Isaiah 59:9-13

Isaiah 59:9-13
English Standard Version (ESV)

 There's a wonderful little book I read some time ago by Cornelius Plantinga called Sin:  Not the Way It's Supposed to Be.  I think the phrase captures the essence of sin -- the world, and us, were designed to live very differently than how we are currently living.  There is a pervasive sense that things are not set right -- that the world has strayed from its purpose.  Every time sin strikes out in some public or private way, we get a visceral sensation that things are not going the way they are supposed to, that there is something wrong.
  Isaiah describes that sensation so well in verses 9-10.  We are hoping for light and reaching for hope, but they are far from us, separated from us by our sin.  Sin has opened up a gash in our relationship with God, and this separation will continue until someone can set it right.  Unfortunately for humanity, we cannot achieve the perfection required to set things right.  Fortunately for us, we have a God who is merciful and kind who will take that responsibility upon himself and offer up his Son, Jesus Christ, as a Redeemer, to save us from sin and restore us to grace despite our transgressions!