Promise of Restoration
What are your thoughts about this passage from Isaiah? I'm curious, even though I'm not preaching this week. We have a special guest. This is being sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
3Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
“The prophet describes the return from the Babylonian captivity as a joyous procession to Zion. God’s coming reign will bring a renewal of creation in which health and wholeness will be restored. There is no need for fear, for God is coming to save” (sundaysandseasons.com).
What good news the prophet brings, but it does not mean that all went smoothly for the returnees. Their ancestors may have been in Jerusalem, but surely not these folks. They were like refugees in the land of their heritage. But God tells them it will be alright.
Today, we have prophets as well. Prophets are not fortune tellers but are proclaimers of God’s message. In this passage, it’s a message of love, renewal and hope for a beleaguered people.
On Sunday, we’ll have Jayson Mena with us, one of our grown-up Promise Children. God has worked in his life in remarkable ways and he will be with us to tell his story. He proclaims hope to the children of Honduras. We are fortunate he can be with us. Let us welcome him with Christ’s love.
Picture
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly,and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
3Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
“The prophet describes the return from the Babylonian captivity as a joyous procession to Zion. God’s coming reign will bring a renewal of creation in which health and wholeness will be restored. There is no need for fear, for God is coming to save” (sundaysandseasons.com).
What good news the prophet brings, but it does not mean that all went smoothly for the returnees. Their ancestors may have been in Jerusalem, but surely not these folks. They were like refugees in the land of their heritage. But God tells them it will be alright.
Today, we have prophets as well. Prophets are not fortune tellers but are proclaimers of God’s message. In this passage, it’s a message of love, renewal and hope for a beleaguered people.
On Sunday, we’ll have Jayson Mena with us, one of our grown-up Promise Children. God has worked in his life in remarkable ways and he will be with us to tell his story. He proclaims hope to the children of Honduras. We are fortunate he can be with us. Let us welcome him with Christ’s love.
Picture
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