1 BEHOLD, THE HAND OF THE LORD IS NOT TOO SHORT TO SAVE, NEITHER IS HIS EAR TOO HEAVY TO HEAR
This is a very important chapter. The light of God will shine upon Judah and Israel and all those associated with them.
2 BUT YOUR INIQUITIES WERE SEPARATING BETWEEN YOU AND BETWEEN YOUR GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE CAUSED [HIM] TO HIDE [HIS] FACE FROM YOU THAT HE NOT HEAR.
Hiding the Face. Lack of knowledge. Lack of ability to communicate with God.
3 FOR YOUR HANDS WERE DEFILED WITH BLOOD AND YOUR FINGERS WITH INIQUITY; YOUR LIPS HAVE SPOKEN FALSEHOOD, YOUR TONGUE MUTTERS INJUSTICE.
Perhaps as nations we should have been more involved in other nations? Maybe we should have taken control of the world to lessen oppression and tyranny? Maybe we should have done more in our own homeland?
Are the police and courts too tolerant of crime? People suffer because of this. Are we therefore also culpable. Pornography causes child abuse and suffering. Are we guilty because we do not do enough to prevent it?
The Educational System in many areas teaches lies and denial and wrong attitudes. Are we guilty?
4 NO ONE CALLS SINCERELY, AND NO ONE IS JUDGED FAITHFULLY; TRUSTING IN VANITY AND SPEAKING LIES, CONCEIVING INJUSTICE AND BEGETTING WICKEDNESS.
Employees are often exploited. Women and the weak are often taken advantage of.
It also works the other way: In some cases women are too assertive and men feel emasculated.
Communal leaders sometimes try and make peace by placating the stronger side rather than helping the side that is correct.
5 THEY HATCHED VIPERS' EGGS, AND THEY WEAVE SPIDER WEBS; WHOEVER EATS OF THEIR EGGS SHALL DIE, AND WHAT HATCHES, EMERGES A VIPER.
6 THEIR WEBS SHALL NOT BECOME A GARMENT, NEITHER SHALL THEY COVER THEMSELVES WITH THEIR DEEDS; THEIR DEEDS ARE WORKS OF WICKEDNESS, AND THERE IS A DEED OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR HANDS.
7 THEIR FEET RUN TO EVIL, AND THEY HASTEN TO SHED INNOCENT BLOOD; THEIR THOUGHTS ARE THOUGHTS OF WICKEDNESS; ROBBERY AND RUIN ARE IN THEIR PATHS.
Abortions destroy innocent live.
Orphans and the destitute are not really taken proper care of nor always given the opportunity to make their own way in life with self-respect and dignity.
A lot of movies glorify violence.
8 THE WAY OF PEACE THEY DO NOT KNOW, AND THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN THEIR PATHS; THEY HAVE MADE THEMSELVES CROOKED PATHS; WHOEVER GOES ON IT KNOWS NO PEACE.
9 THEREFORE, JUSTICE IS FAR FROM US, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS DOES NOT OVERTAKE US; WE HOPE FOR LIGHT AND BEHOLD THERE IS DARKNESS, FOR BRIGHTNESS, BUT WE WALK IN GLOOM.
10 WE TAP A WALL LIKE BLIND MEN, AND LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE NO EYES WE TAP; WE HAVE STUMBLED AT MIDDAY LIKE IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT; [WE ARE] IN DARK PLACES LIKE THE DEAD.
11 WE ALL GROWL LIKE BEARS, AND LIKE DOVES WE MOAN; WE HOPE FOR JUSTICE BUT THERE IS NONE, FOR SALVATION [BUT] IT HAS DISTANCED ITSELF FROM US.
12 FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AGAINST YOU ARE MANY, AND OUR SINS HAVE TESTIFIED AGAINST US, FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS ARE WITH US, AND OUR INIQUITIES-WE KNOW THEM.
13 REBELLING AND DENYING THE LORD, AND DRAWING AWAY FROM FOLLOWING OUR GOD, SPEAKING OPPRESSION AND PERVERSENESS, SPROUTING AND GIVING FORTH FROM THE HEART WORDS OF FALSEHOOD.
14 AND JUSTICE HAS TURNED AWAY BACKWARD, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS STANDS FROM AFAR, FOR TRUTH HAS STUMBLED IN THE STREET, AND STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS CANNOT COME.
15 AND TRUTH IS LACKING, AND HE WHO TURNS AWAY FROM EVIL IS CONSIDERED MAD, AND THE LORD SAW AND WAS DISPLEASED FOR THERE IS NO JUSTICE.
Good people get taken advantage of in some circumstances. People are sometimes pressured to lie and even cheat.
16 AND HE SAW THAT THERE WAS NO MAN, AND HE WAS ASTOUNDED FOR THERE WAS NO INTERCESSOR, AND HIS ARM SAVED FOR HIM, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT SUPPORTED HIM.
It used to be accepted behavior in Anglo-Saxon cultures that a person intervenes to protect others and to prevent injustice. It was taken for granted that one did what one could when one could and even when one could not, i.e. even at the expense of personal risk and discomfort.
Nowadays this is not the case.
People are influenced by the example of others and by their surroundings. When the surroundings are not supportive of correct behavior people are less inclined to act as they should.
17 AND HE DONNED RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A COAT OF MAIL, AND A HELMET OF SALVATION IS UPON HIS HEAD, AND HE DONNED GARMENTS OF VENGEANCE AS HIS ATTIRE, AND HE WAS CLAD WITH ZEAL AS A CLOAK.
18 ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS, ACCORDINGLY HE SHALL REPAY, FURY TO HIS ADVERSARIES, RECOMPENSE TO HIS ENEMIES; TO THE ISLANDS HE SHALL PAY RECOMPENSE.
“TO THE ISLANDS”: “Islands” usually refers to Israelites. We have apparently been found lacking.
19 AND FROM THE WEST THEY SHALL FEAR THE NAME OF THE LORD, AND FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN, HIS GLORY, FOR DISTRESS SHALL COME LIKE A RIVER; THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS WONDROUS IN IT.
There will be redemption.
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD” This implies that we will do what we should after receiving inspiration from above.
20 AND A REDEEMER SHALL COME TO ZION, AND TO THOSE WHO REPENT OF TRANSGRESSION IN JACOB, SAYS THE LORD.
“A REDEEMER”: This is the Messiah. This will be a National Leader who will go to war against the enemies of Israel. Actually two Redeemers are spoken of here. One will come to "Zion" meaning Judah and elements from Joseph. Another will deliver "Jacob" meaning the rest of the Israelite Tribes.
21 "AS FOR ME, THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM," SAYS THE LORD. "MY SPIRIT, WHICH IS UPON YOU AND MY WORDS THAT I HAVE PLACED IN YOUR MOUTH, SHALL NOT MOVE FROM YOUR MOUTH OR FROM THE MOUTH OF YOUR SEED AND FROM THE MOUTH OF YOUR SEED'S SEED," SAID THE LORD, "FROM NOW AND TO ETERNITY."
This is a covenant. God will always be with the seed of Israel. We are descended from Israelites. God will be close to us when we turn to him. We must return and accept upon ourselves the yoke of heaven and acknowledge our heritage and duty.