Ver. 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, &c.] Like a partition wall dividing between them, so that they enjoy no communion with him in his worship and ordinances; which is greatly the case of the reformed churches: they profess the true God, and the worship of him, and do attend the outward ordinances of it; but this is done in such a cold formal way, and such sins and wickedness are perpetrated and connived at, that the Lord does not grant his gracious presence to them, but stands at a distance from them: and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear; or have caused him to hide himself; withdraw his gracious presence; neglect the prayers put up to him; deny an answer to them; or, however, not appear as yet for the deliverance and salvation of them, and bringing them into a more comfortable, prosperous, and happy condition.
1
Truly, the Lord's hand has not become short, so that he is unable to give salvation; and his ear is not shut from hearing:
2
But your sins have come between you and your God, and by your evil doings his face has been veiled from you, so that he will give you no answer.
3
For your hands are unclean with blood, and your fingers with sin; your lips have said false things, and your tongue gives out deceit.
4
No one puts forward an upright cause, or gives a true decision: their hope is in deceit, and their words are false; they are with child with sin, and give birth to evil.
5
They give birth to snake's eggs, and make spider's threads: whoever takes their eggs for food comes to his death, and the egg which is crushed becomes a poison-snake.
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