Gathering Around the Word
Prelude: Announcements: CALL TO WORSHIP: What confidence do we have on our own? None. All our works, all our deeds, as good as they may seem to us are as dirty rags before a perfect God. If the record of our deeds leaves us nothing but ashamed, what hope is there? Our hope is in Jesus. Our confidence is in Jesus. When He returns we will not be ashamed but will stand upon what He has accomplished. Come and worship our God today! Remember what He has done and remember all that is ours because of Him. INVOCATION
*HYMN: “Rejoice, the Lord is King” # 363
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Father, You call us to obedience and to turn from sin. We know that when we are born again we are meant to have reborn desires and actions. We know that to love You ought to mean that we love Your ways and Your commands. To love the people made in Your image. However, we fall short of this every day. Your Spirit works to change our hearts, but we try so hard to harden them again. Have mercy on us and forgive us. We know that we have sinned, and we know that we will again. Yet we trust that You are still working in us, sanctifying us, and making us holy like You are holy. Help us to not hold onto the guilt that sin produces but to cling to the grace we find in Jesus. AMEN *Time of Silent Prayer: *Assurance of Pardon *Response – Gloria Patri # 581 Passing of the peace Children’s Chat Prayer of illumination Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64: 4-12 Debbie Mary Sermon text: 1 John 2: 28-29 : *HYMN “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” # 65 *Apostles Creed (next to Prayer List) Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN “Shall We Gather at the River” # 375 Benediction Postlude
BIRTHDAYS:
February None this week ANNIVERSARIES: February 12 John & Lois Miller 13 Frank & Nellie Baker 14 Dana & Billie Wilson SYMPATHIES: For the Family of Vince Knotts, Neighbor of Janet Rhodes. For the Family of Dennis Guthrie Friend of Barb O’Hara Remember our food collection. And Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” Please let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time. Session meeting this Monday night at 7p.m. Missionary meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20th at 9:30 a.m. Women on Wednesday will be meeting on February 14th at 9:30 a.m. Sunday the 18th will be Communion Sunday. We are hosting the Lenten service on February 25th at 4p.m. There will be refreshments in the social hall after the service. Just a reminder that church services will be back to 11:15 starting March 3rd.
Continuing Prayer List
Chuck Dicks, Frank Huffman,Tom Westfall, Sandy Stone, Sarah Wilson, Carl Weber, Ricci Amos, Fred Wilkinson, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Judy Donaldson, Donna West, Helen Provenzano, Doug Ward, Marlene McFeely, Marley Smith, Suzy Smith, Carol Pierce, Chuck Harton, Frank Baker, Holly Liggitt (6 yrs. old), granddaughter of Debbie Durila, Johnny Yurko, Mike Durila, Betty Fisher, Seth Cummings, Beckett, Grandson of Scott Shetter, Kayla Horner, Step Granddaughter of Cheryl Bell
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Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us today!
When we meet in person, we take time to share prayer requests we might have. If you have any to share, please add them as a comment on this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started.
O Lord, thank you for sustaining me through the hard times in my life. Thank you for helping me soar, doing things for you that I never dreamed I could accomplish. Father, thank you for blessing me during the everyday comings and goings of life. I depend upon you for help and strength. For every good thing in my life I praise you and thank you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's lesson is on Isaiah 40:12-23, 25-31.
The New Testament tells us that God spoke through the prophets. Prophets were fearless men whose main duty was to deal with the religious and moral life of the people. The keynote of Isaiah is “salvation.” Isaiah means “salvation of Jehovah.” At the time of Isaiah, Israel was divided into the Northern and Southern Kingdom. Isaiah spoke to Judah. He also portrays the birth, family, anointing, character, simplicity of life, gentleness, death, resurrection and his glorious return and reign of the coming Messiah. Isaiah was a man of royal blood. He was an aristocrat who was brought up in the court and had high standing with the people of Jerusalem. Tradition tells us that his ministry as a prophet lasted 60 years and he was 120 years old when he died.
