January 16: Isaiah and Unheard Prayers

Yesterday we looked at Psalm 66:18 and David’s recognition of unheard prayers. Let’s go to Isaiah and see what the great prophet says about unheard prayer.

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Isaiah 1:15-16

Blood! I’ve never murdered anyone! We’ve all done wrong, but murder – never!

But Jesus said being angry with your brother is just as bad (Matthew 5:22), and 1 John 3:15 explicitly tells us that hatred is equal to murder.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:15

Is there anyone that you are harboring resentment against? Anyone that you feel disgusted by when you see them? Anyone who has offended you that you need to make things right with?

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

Isaiah 59:2-3

John says hatred is equal to murder, and Isaiah says bloody hands will separate you from God. Let’s make relationships right with our fellow man and then God will hear us!

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