READING: Isaiah 40:8-11
“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
And carries them close to his heart;
He gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11
In large measure, the book of Isaiah is a grim prophesy of pain and travail, explaining to the Jews why they were in miserable wars, first with the Assyrians and then with the Babylonians. Here in 2008 we’re in a war too, actually two of them --- with roughly the same folks. Uncanny how current scripture can be. In addition, we face a world in which land has lost its value, banks have crashed, Wall Street is in free fall and the credit card industry is facing melt down. In comparison, the ancient Jews were about to be conquered and hauled into exile. I imagine they felt a little bit like we do.
Yet nestled right in the middle of this story of utter despair, Isaiah shifts gears and shares a prophecy of great hope. Chapter 40 begins with the words “‘Comfort ye my people’ says the Lord” and ends with a phrase that literally soars, “they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not be faint.”
In the bleakest hour, God steps into the middle of our fear and transforms us; comforting us first, then putting us back on our feet and strengthening us until we rise like champions to fight our own battles and not grow weary. Our verses for today are the comfort part. They show God as the good shepherd, scooping helpless victims to his bosom, warding off all dangers with his strong right arm. If that’s all we read, this message of comfort becomes a velvet trap. It teaches us to see ourselves as permanent victims, always in need of rescue. In truth, God only allows us to be helpless for a moment. Read the rest of the chapter. It is a step by step progression of getting us back on our feet and into fighting form. The heart of the prophecy is that God will help us, but we have to have the gumption to mount up like eagles. I do love that image. God is God; which is very different than being a nanny.
Dear Lord, Let us not forget that you are always there ready to pick us up and get us back on our feet. No matter what our trials, you are there to comfort us and remind us that we are to sore like eagles in your name. AMEN.
“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
And carries them close to his heart;
He gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11
In large measure, the book of Isaiah is a grim prophesy of pain and travail, explaining to the Jews why they were in miserable wars, first with the Assyrians and then with the Babylonians. Here in 2008 we’re in a war too, actually two of them --- with roughly the same folks. Uncanny how current scripture can be. In addition, we face a world in which land has lost its value, banks have crashed, Wall Street is in free fall and the credit card industry is facing melt down. In comparison, the ancient Jews were about to be conquered and hauled into exile. I imagine they felt a little bit like we do.
Yet nestled right in the middle of this story of utter despair, Isaiah shifts gears and shares a prophecy of great hope. Chapter 40 begins with the words “‘Comfort ye my people’ says the Lord” and ends with a phrase that literally soars, “they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not be faint.”
In the bleakest hour, God steps into the middle of our fear and transforms us; comforting us first, then putting us back on our feet and strengthening us until we rise like champions to fight our own battles and not grow weary. Our verses for today are the comfort part. They show God as the good shepherd, scooping helpless victims to his bosom, warding off all dangers with his strong right arm. If that’s all we read, this message of comfort becomes a velvet trap. It teaches us to see ourselves as permanent victims, always in need of rescue. In truth, God only allows us to be helpless for a moment. Read the rest of the chapter. It is a step by step progression of getting us back on our feet and into fighting form. The heart of the prophecy is that God will help us, but we have to have the gumption to mount up like eagles. I do love that image. God is God; which is very different than being a nanny.
Dear Lord, Let us not forget that you are always there ready to pick us up and get us back on our feet. No matter what our trials, you are there to comfort us and remind us that we are to sore like eagles in your name. AMEN.
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