Prayer
Father, we thank you for the record left to us by the prophet Isaiah! May we realize fully that, with the New Testament, we now have immeasurably more insight into your nature than Isaiah did! Help us to take neither you nor your Word for granted. Renew our strength as only you are able to do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Thought to Remember There is never any power shortage with God.
Questions for Discussion
Benediction
Today's benediction is from the New King James Version.
Next week's lesson will be on Daniel 3:19-28.
Gathering Around the Word
Prelude: Carol Smith at piano Announcements: CALL TO WORSHIP: God is before all things and above all things. Even before all that we see around us was created, our God reigneth then. Our God has no beginning, no equal, no rival. The love and mercy of God endures forever. Everything around us, everything in this world will one day fade away. But the things concerning our God will last forever. Even though our bodies may fade, in Christ we will live forever. Worship God today. Give all of your heart to Him. Praise Him for what He has done. God has drawn near to man so that man may draw near to God. INVOCATION
*HYMN: “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” # 610
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Father, there is nothing in this world greater, more wonderful, or more lovely than You. Knowing You satisfies the need of every longing heart. In You we find the perfect father, friend, and advocate. And yet, the affections of our heart are drawn to the things of this world that are temporary. We spend our time and resources chasing after and preserving things that are here today and gone tomorrow. You call us to love You with all that we have and we are content with giving You what is left over of our time and love. Have mercy on us, O God for living lives of misaligned priorities. Where we have built idols, tear them down. Transform our hearts in a way that makes our highest goal and joy in this life to know and follow you more. *Time of Silent Prayer: *Assurance of Pardon *Response – Gloria Patri # 581 *Passing of the peace Children’s Chat Prayer of illumination Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40: 6-11 Lois Miller Sermon text: 1 John 2:12-17 : *HYMN “The Church’s One Foundation” # 321 *Apostles Creed (next to Prayer List) Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers of the people The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN “To God be the Glory” # 634 Benediction *Postlude
BIRTHDAYS: Ida Reese, Debbie Rugg, Helen Provenzano
ANNIVERSARIES: None this week SYMPATHIES: None Remember our food collection. And Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” Please let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time. We are looking for interested individuals who would like to join the choir. If you are interested, please let Don Herschell, Debbie Durila or Diana Donaldson know.
Continuing Prayer List
Chuck Dicks, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Sandy Stone, Sarah Wilson, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Ricci Amos, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Fred Wilkinson, Diane Anderson, Helen Provenzano, Donna West, Judy Donaldson, Marlene McFeely, Wendy Willard, Marley Smith, Ellen Morris, Suzy Smith, Carol Pierce, Chuck Harton, Doug Ward, Cheryl Hardway, Frank Baker, Holly Liggitt (6 yrs. old) granddaughter of Debbie Durila, Tom Miller
Gathering Around the Word
Choir Pianist: Carol Smith Announcements: CALL TO WORSHIP: The word of life has come to us. He who was with the Father before all time has come to us. Praise God for the fellowship we have as His church. Praise God for the fellowship we now can have with Him. Let us testify to the truth that we have seen and know. Draw your highest sense of joy from knowing the Lord. For what God has done, for what He is doing in us and in our world, let us worship God together. INVOCATION
*HYMN: “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” # 123
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Father, the world’s priorities are all out of whack. It elevates that which is temporary, promotes division, and values those with the most strength. At times we too have bought into that way of thinking. We have allowed insignificant differences to create significant divides, we have spent much of our time trying to obtain more and more of the things that do not last, and we have looked to a false sense of strength when You teach us that true strength comes from humility. Forgive us for the many times when we have forfeited the truth that we know, revealed to us by Your word, for the alternative offered to us by the world. We are sinful but trust that You are merciful. Transform us to be able to find all of our joy in knowing You. Amen Time of silent prayer. Assurance of Pardon Response – Gloria Patri # 581 * Passing of the peace Children’s Chat Prayer of illumination Scripture: Isaiah 2: 1-5 Lois Miller Sermon text: 1 John 1: 1-4 *HYMN “The First Nowell” # 147 *Apostles Creed (next to Prayer List) Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers of the people The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN ”Go Tell it on the Mountain” # 136 *Benediction *Postlude Safe and Happy New Year!!
