S – Indeed, the Lord’s arm is not too weak to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear. ² But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you 

so that he does not listen

Isaiah 59:1–2 CSB

O – Commentary:

iniquities have been barriers Sin strains Israel’s relationship with God to the point of total separation. Israel’s actions required the separation—it was not what God wanted.

have hidden his face Symbolizes a break in communication and a denial of physical presence. People hid their faces from the Servant in Isa 53:3 as a sign of rejection. Here, Yahweh is forced to turn His face away from them because He cannot look on sin (Hab 1:13

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Is 59:2.

A – This depicts the challenge God faces with mankind.  He created each of them and knows them intimately before birth with all the opportunity to walk in relationship with Him.  Yet, their choice of sin and iniquity keeps distance between them because God is constrained by his own righteousness.  Our best move is to accept Christ and eliminate the barrier between us and God, walking with him daily.

R – Heavenly Father, you are righteous and just.  Empower us to eliminate any barrier between us and you.  Show us our sin and iniquities so we can ask forgiveness and align ourselves with you.  We want relationship today.