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Scripture Text (NRSV)

 

Isaiah 40:1-11

 

40:1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.

40:2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

40:3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

40:4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

40:5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

40:6 A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field.

40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass.

40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.

40:9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!"

40:10 See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

 

Comments:

 

Perhaps one of the most embarrassing incidents in my life occurred during third grade. I was desperately in love with my teacher, who was fresh out of college. She had to discipline me one day (gasp!) by sending me out to stand in the hallway. I had really left her no other option, except perhaps to do physical violence to me. But she loved me too much to do that. So, I stood in the hallway for what seemed like an eternity. I dreaded going back in. What would it be like? Would my teacher hate me forever? How happy I was to come back into the room and find that while I was gone, the teacher had found a book that talked about one of my favorite subjects, and that book was laid open on my desk, just waiting for my return. The punishment was over. I had paid double for my sin. Now, I could enjoy being with my teacher again.


The four voices in this pericope may lend themselves to creative presentation. The first voice (vv. 1-2) might be the prophet, or a judge. The format of the sermon might make that person a narrator, as well, both proclaiming what God said and holding the entire thing together.

The second voice talks about a highway in the desert. Perhaps someone with a hard hat and reflective vest could express the point of that section. The third voice (vv. 6-8), uses imagery of wild flowers and grass. A person in overalls, with gardening gloves and a small shovel, could walk into the chancel to talk about the reliability of God's word. And, the fourth voice, starting with v. 9, seems to be from the prophet again, and includes the allusion to a shepherd, but I like the imagery of a mother.

As far as an overall theme, the second candle on the Advent wreath represents peace. I'm reflecting on each of the voices in the pericope, asking what each might say to us about peace. It's only Monday -- still letting this marinade within me. MTSOfan


I'm not sure whether to feel peaceful or cringe at this text (tongue somewhat in cheek.) "Take comfort! Here is your God!" The God of might and power who can destroy us with a word, with a breath! (Surely that's what Isaiah's original audience was feeling--Here comes God to punish us in his wrath again!) But the mighty terrifying judge arrives, only to say, "Your time of trouble has ended! Here, let me hold you close!" The omnipotent Creator comes to us as a gentle child--bringing grace and mercy..." Rabbi in IL


v. 11 - have you ever seen that kitschy, schmaltzy, drawing of Jesus snuggling up with a lamb? When I see it, I want to say pee-yoo! What a contrast to the Far Side cartoon that has God looking down on earth with his finger poised over two buttons: "Smite" and "Don't Smite."

What we deserve is "Smite" - perhaps that's why we come to expect it. We know we have it coming. Yet that cheesy picture of Jesus and the lamb offers profound reassurance and, sadly, it may be contrary to many peoples' impressions of God. Ironically, both images are true.

Sally in GA


A few early thoughts. And yes, it is Thursday already!

There are many images in these verses, and as I was noting them down I realised that several of them were in the form The ****** of the LORD

eg HAND, GLORY, MOUTH, BREATH, WORD, ARM , HEART.

I'm going to try and work with some of these images

Rev Ev in Bev UK


I am preaching from Isaiah for the first three weeks of Advent. Last week, in an overview of this book, I talked about the three sections or periods of the book. Brueggemann's article, "Loss and Hope" particularly helpful. In that article, he notices the nearly 200 year pause in the writing between the end of chap. 39 and the beginning of chap. 40. During that time span, Jerusalem has been devasted, the people have been carried into captivity in Babylon.

The tremendous set of images and hopes so freshly launched after so much silence and disorientation, must have been both startling and discountable. For those who dared to imagine, it must have set their pulses racing!

Ben Ollenburger writes on the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary site, "These verses...introduce Isaiah's book of comfort, which extends through chap. 55. Framing this material are statements about God's word...in between, God's word encounters and counters, two complaints from the people who are to hear it. First, they complain that God is powerless and unfaithful, that they are beyond God's reach and that God has ignored them (40:27) Second, they complain that God's solution to their resignation and fear is not acceptable: it is unprecedented and impossible (44:24-45:13). Would we not think so, too, if told that an Iranian was God's shepherd and messiah (44:28; 45:1)? Nevertheless, the prophet announces that God the creator has chosen Cyrus, the Persian king, to rebuild Jersalem and the temple, both of them destroyed by Babylon, where the exiles from Juday remain."

Ollenberg writes later in the article, "Remarkably, it is the abandoned Zion and the ruined Jerusalem who receive the commission to be God's heralds...What all the world, including the Jews themselves, regarded as abandoned, desecrated, even as a woman divorced by God (Isa. 50:1; 54:5) Zion/Jerusalem is entrusted with the good news: the tidings of great joy, "Behold your God!""

"Good tidings" (good news/gospel)is the prerogative of the Caesares (sp?) in the time of John the Baptist. How audacious it was for John to call up this Isaiah text to announce any news other than the "official word". How daring to speak any "good news" if it doesn't come from the empire. (heard and probably misqouted by me from a sermon of ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson)

To announce that there are good tidings of a new, salvific & life-giving order was once a dangerous business. There seems to be little danger for most of us to set out an announcement of a new and restorative realm with a new Lord/Master/Ruler/President/King/Shepherd.(I'm admittedly grateful.) Aslanclan


· Prepare for What? God wants to come into our lives and we shall be cared for as his flock. The wonderful thing about God is this: with him forgiveness can be had. Our sins can be pardoned. Forgiveness and pardon is alone found in the person of Jesus Christ! Prepare to receive God.

· Prepare with prayer. There is only one prayer that is always answered, “Thy will be done.” When we pray and bring our plans and actions in accord with the Divine Will, then and then only will our preparations bear good fruit. Prepare to listen to His voice.

· Prepare your hearts and lives. The voice calls us to repent. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Christ by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Simply put, “to repent” means “to change.” To turn around from sinful ways, sinful habits and sinful practices, leaving them behind us for good. We make preparations for Jesus Christ by removing any obstacles that would prevent him from coming into our hearts. Change our sinful habits, and prepare for the Lord to come.

· Prepare then wait. One day is the same as 1,000 years. Waiting is hard, but necessary. This is also a time of vigilant waiting for Christ’s coming return in judgment. Nobody predicted it correctly the first time, and nobody will be able to predict it correctly this time either, but Jesus Christ is coming again. Live a life of anticipation. Live a life of being prepared.

Leon<>< in NC