Good morning!
We're so glad you chose to join us today!
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other. If you have prayer requests to share, you can add them to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use this prayer to get started.
Lord, many people and churches are going through difficult times right now, times of suffering and uncertainty, of concern and doubt. Some are experiencing personal loss and grief. Some are worried about what the future holds as society changes and as people lose interest in the organizations that used to bring us together.
Help us not to lose hope, Lord. Help us to remember that people of faith have gone through difficult times in the past. Help us to remember that you are a God who is always creating new realities for us and for our world. Looking for that new creation, we pray for the needs of our community and our world. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
This week's lesson is on Isaiah 65: 17 - 25.
Introduction
When we go through difficult times — times of uncertainty, loss and suffering — it can seem like the end of the world. It can seem as if hope is gone and we will never find happiness or the contentment we once envisioned for our lives. Such times are discouraging. But as people of faith, we believe that God can turn our situations around. Therefore, we should never lose hope completely. In 609 BC, the Babylonians captured Jerusalem and the southern kingdom of Judah, and in 597 BC and 586 BC, they took the leading citizens into captivity in Babylon. They destroyed the temple and the walls around Jerusalem, and it looked as though God’s chosen people might never return to their land. It seemed as though the Jewish people might fade from history. (The northern kingdom of Israel had already been conquered and assimilated by the Assyrians many years earlier.) Looking back, the prophets saw the Babylonian captivity as God’s punishment for the people’s idolatry and their lack of care for the poor. But in these final chapters of Isaiah, which includes today’s scripture, God speaks through Isaiah and promises restoration and renewal.
Celebrating Newness (verses 17-19)
From New Testament passages such as 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1, we see the biblical vision of God ushering in an entirely new creation at the end of time. However, when this passage speaks of God creating “a new new heavens and a new earth,” it does not refer to that event, at least not directly. Instead, it refers to “a radically different future reality” for the people who were returning from captivity in Babylon. Instead of being dominated by foreign powers and instead of living in rebellion against God, the people would live in peace and prosperity, Isaiah proclaimed. To the people of that time, this would have seemed like a new creation. It would have been almost unimaginable and even impossible. And without God’s intervention, it would have been. When that time comes, Isaiah says, the people will forget about the suffering and separation that they experienced in captivity. That is because something better and more important will have replaced it in their minds. This will be a new age with a new reality. Through Isaiah, God invites the people to celebrate God’s new creation in that age. Jerusalem — the place where God had connected with the people before it was destroyed — will be recreated. And God will join in the celebrations, and once again God will take delight in God’s people. The scene will be of joy, and tears and sadness will be a fading memory.
The New Reality (verses 20-25)
Isaiah expands on the blessings that God’s new reality will engender. Unlike during the hard times of captivity and war, people will be expected to live long lives. Infants will no longer die. So common will it be that even people who fail to reach 100 will be considered cursed. Also unlike the people who were forced into captivity, they will be able to live in the houses they built. They will also plant vineyards and stay to eat the fruit. Instead, the captives were living many miles from the homes they had built, while others took residence in their homes. In many cases, their fields and vineyards simply became the abode of wild animals and wild vegetation. All was left to whoever happened to discover it or, if no one did, to the wildlife.
