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Scripture Text (NRSV)
Isaiah 55:10-13
55:10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until
they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower
and bread to the eater,
55:11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent
it.
55:12 For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the
hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their
hands.
55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come
up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that
shall not be cut off.
Comments:
I certainly hope there will be some others who choose this wonderful poetry on which to
preach. It is early in the week, but we need to get going here.
Dwight in WV
Beautiful!! You must also love the lyrical hymn which flows in my mind each time I see
this passage. Having sung in church choirs for 40 yrs., I hear the tune and my heart
begins to sing. The passage reminds me of Eccl. 3-- "...there is a time for
everything under the sun, a time to be born and a time to die..." A purpose for all
things in God's sight--rain goes out and plants are watered--this is God's way. We humans
too, are God's and we go out in joy and are led forth in peace--yet we are human--and
sometimes during our tenure, we turn joy into sorrow, by our selfish acts. Yet we all are
born and all certainly die--and all return to the God who loves us and gave us life. That
sounds a little like universal salvation! The Providential God of all may have a plan that
we humans have yet to understand..I am just really pleased that God's grace and mercy have
more to say about my life than do the racist college killer who randomly takes the lives
of innocent one and his own. May God's mercy and justice be showered upon them. And all
the trees shall clap, X-X-X-X---X-X there hands--for we shall go out with joy... The
people in the pew on Sunday probably struggle with the nature of God's control in their
own lives..does it matter that they have been in church for 40 years--or how come their
grandson was killed in a school shooting. Who they loved and knew was like a cypress--but
in their death it seems more like a thorn--yet God promises....instead of briar it shall
come up as myrtle! Oh, God, may it be an everlasting sign!
DF in KS
We are having baptisms at our church this Sunday and what strikes me is how two of the
readings (Isaiah and Psalm 65) have to do with water. Romans is also wonderfully
baptismal.
In the Episcopal church our Isaiah reading begins with vv 1-5 and then continues with
10-13. Verse one begins with "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters,"
followed by the wonderful imagery of rain and snow and God's word. The poetry is so
beautiful and evocative. I'm thinking about doing something about coming to the waters of
baptism and how they, and God's word and Holy Spirit, change us. They do not return to God
empty "but it shall accomplish that which I purpose."
We go forth in joy to the waters of baptism and are led back in the peace of Christ.
Rev Steph in MD
this passage is so beautiful in its imagery, and for me dovetails nicely with the
Gospel reading. I am not sure which to focus on preaching this week. I am struck by the
idea that God's word does not return to Heaven until it has watered the earth like the
rain and snow do not return to the clouds until they have watered the soil. It is also a
joyful in that it affirms that God's purposes will not be thraughted. They will bear
fruit, and shall be beautiful and strong (Cypress is a tree, isn't it? Help from anyone
out there would be great in this. I cann't seem to locate my Isaiah commentary to check on
this.) The message of good news is proclaimed here, not specifically of Jesus Christ, but
of God's grace and peace. Sometimes I think the lectionary stretcheds when it tries to
cooridinate passages, but this is one of the times that the alternate OT, Psalm and Gospel
all compliment each other. Peace and Grace, Debbie in Maine
I,too, am an Episcopalian and plan to preach on Is. 55:1-5 and 10-13. However, I am
considering touching on the Gospel toward the end of the sermon. After all, God is calling
out for us to come to Him and drink, but the condition of our hearts determins whether we
hear Him and how we respond. Whatever I decide to do, there is not much time left. God's
peace be with y'al. Betty in Florida
Yes! Cypress is a tree that lives planted in or by the water. Very often a reference to
those who live in God -- closely connected to the Spirit. I love this passage, too and
will use it also in connection with the Gospel reading. Perhaps it is a scripture Jesus
himself had in mind. Also reminiscent of the Psalm "Like a tree planted by the
water." Look up information on the cypress on the internet under science/biology. You
might come up with a great illustration. RevKK
Has anyone come up with the symbolism concerning cypress? All I know is that we have a
lot of cypress trees here in central Florida, and they only grow in the shallow water.
When the lakes and marshes are drained, the cypress die. Betty in FL
Consider the usefulness and beauty of the Word. Pine trees do not punish, as do thornbushes. And myrtles are much more lovely than briers. The Word is attractive or aesthetic, and marvelously functional. DW in TX
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