Deafening silence

The role of the prophet is to speak God's word, to a particular people. They don't chant aimlessly on street corners. They take aim, and like an expert archer they do not miss.

Isaiah aimed his arrows at God's people around 700BC; the same arrows still hit our lives today.

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,nor his ear too dull to hear.But your iniquities have separated you from your God;your sins have hidden his face from you,so that he will not hear.For your hands are stained with blood,your fingers with guilt.Your lips have spoken falsely,and your tongue mutters wicked things.No one calls for justice;no one pleads a case with integrity.They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies;they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.Isaiah 59:1-4

These words are so relevant today.

They begin with reassurance - God is powerful. He can save. His arms haven't been cut off or even shortened. He is able.

They move to highlight our problem - the way to God is blocked by our sin. Sin is not a trivial matter, we should never minimize our sin. Yet it is true to say, God himself has dealt with this problem. He has opened up the way, through his Son, Jesus Christ.

So what's the real problem? No one calls for justice. No one asked God to save. We should begin with our own need of salvation. We should pray on for those in our community and nation. And if we did so, we would see God is able to hear, mighty to save and willing to act, because of Jesus death for us.

Today, the words 'No one calls for justice' strike like a well aimed arrow. In all the searching for a way out of lockdown. In the scramble for tests, treatement and vaccines - what is missing from the narrative? Who is never mentioned? Where are we being encouraged to put our hope?

To whom should we be encouraged to trust in?

Lord, have mercy.