Someone Else’s Home
When I was a junior in college, I got a summer internship in the US House of Representatives. I didn’t have much notice. I found out I had gotten it at the end of one week. and I told I was to be at work the next Monday. It was an opportunity that I did not want to pass up. So I bought a bus ticket and arranged for my uncle, who lived near Washington, DC, to meet me at the station. We spent the day driving around the city looking for an apartment. After going to several places and finding nothing available, at least that I could afford, we happened to meet a woman at Georgetown University who was just about to post a notice for an apartment that was available. We followed her to the building. and she showed us the room. It was a terrible place, with mattresses stacked in the middle of the floor for a bed and drawers that did not fit the dresser. But the day was almost over and the price was within my budget. I took it. My biggest concern, though, was that it appeared someone else might still be living there. There were stacks of books around the room, clothes in the closet and food in the refrigerator. Beside that, the landlady did not give me a key, but I had to wait for her to come and open up the door for me each evening. As I lay on the mattress under the single bare bulb that illuminated the room, I lived in constant concern that someone might come in one night and say the room was his. Who was this person? What happened to him? If he came back, what might he do? Those who took up residence in the rural areas of Judah may have wondered about the people who had left their homes and fields so quickly as well. Who were they? What caused them to leave so quickly and to abandon their homes and property? They probably didn’t expect them to return to their homeland. But one day, through God’s intervention, they actually did. In the new reality that God is bringing for the people of Judah, the people will reap the benefits of their labor and their children will be blessed. Not only that, but God will be so close to the people and so responsive to their needs that God will answer their prayers before they even say them. This contrasts to how God had turned away from the people in the past. Because of their mistreatment and neglect of the poor, the widows and the orphans — the most vulnerable of society -- God turned away from them. When we make God’s priorities our priorities and set aside our own selfish needs, it is easy for God to answer our prayers. Our passage concludes with a statement that represents the ideal for God’s creation and for God's people. It is a vision that we should have, even though it always eludes us. Wolves and lambs will live together, Isaiah says, and lions will be satisfied with vegetables and grain. No one and no thing will prey on another in this new reality. This has been called the vision of “the peaceable kingdom.” This ideal kingdom was not realized when the captives returned, and it has never been the reality throughout history until now. But it calls us to pursue righteousness and peace beyond what we even imagine possible.
Conclusion
Isaiah 65 is a visionary text that should inspire its readers to see beyond both past failures and the seemingly valid temptations of the present. It invites us to imagine a different world than the one we inherited, a world in which old wounds will be healed and the God-given talents of all are used to bless others. This text offers a vision of a world in which the communication between God and humanity remains open, free, and life-giving. Reading a visionary text means we have to think creatively in a biblical way. Such texts call us to use our imaginations so we can begin to see what God might be creating in our lives as individuals and churches. In such a vision, God is the one who does the recreating. The language of creation does not apply just to the beginning of time but to a new era that can emerge when people who have experienced God’s mercy embrace the possibilities of new and holy ways of life. The text of our lesson advances that move in a dramatic way. It does not portray the citizens of Jerusalem and Judah as being able, by their own power, to bring about the new world God seeks. Sometimes they fall back into the same sins that led their ancestors to lose their homeland. So if a new situation were to come about, God must be the one to bring it about. This vision of an alternative world continues to exert enormous influence on Christians today. Texts like this remind us that the current reality is neither inevitable nor the full expression of God’s plans for humankind. More is possible. Imagining that something more, and celebrating even small hints of its arrival in our everyday lives, makes the community of God’s people what it is. Prayer Creator God, who made the heavens and the earth and everything in them, create in us new hearts, new hands, and new feet so that we may think as you think, do what you give us to do, and go where you call us. Take from us the tendency to think too small and to shrink back in fear. We ask this in the name of the one who has promised to her in a new heavens and a new earth, your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Questions for Discussion
Benediction
Today's benediction is from the New International Version.
Next week's lesson is on Ezekiel 37:21-28.
Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us today!
We are back to meeting in person, and have been for a while. We would love for you to join us at 10 am on Sunday mornings if you have been reading the lesson online. During our opening time together, we take time to share any prayer requests we may have. If you have a request, you can add it as a comment to this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started.
Great Lord and merciful Father; we speak to You not by any right, but by Your invitation, for You have asked us to pray for others. Receive therefore our prayers for friends and for family, for those who suffer and those who face trials, for people who try hard to do Your will but feel that they fail. All Your people Lord, all who have been made according to Your will and who follow You, all of us need a touch of Your grace and the liberty of Your Spirit. Bless us we pray, and as we commit ourselves to You: AMEN
This week, we are starting our summer quarter. The topic will be The Righteous Reign of God. This week's lesson is on Isaiah 52:7-12.
