It is often the “missing” element in today’s ecumenical scene, at least in the West (including the United States). The two-word Title to today’s Lesson: “BOLD PREACHING!”
Notice I did not necessarily say “mean Preaching!” But I am talking about preaching (what Paul the Apostle called) “all the Counsel of God!” (Acts 20:27)
Yes, the whole Bible, as in “Preach the WORD; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Not just the “sweet” Spots … the entire Word of God!
Now to today’s Text, Isaiah’s bold proclamation: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2
God’s “Hand” is a symbol of His Might, His Power, “omnipotence” it is often called.
And It is “NOT shortened!” (Meaning “discouraged” once in the King James Bible!)
He can still “save,” in Hebrew “yasha,” meaning “to serve as Saviour, Deliverer, Avenger, Deliverer!”
His “Ear,” too, is “NOT heavy!”
He can still “hear,” using “shama,” meaning “to listen, to discern” or even “to understand.”
He can still answer prayer!
Then the Text takes an abrupt turn!
BUT … “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Here things (during at least part of Isaiah’s Ministry) would have become tense!
Again I observe, “bold preaching!”
“Iniquities” translates the Hebrew noun “avon,” suggesting activities that are “bent, perverted, distorted” in the Eyes of God! Doing things opposite of God’s Way! (“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12 and again word for word in Proverbs 16:25.)
Perverted things like worshipping idols instead of the living God! Perverted things like sacrificing precious boys and girls to some false goddess. (Seems like the innocent little babies always suffer in an extremely wicked age!)
The verb “separated” (in Hebrew “badal,” used only 42 times in the entire Bible) means “to sever, to divide,” or even at times “to withdraw from” Someone! (This is here a participle, indicating an on-going action, a habit or lifestyle.)
Then (parallel to the just used word “iniquities”) “sins” (the much more common “chattaah,” used 296 times in the Old Testament), is derived from a verb meaning “to miss the right way,” to fail to receive/enjoy what God originally intended for you!
Wow! Then, sins are robbers!
But watch what these “sins” have done. They “have hid His Face (the Lord’s Face) from you, that he will not hear.”
Bible proof here … our sins affect God’s Ears, in essence blocking our prayers!
Remember Peter’s admonition? “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; THAT YOUR PRAYERS BE NOT HINDERED.” (1 Peter 3:7, where “hindered” is a Greek verb meaning “to cut off!”)
Yes, Isaiah, you are a bold Preacher, Prophet!
And we Christians are spiritually richer because this Preacher’s “66 Chapters” are in the Bible, in the Word of God!
I know I say this often, but these two verses would make a great memory project for some aspiring Bible student!
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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