Christ provides the way back for those who will trust and obey him.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—November 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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