Isaiah 44:6-8
Proper 11 (16) - Year A
Isaiah 44:6-8 and Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19
How about a both/and instead of an either/or. A NRSV dialogue of soul (Isaiah) and self (Wisdom).
Isa. 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
Wis. 12:13 For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people, to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly....
Isa. 44:7 Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be.
Wis. 12:16-18 For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all. For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power, and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it. Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose.
Isa. 44:8 Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.
Wis. 12:19 Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous must be kind, and you have filled your children with good hope, because you give repentance for sins.
.............
From a starting point of "I'm it" that feels like it is going to Lord it over us we find ourselves ending up with kindness and hope. How did that happen? Where do you see the turning point in this conversation? That may have something to do with what else is going on in your life.
The New Jerusalem Bible has a footnote on Wisdom 12:16 that reads: "Since God possesses absolute power and has no reason for abusing it, he dispenses saving justice with complete impartiality and freedom; by the same token, his sovereign mastery over all beings allows him to be lenient to all."
While having trouble with the male language and the distant theistic imagery of impartiality, I do come to the same conclusion about leniency and appreciate the closing words of kindness and hope that we can continue learning to live into.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/july2002.html
Isaiah 44:6-8 or Genesis 28:10-19a or Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19
How much sooner than Bethel might Jacob have recognized the presence of GOD with him was a freedom from compulsion to follow family stories? Having heard the story of his birth, how much programming was it going to take to move beyond one interpretation of a painful womb? How many times would Jacob need to experience again the wonder of Assurance Lost, Assurance Regained? How many cycles does it take to come to an understanding of Assurance as a Given?
What teaching would be helpful to move us beyond the limitation of family stories or curses around birth expectation so we might better receive and respond to continuing opportunities to decide for larger living. Unless we are going to posit unwitting actions under a grand plan, it is important to wonder how Jacob's recognition of Solomon's Wisdom of mercy for others instead of practical jokes or strength through mildness and forbearance might lead beyond a fixed future. This leads us to wonder about what would be different if we had learned that righteousness shows itself through kindness earlier than we did. [This is not to lay guilt trips, but to ask how our experience might be brought to bear to help others in their journey and to encourage us in our next steps.]
Hopefully we will hear in statements of our God being a top God, not so much an unchanging and immovable arrogance, but a willingness to walk the way of exile to a future different than currently expected. The choice of learning, "I'll show you, for chasing me out -- I'll take over the land," or to share the bounty, is always with us, even if unrecognized from time to time.
A result of the "gift" of repentance is a willingness to share life and resources. May we so repent that hope is set loose in our life and the lives of those around us.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/july2005.html
Isaiah 44:6-8 or Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 or Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19 or Psalm 86:11-17
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Yes, let the righteous shine -- but not at the expense of those not yet righteous or deemed never to be righteous.
We have a long-standing tendency to idealism. Somehow or other, we yearn for days to come where all choice is taken from us so we won't even consider an alternative because such might eventually, incrementally, lead us elsewhere, astray. Likewise, we dream of days of non-complicity wherein evil is externalized and we are implicitly innocent.
Truth be told, I hold invasive weed and intentional wheat in tension. Neither can be denied its present reality. So was a first garden and so a future garden already holding an unrepentant thief.
Beware enthusiastic righteousness (even G*D's) rooting out all but itself -- it is unbalanced with only one leg to stand on.
- - -
what's G*D doing
at the bottom of the ladder
while angels climb
up and down down and up
angels are a diversion
while G*D sneaks up
as imagination soars
with the ladder
angels bring not messages
from above
but store promises
with the rain
together they fertilize
our present
to bring forth much future
growing up
promises spoken
are carried on high
to baptize tomorrow
resurrect a day after