January 13: THE STANDARD FOR OVERCOMING EVIL

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor is His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1

The shrinking nation of Israel was beset with struggles and difficulties. God knew that His people attributed these problems to an inability on His part to bring deliverance. Because of the influences of idolatry in their midst, their concept of the one, true God hardly differed from the ideas that the heathens held regarding their gods. In their self-centered and territorial thinking, they conceived of Jehovah as a local deity. Their concept of Him had shriveled to a weak god with limited power who was not even able to protect them from the armies (and gods) of the nations around them. They had come to blame Him for all of their troubles.

Today, we find the Lord answering the accusations in their hearts and minds. The fault certainly does not lie with Him: But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear (v.2). Sin erects a barrier between man and God. The person who stubbornly bulldozes his way through life without repentance will not only come to believe that God cannot hear, but that He doesn’t even exist! The selfishness of sin produces spiritual calluses that only thicken in direct proportion to the stubbornness of the individual. Pray for a heart that is sensitive to truth and a continual opening of spiritual eyes.

Today, the churches are filled with individuals who are so devoted to their idolatrous habits that they find no fault with their way of living. The Lord says, “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (1:15). Again, He says “For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has uttered perversity” (59:3).

The Lord’s repeated accusation toward His people addresses the fact that their thoughts, actions, and words are not matching up. This example has a corrupting, soul-destroying influence upon the innocent (v.7) among them. Although the Jews made a zealous profession of their religion, their words and works were consistently evil. The Lord continues: “No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth” (v.4). Instead, they weave theologies that defend unbiblical practices. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity” (v.4). The rest of chapter 59 graphically conveys the deadliness of resisting the Spirit’s leading to be “overtaken by righteousness” (v.9). They know better (v.12) and therefore are without excuse. When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him (19b). The LORD’s saving hand will reach down to rescue those who turn from transgression (v.20). They will be divinely assisted to continue in the right way, becoming Overcomers with Him who has overcome the world (John 16:33).

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” Romans 11:26-27

For better understanding read all of Isaiah 59, Jeremiah 31:31-33, Hebrews 8:10 & 10:16