Isaiah 59:9-15
Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: bible study,bible, isaiah

Translations: 简体中文 繁體中文

## Effects of Sin

Isaiah 59:9-15
So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us.

We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;

among the strong, we are like the dead. We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away.

For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities:

- rebellion and treachery against the LORD,
turning our backs on our God,
- fomenting (inciting) oppression and revolt,
- uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.

Truth is nowhere to be found, and
whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

## Comment

Notice the cause and effect relationship here.

The Cause: Sin
With respect to God:
Rebelling and dealing falsely with God, backsliding
With respect to our fellow man:
Inciting oppression and apostacy
With respect to ourselves:
Uttering lies our hearts have conceived

The Effect: Injustice
Truth is nowhere to be found
Holiness is despised

Conversely if you see an environment, a society in which truth and holiness are despised, you can infer the cause as Sin. Paul writes in Romans 1:21"although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." . He goes on to say that they exchanged God for other things God gave their hearts over to sexual impurity, and because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, He gave them over to shameful lusts, which pretty much describes the human condition today. The root cause of the problems people face in the world is not economic nor political. The root problem is sin.

The Christian also must remember that to him it was written, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."Gal 6:7 If you're preaching a false gospel of "You don't have to repent from sin, you just have to believe in Jesus", you're part of the problem, not part of the solution. Furthermore, living a sinful "Christian" life has its devestating effects not only on oneself, but also on the society. Therefore consider what kind of a Christian life you are living. How much do you value truth in contrast to religious propaganda and human dogma? And to what degree do you shun evil? Or do you find much of your Christian life is spent excusing yourself or others rather than genuinely repenting from sin habits and inciting others to stop sinning?

> "Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts" Ps 15:1-4

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