Sin Separates the People from the Lord
Sin separates and destroys justice.
Isaiah 59:1-8 (BSB)
1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
3 For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.
4 No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
5 They hatch the eggs of vipers and weave a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched.
6 Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
7 Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.
8 The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace.
What is the big idea of Isaiah 59:1-8?
Sin separates and destroys justice.
How does Isaiah 59:1-8 point to Christ?
Isaiah 59:1-8 teaches that sin, not God’s inability, separates humanity from salvation. The gospel proclaims that through Christ this separation is removed and peace with God is restored.
Authorial Intent
To expose sin as the true barrier between the people and the LORD, explaining why justice and deliverance are delayed.
Historical Context
In a time of moral decay, the people experience the consequences of their sin, leading to separation from God and societal breakdown.
Chapter: Isaiah 59
Sin Separates, Justice Fails, and the LORD Himself Comes as Redeemer
Human sin separates the people from God and destroys justice, but the LORD himself comes as warrior-Redeemer to bring salvation, judge evil, and establish his covenant word and Spirit among the repentant.