Lesson Context
Isaiah chapters 40 through 55 is a large section with the image of a herald announcing good news. Chapter 52, of which we are reading part, is divided into five sections. The first four, through verse 12, invites exiled Israelites to return home because Babylon is about to fall to the Persians under Cyrus the Great. Zion is personified as a woman. The period of exile is depicted as one of slumber for the ancient city. A rebuilt Jerusalem would welcome home her returning children. The holy and ethical acts to which the prophets had always called the people could be embraced anew as Jerusalem was given another chance to live up to her calling and potential.
A Call to Rejoice
Paul quoted Isaiah 52:7 in Romans 10:15 as part of his discussion about the relationship between preaching and faith. The good news affects the one announcing it as well as the hearers. Paul was talking about spreading the gospel message. In Isaiah, the announcement is the good news of the return from Babylonian exile to the homeland of Israel and especially to Jerusalem. God's rule over the cosmos is celebrated and affirmed. People who believe that God reigns live in hope of the time when all the evils of the world will disappear and goodness will triumph. When the city of Jerusalem is rebuilt, everyone will see the miraculous deeds of God. Then, there will be an appropriate response of celebration and worship.
A Call for a New Exodus
The passage calls for the people to return to Jerusalem, and to bring the temple articles back with them. The temple articles had been used by the Babylonian kings for unholy purposes. The people needed to avoid unclean things in order to carry the holy articles back. The people of Israel had their first exodus when they left Egypt for the promised land. This return would be a new exodus. Our book says the second exodus contains both a departure from the past first exodus and a continuity with it. In the first exodus, the people had to quickly flee. In the second exodus, they could carefully plan, and depart when all was ready. In both cases, divine protection would be needed.
Conclusion
The greatest enemy of faith is often traced to a loss of hope. This week's text called on the people of Israel to reclaim their hope so that they could act in faith toward God. The temptation to despair undoubtedly remained strong. That is not something one can simply will away. By refreshing memories of God's saving actions of the past, Isaiah's prophetic vision of the future could be believed and acted on. The good news of God's saving work should always create a climate of gratitude, joy, desire to share the news, and generous acceptance of all who receive it. There can be no greater calling than that of bearing God's words of hope to people who are seemingly without hope. Let us celebrate the good ways in which God can use us as his vessels to transform the lives of those around us. Prayer O God, who calls us to faith, empower us to leave the comfortable and familiar for places you would have the message of your son spread. We pray in the name of that son. Amen.
Questions for Discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the New King James Version.
Next week's lesson is on Isaiah 65:17-25.
Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us today!
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other. If you have prayer requests to share, you can add them to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use this prayer to get started.
God of grace and mercy, we turn to you again as people who want to be closer to you and live as your children. Help us to remember that righteousness is not simply a matter of attending worship or Sunday school or going through any particular religious ritual. It is a matter of how we live and work and give in the world around us, and especially how we care for the poor and the oppressed in our community. Help us to live as children of light.
In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.
This week's lesson is on Isaiah 58:6-10.
Introduction
The practice of fasting is confusing for many Christians, partly because we don’t hear much about it these days and partly because Christians can fast for different reasons at different times. Some may even consider fasting to be a practice of a bygone era when it comes to spirituality. According to the Presbyterian Church (USA), fasting is for repentance and mourning for our brokenness and sin, for seeking the will of God, for preparation for baptism of catechumens or new believers, and for preparing to receive God’s Word made flesh in the paschal mystery of Easter. We can find examples of all of these purposes throughout the Bible, but the thing that unites them all is a recognition that from time to time we need to focus intently on our sinfulness, our need for God, and our need to hear God’s word and to act in response to that word. Fasting is a good practice for many times in the Christian life, but Lent is a season that combines all of biblical reasons for fasting. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is February 22 this year. During Lent, we try to get away from the distractions of life, and instead we focus on the basics, on our own mortality, and we prepare to hear and accept God’s word, particularly God’s Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. It is a deeply personal and introspective time, but it is also a time that allows us to look around us and see the needs of those who struggle to fulfill the basic needs that we may take for granted.
