"God's Hand Is Not Too Short" Isaiah 59-61; 2 Thessalonians 3

A beautiful metaphor.

God's Hand is not too short to lend, 

His ear not too dull to hear,

But ... it's about your sin.  

If there is any breech, the problem is me, my heart.

If we do not see His Hand,

If we do not hear His Word,

If we do not experience His Life,

it's not because of God's Heart to help and hear and rescue and redeem.

One commentary says it this way:

"See here sin in true colors, exceedingly sinful;

see here sin in its consequences, exceedingly hurtful,

separating from God, not only from good but to evil." M. Henry

If there is no joy, no peace, this day, just distance,

it means I have moved.

Dear Father, this is such a Beautiful Image of your reaching down, stooping, offering your hand, bending your ear to my living room.  May I see this today?  May I stop the demandingness of my own heart for a break.  May I leave this thing I deal with on your lap?  Like Hezekiah did.  Like Isaiah.  In quietness and confidence, may our rest and repentance be in You not solutions.  Isaiah 30:15

I do not cure your unholiness by overlooking or understanding it.  To overlook it would be to miss the spot on the x-ray that will destroy you.  To understand it in light of what you've suffered would be to excuse it.  I do not heal your selfishness by affirming your value.  I solve your deepest problem with My self-sacrificing, reconciling embrace that forgives all that is unholy within you."  What hope is given by the prophet Isaiah!  Faith to believe God is good in any circumstance. Love that pays any price to bless another both spring from hope.  66 LL 

Isaiah 59:1-2  WRONGHEADED LIVES CAUSED THE SPLIT
God's arm is not too short.  God's ears are not stopped up.  There's nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you.  Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God....59:12 - Our wrongdoings pile up before you, God, our sins stand up and accuse us...Good is MIA, missing in action.  

But You issue a decree in v. 20:  I'll arrive as Redeemer to those who leave their sins.   

 

Isaiah 60:2  GOD RISES ON YOU AT THE RIGHT TIME
God rises on you, His sunrise glory breaks over you. ... I've put you on your feet, towering and grand forever, a joy to look at! ...The runt will become a great tribe, the weakling become a strong nation. I am God.  At the right time I'll make it happen."


Isaiah 61:1  ANNOUNCING THE YEAR OF HIS GRACE
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace—and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn,give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory. 

 

"May the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways." 2 Thes 3:16

It is the Beautiful right-now Grace that ushers in the Peace of God as believe Him. Through faith. And He counts us righteous. He said so to Abraham thousands of years ago for our sake this very day.