Truth has fallen in the streets
J. Gerald Harris
Isaiah 59: 1-19
The 59th chapter of Isaiah reflects the condition of Israel after their return to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile in 538 B.C. Of course, we know that many exiles had grown comfortable in Babylon and were unwilling to leave. The handful that did return faced a ravaged land - a city and a temple in ruins.
With no city walls, marauding bands of outlaws threatened them. With no central government, there was little leadership and little means of enforcing laws. In fact, there was no justice. With no temple, religious life was little more than a sham. Apathy, indifference and cynicism grew until the people began to lose sight of who they were as God's people. They began to be careless about how they lived; and they began to blame God for their dilemma, their pitiable condition.
They complained that God's hand is shortened or weak and that His ear is heavy and He cannot hear. They were saying that God was no longer omnipotent and that he could no longer hear their prayers. It reminds me of Adam trying to put the blame God for his sin. He started off blaming Eve. He said, ''The WOMAN you gave to be with me, SHE gave me the fruit of the tree, and I did eat.'' But then he blames God. He says, ''The woman YOU gave to be with me.''
Unfortunately, Isaiah's words to Israel are appropriate for the church in America today. The great statesman prophet wanted the people of Israel to be confronted with the truth. He told them that they were wrong to blame God. Yes, the nation was corrupt. Yes, lies were rampant and truth had fallen in the streets. Yes, their hands were defiled with blood. Yes, iniquity abouned. Yes, justice was absent in the land. But Isaiah says, ''All that is true, but don't blame God. His hand is not shortened, that it cannot save and His ear is not heavy that He cannot hear. ''
What happened in Israel in Isaiah's day is happening in America today. The conditions are similar; and r ...
J. Gerald Harris
Isaiah 59: 1-19
The 59th chapter of Isaiah reflects the condition of Israel after their return to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile in 538 B.C. Of course, we know that many exiles had grown comfortable in Babylon and were unwilling to leave. The handful that did return faced a ravaged land - a city and a temple in ruins.
With no city walls, marauding bands of outlaws threatened them. With no central government, there was little leadership and little means of enforcing laws. In fact, there was no justice. With no temple, religious life was little more than a sham. Apathy, indifference and cynicism grew until the people began to lose sight of who they were as God's people. They began to be careless about how they lived; and they began to blame God for their dilemma, their pitiable condition.
They complained that God's hand is shortened or weak and that His ear is heavy and He cannot hear. They were saying that God was no longer omnipotent and that he could no longer hear their prayers. It reminds me of Adam trying to put the blame God for his sin. He started off blaming Eve. He said, ''The WOMAN you gave to be with me, SHE gave me the fruit of the tree, and I did eat.'' But then he blames God. He says, ''The woman YOU gave to be with me.''
Unfortunately, Isaiah's words to Israel are appropriate for the church in America today. The great statesman prophet wanted the people of Israel to be confronted with the truth. He told them that they were wrong to blame God. Yes, the nation was corrupt. Yes, lies were rampant and truth had fallen in the streets. Yes, their hands were defiled with blood. Yes, iniquity abouned. Yes, justice was absent in the land. But Isaiah says, ''All that is true, but don't blame God. His hand is not shortened, that it cannot save and His ear is not heavy that He cannot hear. ''
What happened in Israel in Isaiah's day is happening in America today. The conditions are similar; and r ...
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