Tinkering in the Scripture - Pt 3

Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.” And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength— he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:1-6 ESV). It is good news that Jesus came to redeem us. However, there is more to this provision of God than that. The message of God’s choice is always accompanied with his purpose in the choice to all peoples. Our reading today helps with that background. When Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, his listeners knew they were no ordinary people. Israel’s Scriptures revealed a persistent, though oft-neglected, theme that they existed for a purpose greater than themselves. God told Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (cf. Genesis 12:3). Isaiah declared this truth clearly. Of course the ultimate fulfillment of this promise came with the birth of Jesus and his work of grace. The Jews of Jesus’ day had two kings: one Roman and the other Jewish. Caesar was a pagan, and Herod was viewed as a corrupt collaborator. This situation was a disaster! The effects of such godless leadership were felt throughout the land. Though Israel’s geographical exile was over, a state of spiritual exile continued. Many Jews longed for a full return; they desired for God to bring his sovereignty to bear upon Israel and the world, putting things right once and for all. They wanted, in the words of their oft-repeated revolutionary slogan, “No king but God.” In the midst of their despair, the Jews had promises to which they could cling. Through his prophets, God had pledged that he would defeat the evil powers that opposed his people and would himself return to dwell among them in the temple. Streams of living water would flow out from his dwelling place, making even the Dead Sea fresh. His people would experience comfort, forgiveness, peace and prosperity, and the inhabitants of many nations would flock to Jerusalem to seek God. When Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God was at hand, that meant each of these promises was somehow being fulfilled! As I tinker with this incredible thought, I am forced to look to the deeper blessing of being a part of God’s chosen people. It is not a requirement for being his people; it is a privilege that I am now able to show others what I have found. The first time I took that new rifle out to shoot, my friend showed me the short-cuts. Though I had explored it, I would never have found the “extras” without his help. We are those people who can help others find the wonders of the calling of God into His kingdom. That makes today’s journey a lot more purposeful, doesn’t it?