Thoughts for the Day

Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug....

Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.
I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;..

Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;
but my salvation will be for ever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.

Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
you people who have my teaching in your hearts;
do not fear the reproach of others,
and do not be dismayed when they revile you.
For the moth will eat them up like a garment,
and the worm will eat them like wool;
but my deliverance will be for ever,
and my salvation to all generations.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

It's more than probable that Isaiah wrote this poem (Isaiah 51.1-16 not just the half above) during a battle when Cyrus' army had broken through the Babylonian defences. The Israelites were suffering badly, but as we know Cyrus was to give them a chance to return to Jerusalem after his capture of Babylon. We should look at the urgency of the message - the way he repeats "Listen", "Look", "Deliverance", "Righteousness", "People", "Peoples", "Earth", and "Heavens".

The people are to remember who they are - he compares them to living stones hewn from a quarry and they are the foundations of a new earth for all nations. It reminds us of what Jesus was to say to Peter centuries later, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it," (Matthew 16.18). God's teaching is to go out to all peoples; His justice is to be brought to all nations; He will liberate the poor and imprisoned from around the world; He will restore wholeness to individuals and to nations. All of this is to begin in the individual lives of God's people, the Israelites, and now to continue in our lives.

It is not a simple thing to ask us: to personally come to know God; to keep His teaching in our hearts; and to trust in His power to save. But with the help of the Holy Spirit we can do this!

Heavenly Father,
Your plan for our world and all its people
is so much larger than anything we could imagine.
Help us to see our part within the bigger picture,
and keep us close to You when things are difficult.
May we not be filled with doubt
when all we see is chaos around us,
but instead be filled with confidence
that Your will will be achieved ultimately.
Amen.