Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
When Ritual Sacrifice Equals Fervent Patriotism
Oh, how astounding that the LORD —
Although with firm conviction
That doing justly, everyone
Is full of dereliction —
Yet, offers still to argue out
Just how they’ve failed their duty,
Thus stating their relationship
Remains a thing of beauty.
Isaiah makes it clear the LORD,
Not he, is the accuser;
‘Though stating forcefully the case,
The prophet’s no abuser.
In love, now let the church proclaim
Our patriotic fervor’s
No substitute for doing good,
Nor national preserver.
Scott L. Barton
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning
Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of
Judah.
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to
the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of
your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs,
or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand?
Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an
abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation— I cannot
endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed
festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing
them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even
though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of
your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek
justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come
now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become
like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth
of the LORD has spoken.
+ + +
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Jules Breton: The Song of the Lark (1884)
Art Institute of Chicago
Second Person Plural
Oh, what audacity is faith,
Believing what you do not see,
Some land, some city, up ahead,
No more adrift, at odds, at sea.
And though you wonder how on earth
You'll generate the world you need,
You still, by faith, will act, because
The love of God now supersedes
The country that you left behind:
The promise is for all, not one,
You're part of something bigger now,
Where faith means that you’ve just begun.
Scott L. Barton
(2016)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received
approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of
God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
By faith
Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive
as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he
stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land,
living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same
promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose
architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even
though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him
faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as
dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the
innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
All of these died in faith without
having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them.
They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people
who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they
had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had
opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a
heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he
has prepared a city for them.
+ + +
Luke 12:32-40
Gird Up Your Loins
"Gird up your loins!" as students we'd say,
Which meant, be prepared, or else, in dismay,
You'd find that a paper, or else a big test,
Would cause you to trip, since you were not dressed
To run your next race - or preach a good word;
Then, girding up loins also meant to be spurred
To walk into the pulpit and be not afraid!
"Gird" also means "belt," and thus
fasten your blade,
To do battle with powers who’d make us believe
Our treasures we make, and not simply receive;
And finally, "loins" means it's not about
"me,"
But those who come after, who through me might see
That believing means trusting the master to give
What I hardly expect! But receiving, I live
For the sake of the One who has taught me how grace
Is the treasure of this oft afraid human race.
Scott L. Barton
(2013)
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms.
Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.
“Let your loins be girded and have your lamps lit; be like
those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so
that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are
those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he
will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve
them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them
so, blessed are those slaves.
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what
hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You
also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
[Note: I have substituted the KJV and RSV's more literal
"Let your loins be girded" for the NRSV's "Be dressed for
action" in vs. 35.]
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