Unrighteousness

 We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

We all fade like a leaf,

and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah 64:6

The part of this verse about our righteousness being like filthy rags/a polluted garment is famous, but not the context. Jewish culture thought in terms of clean and unclean, more than right or wrong, or honour and shame. If someone was ceremonially unclean, they couldn't approach God in worship.

The Jews as a whole had become unclean. They had abandoned anything more than lip service to God, and were relying on those who seemed to be in power for their security. If I may say it, American Christianity seems to have become too invested in the dirty politics of this world rather than proclaiming the pure power of Christ, and trust in him to protect and preserve.

Anything good that we do is as Isaiah puts it, like a used sanitary product. Our righteous acts are offensive to a holy God. Even the stuff we do to try and impress and gain brownie points is repulsive to our righteous God. We're about as much use as an autumn leaf!

Our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. This isn't some pleasant summer breeze or even a bracing sea breeze. This is a hurricane force wind that causes devestation. The Jews iniquities have devestated the poor and needy in the land, and offended the Holy One. Therefore judgement is coming.

"Lord God, forgive me my depravity. Please wash me clean in the blood of the Lamb, and make me acceptable in your sight. In Jesus' name, amen"