Scripture Text (NRSV)
Isaiah 63:7-9
63:7 I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the
praiseworthy acts of the LORD, because of all that the LORD has done
for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown
them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his
steadfast love.
63:8 For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not
deal falsely"; and he became their savior
63:9 in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but
his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed
them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Comments:
For me it will be perfect to recount the gracious deeds of the LORD as
we prepare for a new year. Too often, I think, we focus our energy on
looking ahead. Perhaps what we need, this year more than any other in
recent history, is to look back and see the working of God in our
lives. The problematic reading of verse 9 gives the opportunity to
proclaim the incarnation, and the stand of the Hebrew word "hesed"
that runs throughout will remind us of God's steadfast love and
faithfulness, and call us to faithfulness in the coming year.
Jim in GA
Jim in GA--will you elaborate on your last comment, about verse 9,
please? I'm not sure I follow--post Chrimstmas Eve exhaustion!!
Sybil in KS
I will use this Sunday as a chance to recount the memories of the
year. Babies being born, couples marrying, loved ones dying, moving,
relocating the church, Sept. 11, a presidential inaugaration.
In doing so constantly urging the people to recognize not only thatGod
has been with us but that God has indeed blessed us.
SunCityRev
My sermon title is "Touched By an Angel -- NOT!" and reminds us that
it is the very presence of God through Christ Jesus in our midst that
saves us, not some fluttering little fluffy thing that heeds our
wishes.
Karin in Wilmington, DE
Sybil,
I just saw your post, so sorry about the long delay.
In the ninth verse there is the word "lo" which can be translated
"his" or "not". The NRSV follows the Septuagint and renders the verse
"It was no messenger or angel. . ." The RSV renders it "and the angel
of his presence saved them".
Of course, the saving activity comes from the LORD in both
translations, but there is the question of the angelic intermediary.
The angelic version probably fits in better if one is preaching from
the Gospel lection as well. It works better for a sermon on
incarnation if you use the NRSV translation, but then there is also
the Christian eisegesis of a Hebrew text.
Makes it all fun, doesn't it?
I have been examining this v. 9 issue and have compared it with at
least a dozen translations including some that are Jewish in origin.
None of them support the NRSV translation. It seems to be a sort of
"lone wolf."
The key principle I see here is that we are to tell what the Lord has
done and, as Jim in GA says, this is the perfect lection for closing
out the year, recounting the Lord's goodness.
It also reminds us that it's not so much the case that the Lord sees
our struggles, but He struggles with us. J. Vernon McGee says, "Jesus
is not a way around our struggles, but is a guided tour through them."
I love that.
JG in WI
In reference to the posting from, Jim in GA, as regards the
"problematic" reading of Isaiah 63:9—
The Interpreters Bible Series, Vol 5, pg731-732 relates the possible
reason why the NRSV interpretation seems to stand as "a lone wolf." It
is the only interpretation whose text states that it was neither an
angel nor messenger but the presence of the Lord who saves.
Apparently, the Septuagint, in the "Interpreter's" opinion preserves
the better rendering of the text. In the OT, the word for "envoy" or
"messenger" as many interpretations render the Hebrew, do not include
in their decision to render the word that way, the fact that, in
almost all the other cases, this same Hebrew word does not mean
messenger or envoy but, instead, the very presence of God.
Truly then, according to this interpretation the name of God's only
begotten Son, "Emmanuel"–which means "God with us," takes on a whole
new level of meaning when taken in context with this passage from
Isaiah and the situation of Joseph and Mary in this lection's passage
from Matthew.
For this, I believe, is the real reason why God did not intervene at
this time in the life of Israel, when Herod was about his business–for
God new that His Son would be coming to save the whole world for
Eternity, not just part of it for a moment.
May we all believe and not perish but have Everlasting Life!
Pastor Dave in BC, Canada, eh!
Previous:
What a wonderful text to prompt, by God's Spirit, reflections on God's
faithfulness, "the many good things he has done" (v.7) during 1998,
but also through all the years. I'm especially intrigued by verse 9 (NIV):
"In all their distress he too was distressed." What a wonderful way to
think of God at the turn of the century! DB in MD
It is 2 days before Christmas. I have written 2 Christmas sermons and
have one to go for Sunday, plus Bible Study to prepare and a family
that thinks they ought to have some of my time and attention. Guess I
am whining, sorry. Next year I will figure out something in advance
for this day.
Isaiah tells us it is no messenger or angel, but his presence that
made a difference. I am relying on God's presence this Sunday, as a
pooped messenger!
HW in HI
Thank you Lord for all that You have done and continue to do for the
body of Christ...Amen