Lesson context
If you look at examples of fasting throughout the Bible, you will see it happens at times when people want to express deep sorrow, when people are expressing repentance, and when they have a deep desire to receive God’s word. From Moses’ 40-day fast before receiving the Law on Mount Sinai to Jesus’s 40-day fast in the wilderness to prepare for his ministry, fasting is a time of self-denial and preparation. Fasting is something that communities and entire nations can do to show their need for God’s intervention. But for those who approach fasting with the wrong motive and attitude, there is a danger that it can be done only for show. In Matthew 6, Jesus warns people not to fast in this way, not to make your fast obvious to those around you just to gain attention. That kind of fasting is insincere and goes against the true purpose of the practice. Isaiah must have seen something similar happening in his day. If you read the verses that come just before our passage for this morning, you will see that the people were fasting but they were not experiencing God’s presence or hearing God’s word. They wanted to know why. Isaiah’s answer is that they were going through the ritual of fasting, but it was not affecting their treatment of the poor and needy. They were fasting, but they were allowing injustice to continue and the poor to go hungry and naked. A fast that does not produce change within us that leads to change around us is not the kind of fast God intends.
God’s Chosen Fast (verses 6 and 7)
Our Sunday school lesson suggests that the people who were fasting during Isaiah’s time were not actively pursuing righteousness and real change but were merely taking a break from the evil habits they otherwise enjoyed. After all, the lesson points out, unscrupulous and unrighteous acts were (and still are) one way to become and remain wealthy or powerful. When Isaiah suggests the people fast by loosing other people’s chains and breaking their yoke, perhaps he was inviting them to see how they were benefitting from the injustice and pain that others in the community were experiencing. Perhaps the people of Isaiah’s time were not even fasting from their usual unjust behavior. Maybe they were simply going through the ritual of personal prayer and fasting while at the same time doing those things that contribute to the injustice and poverty around them. There is a real danger, even today, in separating our personal piety and service to the church from our way of living and doing business in our daily lives. Although we normally associate fasting with giving things up, it can also be a way of focusing on doing positive things. When I was growing up, people would often talk about taking the money saved from the meals we did not eat and donating that money to a good cause. During a fast, we may also use our time to do something positive for others in the community. Isaiah describes all of these practices in terms of lifting the burdens of others and setting slaves free. In fact, part of Isaiah’s call to fasting is “to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them….” This is the kind of fast God requires of us, a fast that not only sets aside our own daily needs but that gives us the opportunity to lift the burdens of others. During this time, we need to see that everyone in our community is, in a sense, our family and therefore they are people that we should not turn away when they are in need. Not all of the problems that people endure in society are because of systemic oppression. Sometimes, for example, people become homeless because they have untreated mental illness, addictions and simply because they experienced catastrophic financial losses. Many are elderly and without a real family support system. Regardless of how they have come to this situation or why they are unable to emerge from it, as Christians we are obliged to see them and to try to lift their burden.
A Bright Future (verses 8-10)
Isaiah’s prophecy is not just to pronounce gloom and to point out sin. It is also to assure the people that, if they commit to a fast like the one the Lord intends, they will experience God’s presence and they will become the people God wants them to be. Isaiah casts this change as moving from darkness to light. Not only will God’s light break forth on them, but they also will be people of light. Their light will shine into the world. It reminds us of the prologue to the gospel of John, where Jesus’s arrival is seen as light coming into the world. And even though not everyone accepted that light, and some tried to snuff it out, those who accept it, become children of God. In Ephesians, Paul calls such people “children of light.” Not only are Christians people who have seen the light. They are people who endeavor to live by that light and to share that light with others. If the people of Isaiah’s time would change their way of fasting and truly seek change within them and around them, they would receive healing as a people, both spiritual and physical. Isaiah assured them that they would enjoy God’s protection and God would answer their cries for help quickly. Sometimes when we feel God is not present with us or that God is not hearing or answering our prayers, it has more to do with our mental state than with God. At other times, even though God is always present with us, that sense of distance can be a call for us to examine ourselves and to bring our lives into God’s light so that we can receive forgiveness and righteousness. Again, fasting can allow us to remove the distractions and to focus on our relationship to God and how we are living as light in the world. In the case of the people of Isaiah’s time, it went back to the oppressive treatment of the poor. Isaiah calls them to stop pointing fingers and talking maliciously. Perhaps this refers to blaming particular people — or especially to speaking ill of and blaming the poor and oppressed themselves — for their situation. Perhaps Isaiah is telling everyone to take a look at themselves, to admit their own guilt and to change their ways. Isaiah concludes this portion of his prophecy by reminding his hearers that, by spending themselves in caring for the hungry and oppressed, God will indeed come to them, and they will shine like the sun at noontime. However, their fasts must be done with the right attitude, with real openness to change, and not simply for ritual or for show.
