Sunday, December 14 2014
Isaiah 13:6-13
Today's passage is a poem, attributed to Isaiah within a proclamation against Babylon . Likely it has no necessary connection with the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes but is complete in itself, coming from a pre-exilic time describing the awful Day of Yahweh (Peake's Commentary). This day was a popular hope that there would be vengence on the foes of Israel and the establishment of God's kingly rule. It would be a day of cruel slaughter on earth and cataclysms in heaven, bringing punishment to the wicked and arrogant tyrants.
But for some of us today, the later parts of the book of Isaiah from chapter 40 onwards, presents an evolution in Isaiah's understanding of God: One who will provide comfort, who will feed his flock like a shepherd, and in many ways, was laying prophetic Advent groundwork for the incarnation of God as Emmanuel, God with us... in Christ.
May this month of December be special time for our souls to ponder and cultivate a receptiveness to the mystery of a loving God... moving, stirring, & touching the face of the earth and the heavens, and our hearts and minds.
Archdeacon Ken Cardwell
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