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
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips pronounce lies; your tongue speaks evil.
4
No one calls for righteousness, nor do any judge by the truth; they trust in vanity, and speak vanities; they conceive trouble and bring forth iniquity.
5
They hatch cockatrice’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; whosoever shall eat of their eggs shall die, and if they should squeeze them, a viper shall come out.