Conclusion
Isaiah pushed Israel to understand that what God deems important is not temporary willingness to fast from food but a spiritual health that leads to righteous behavior. So we might ask ourselves two questions: Do I go through ritualistic motions on a regular basis instead of allowing my heart to really be turned toward God during those practices? What “fast” might I need to undertake to align myself with the type of fasting God desires? A just and caring community will consider the “hungry” in all aspects Isaiah has already defined: food, clothing, and housing (Isaiah 58:7). How can we feel comfortable in our abundance if we know there is suffering in our neighborhoods? (1 John 3:17) It may be impossible for any one individual to meet every community need, but this does not excuse us from keeping our eyes open to the plight of others or striving to meet the needs we see. Experience has taught me that I am most successful with fasting if I practice it in community, with at least one partner. Then the limits of the fast are mutually agreed on and there is an accountability that helps keep me focused and faithful to the practice. Maybe you should seek a “fasting partner” who will share the experience and grow with you. That way you can grow in grace and truth together. (See John 1:14, 17).
Prayer
Lord God, give us hearts that seek a lifelong “fast” from the pleasures of sin and an ongoing “feast” of obedience to you. May we not be guilty of making a show out of our religious actions while having hearts of stone. Give us a character that cares about the needy, abstains from pointing fingers at others, loves and practices truth, and reflects the light of your Word. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Questions for discussion:
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the Revised Standard Version.
Next week's lesson is on Joel 2:21-27.
Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us today!
When we meet in person, we take time to share our joys and concerns from the past week. If you have any prayer requests to share, you can add them in the comments to this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started.
God, open our hearts that we may love you; open our ears that we may hear you; open our eyes that we may see you; open our minds that we may learn of you; strengthen our wills that we may serve you; in the name of Jesus, Amen.
This week's lesson is on Isaiah 48:3-8, 17.
Lesson Context
The various sections of the book of Isaiah are unified by their repeating of important themes about the Lord and his relationship to Israel. The section we are looking at is Isaiah 40-55, which is sometimes referred to as Second Isaiah. It contains the so-called Servant Songs. Sometimes the servant is understood to be the nation of Israel, while sometimes it is understood as an individual to come. This section has some consistent messages. First, Isaiah points out the absurdity of worshipping idols. Second, Isaiah emphasizes that there is no other God but the Lord. Third, Isaiah frequently notes the Lord's knowledge and control of the future. Fourth, the role of the Lord as the Creator of all things is also prominent.
