Today is the 23rd day of Lent.
 
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from Isaiah 59.
  

So justice is far from us, 
    and righteousness does not reach us. 
We look for light, but all is darkness; 
    for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. 
Like the blind we grope along the wall, 
    feeling our way like people without eyes. 
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; 
    among the strong, we are like the dead. 
We all growl like bears; 
    we moan mournfully like doves. 
We look for justice, but find none; 
    for deliverance, but it is far away. 
For our offenses are many in your sight, 
    and our sins testify against us. 
Our offenses are ever with us, 
    and we acknowledge our iniquities: 
rebellion and treachery against the Lord, 
    turning our backs on our God, 
inciting revolt and oppression, 
    uttering lies our hearts have conceived. 
So justice is driven back, 
    and righteousness stands at a distance; 
truth has stumbled in the streets, 
    honesty cannot enter. 
Truth is nowhere to be found, 
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. 
The Lord looked and was displeased 
    that there was no justice. 
He saw that there was no one, 
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; 
so his own arm achieved salvation for him, 
    and his own righteousness sustained him. 
He put on righteousness as his breastplate, 
    and the helmet of salvation on his head; 
he put on the garments of vengeance 
    and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. 
 

Lent is a season that acknowledges the absence of God in the world. Isaiah acknowledges that reality in his poetry. We look for light, but all is darkness. We look for justice, but find none. For deliverance, but it is far away. Have you ever experienced a season in your life, a situation that was full of darkness, or without deliverance? Can you recall what that experience was like for you?  
 
But God doesn’t leave us in darkness. He was appalled that there was no one to intervene. So he put on righteousness and salvation and stepped into the world himself. In Christ, God intervened. As you hear the passage again, think about this from God’s perspective. What it was it like for God to see our hopelessness, and for him to be moved to intervene.  
   
If you find yourself in a situation where it feels like God is absent, remember that God has already moved on your behalf through Christ. And remind yourself that he will move again. As you walk through your day, ask God to stir his hope in you that he will come again.  
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.   
 
Music - Love - Vineyard Worship/Samuel Lane - (YouTube)