Friday, February 7, 2014

Friday, February 7, 2014

Isaiah 56:1-8

This opening text has been described by some as among one of the most inclusive promises made in the entire Bible. Frequently, the role of the foreigner found amongst the people of Israel was ambiguous. For example, Leviticus 19:34 stipulates aliens were to be protected and welcomed, while according to Ezra 9:1-4, some of the purity laws advocated the strict segregation of Israelites from other outsiders.

This passage in Isaiah reflects an inclusive salvation which constitutes an “international gathering of prayer” of many faithful peoples. The Lord would provide a radical deliverance of peoples in which the ingathering could include not only Israelite exiles, but was specifically expanded to previously excluded peoples referred to as “foreigners” and eunuchs”. 

This more generous and open acceptance can be considered as “politically unlikely,” according to Ingrid Lilly, because among these foreigners who were gathered might be found Ammonites and Moabites. These were peoples who had been traditionally interpreted as Israel’s enemy neighbours or the despised “other.” In the case of eunuchs, they had been ritually excluded from temple worship because they were considered to be blemished or impure.

However, it appears these old animosities or ritual exclusions could be overcome in this passage due to the fact that all people ‘joined in the Lord” were invited to find some common ground and worship and celebrate together despite their diverse social and political backgrounds. Can we find some inspiration today in this more accepting and inclusive vision offered here in Isaiah? Might this passage’s image of a diverse ingathering of peoples help us embrace the challenging, yet hopeful task of building reconciliation among all peoples, in part, through the use of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue? Does a faith in God and a commitment to worship the Lord also have implications for how faithful people treat each other? Isaiah is useful in getting people of faith to think about these possibilities.

-Terry Rothwell