The Knowing God
The Lord asserted in no uncertain terms that he was the one who foretold the former things. God's plan was not haphazardly thrown together. However, promises can seem to take a long time to be fulfilled. Think of promises like Abraham becoming the father of a great nation, or the exiles in Babylon returning to their homes. But after God made them known, they did seem to happen suddenly. Israel's stubbornness is a common thread in the nation's history. This includes descriptions like being stiffnecked, of a hard heart, and refusing to hear or see. We also see the consequences of Israel's stubbornness. When the people refused to trust God after being delivered from Egypt, none of the first generation entered the promised land. The nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms because King Rehoboam insisted on following foolish advice. Iron and bronze were the hardest metals known at the time of Isaiah. The description of a beast of burden as hardheaded as these metals was striking. An iron neck would not turn with the reins of the driver. The bronze forehead suggests a will so set that no new information or knowledge could cause a change of course. The passage repeats some ideas a few times. Repetition was a typical Hebrew writing convention. Whether word for word, with synonymous parallelism, or in other ways, repetition was used frequently to emphasize the importance of a point. Most of Isaiah's audience would have been illiterate, so words repeated over and over also helped to stick the message in the audience's heads. Attributing any action to an idol is ridiculous. And yet, Israel fell into this trap time after time. God wanted the people to admit that God had told them what was to come. Even after witnessing these things, the people were unwilling to admit it. Because of this unwillingness, God would not tell them in advance. Our book says that this means there would be a novel act, being created now. It would be a display of God's creative power at any time according to his pleasure. This way, no one could possibly say that they already knew what was going to happen. A foundational principle for Israel's relationship with God was that Israel was to "hear." They were to believe that God was the one true God, and to love God with all their heart, soul and strength. Further, they were to teach what they heard to one another and their children. The act of truly hearing the Lord always has included obedience to what he commands. As we have read over and over, the people rebelled against this often.
The Living God
Between our two sections of text, God asserted that it was for his own glory that he had not already punished Israel for all their disobedience. However, he would also not leave Babylon unpunished for what the empire had done to Judah. The last section we are reading today opens with, "This is what the Lord says." This phrase is a very common way of emphasizing that God, not the prophet, is the source of the prophet's words. God is not often depicted as a teacher in the Old Testament, though it is talked about here. We learn and grow when we do the right thing, but we also can benefit when we learn from our past sins. The only wise pathways is following the Lord, living according to his teachings. God leads the people in the way they should go. In the New Testament, it is even more striking that Jesus claims himself to be the only way, the exclusive pathway to the Father. The book of Acts also refers to the Christian faith as the way. Our faith is the very way that we live.
Conclusion
The tragedy of Israel's history is that God had revealed many things to them: his law, his will for their nation, his choices of leaders, and so on. Despite the long history of such revelations, the nation often acted as though the people did not have ears to hear. Time after time, Israel ignored the Lord's directives and warnings. We have a major advantage: we are empowered by the Spirit to grow in our relationship with the Father and become more like Jesus each day. When we do so, we will be better able to hear warnings when we are following a way not set out by the Lord. And we will have ears hearing what the Lord is doing as he calls us to join his work. Listen for the call!
Prayer
Lord God, forgive us for the times we have been too stubborn to seek you and your will for our lives. Please give us ears to hear so that we can follow your way. All this we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Questions for Discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the Psalter.
Next week's lesson is on Isaiah 58:6-10.
Good morning!
We're so glad you chose to join us today!
When we meet together, we take time to share our joys and concerns. Consider your past week. If you have any prayer requests, you can share them in the comments on this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started.
Mighty Savior, give me strength to hold on to the great blessings and wonderful gifts You have given me. Especially the blessings of Your promises, Your presence, Your peace, Your guidance, Your healing, and the gifts of salvation, faith, hope, love and eternal life. May I never forget these blessings or fail to use these gifts, and may they always be to me a proof of Your gracious love. Thank You for all You have given me: thank You, Mighty Savior. AMEN
Today's lesson is on Isaiah 43:1-4, 10-12.
This text is God’s promise to Israel. As a result of turning away from God and refusing to repent, the nation of Israel has been divided into northern and southern kingdoms. The northern kingdom was captured and dispersed by the Assyrian Empire.
Because Judah was spared, the people thought it was a sign that God would never allow Judah to fall. Isaiah called the people to repent, return to God and become witnesses for God. Unfortunately, forsaking God for a false god erodes the knowledge a person already has, and prevents growth toward God. The people refused to listen to Isaiah.
Conclusion
Although Isaiah was not believed in his own time, his words were written down. His words were considered precious by God and were preserved throughout generations. Prayer Lord, give us hearts and minds to be true witnesses of your mighty world. Thank you for how you have revealed yourself throughout history. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Thought to Remember Remember God’s works, and witness faithfully.
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the New Living Translation.
Next week's lesson will be on Isaiah 48:3-8, 17.
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