ALL our righteous acts are like FILTHY rags

[tonychanyt]

ALL our righteous acts are like FILTHY rags

The book of Isaiah was written at a time when the Israelites were experiencing spiritual decline and moral decay. The prophet Isaiah spoke on behalf of the people, acknowledging their sins and shortcomings before God.

BSB, Is 64:

5 You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways.

Some did right at times.

Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?

The Israelites could not save themselves.

6 Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags

or like a stained menstrual garment.

If God sees our good works as filthy rags, what's the point of doing them at all?

Isaiah used hyperbole to address his time of moral corruption. Today, Jesus and the Spirit dwell in us. God welcomes righteous acts done in faith.

we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

7 No one calls on Your name

another hyperbole

or strives to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.

Isaiah pointed out the inadequacy of the Israelites' efforts to achieve righteousness on their own. Today, in Christ, we are accepted and righteous before God. This understanding frees us from striving to earn God's favor and allows us to rest in the grace freely given to us (Ephesians 2:8-9) so that we can faithfully work for God.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

New International Version, Isaiah 64:


Strong's Hebrew: 5708. עִדִּים (ed) — 1 Occurrence

Some scholars thought that H5708 was related to the word for menstruation.

Literal Standard Version:

That's why we are saved by grace through faith and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-10). We can't save ourselves. We have to humble ourselves and admit to God that we our sinners who can't save ourselves. We have to be like the tax collector in this parable:

Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”