January 11

Isaiah 42.5-7

⁵ This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
    who gives breath to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
⁶ “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷ to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

In Isaiah 29.18-21; 35.5-6 and 61.1 we see similar promises to what is here.  Promises that Jesus points to when John the Baptist’s disciples come to Jesus, asking if Jesus is the Messiah.  But when we see the same type of promises in Isaiah 42 today we see that it is not quite the same.  Even though it would seem they are.

Here, the promise of God is that he calls us (v. 6), he holds our hand (v. 6) and he keeps us (v. 6).  Then he makes us to be the rest.  We are the covenant (v. 6), we are the light (v. 6), we open eyes (v. 7), we free captives (v. 7) and we release those in darkness (v. 7).

God is using us to do the things that Jesus points to in Luke 7.  Jesus does it, now we continue it.  It goes back to that continuing action of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus told the people that it was near and hat it was with them.  And he gives us the task of continuing to be the kingdom and bring the kingdom.

Those parables of the kingdom were more than just that we are invited.  It shows the ones that God invites, and that he sends out his servant, us, to go and find the ones who are in the out of the way places who are outcasts and unwanted anywhere else.  Bring them in and restore them with you.

The Kingdom of God continues to be the place where all are welcome.  And in so many ways, in many places, God reminds us that this is to bring in those who do not feel welcome in the world.  We have been welcomed.  We make sure that all feel welcome and are set free in the grace of God.

Song – As the Deer

Prayer

O Creator and Mighty God, you have promised strength for the weak, rest for the laborers, light for the way, grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love. O Creator and Mighty God, help us to continue in your promise.  Amen.