January 20, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Sit in silence and go into darkness, O Daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called the queen of kingdoms. I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke. You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.” (Isaiah 47.5-7)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Are we prepared? John the Baptizer was born into the world for the purpose of getting “eyes that could see to see and ears capable of hearing to hear” that Jesus of Nazareth was Lord indeed and Messiah for all. He was one “crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord and make straight the paths between you and Him.’” It should not amaze us that John had to point Jesus out to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who came to investigate his teaching on repentance, baptism and reconciliation with righteousness. He said on the occasion when Jesus came to him in the Jordan, probably near the time of Passover, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” I can imagine heads were turning from one side to the other wondering who John was talking about specifically. I wonder what criteria they used to discern which person John saw in that moment. We can cruise back through the Old Testament to consider the founding fathers of faith such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But who among them knew what they looked like? Maybe one of the prophets such as Moses, Elijah and Elisha who were said to be precursors of the Messiah is who John saw. Again, however, who knew what they looked like? Would they carry a large staff? Ride in a fiery chariot? Have a blazing countenance? Would it be one of the fine kings of Israel such as David, Solomon or Josiah who brought unity and revival to the scattered tribes of Israel and her descendants in flowing robes and jeweled diadems as signs of their office? In the absence of any images they could compare of all those great men of Israel, they were left to look upon the Pharisees and teachers of the Law with their phylacteries, tassels and sandals bearing bells to speaking of the coming and their arrival. Except their own history had caused many that day to be in the wilderness with John instead of with the priests in the Temple. Who was worthy enough to manage the fitting of the sandals of the One of God who came to dwell among them all? Imagine how uncomfortable even the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law who represented the Chief High Priest must have felt with eyes searching them, even as they may have searched one another, asking “Are you the One who is to come or should be expect another?” Even John the Baptizer himself, who was in jail by this time, would send this question to Jesus by his own remaining disciples. There remained the wondering “Are we prepared for what is coming?”

Jesus replied to John’s disciples who came to Him in the wilderness, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.” It was an authority confirmation that “Jesus was the One who was expected and John must be prepared for what was to come; as should we all.” Then turning to His own disciples and the gathering crowds drawing nearer to hear the report, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’” (re. Matthew 11) Mighty ones of God who is it that we are looking for? Are we seeking the daily Jesus who walks with us and talks with us by the promised Holy Spirit? Are we seeking the eyes of those whom we meet and greet daily to behold “Immanuel, God with us“? Are we witnessing the works of restoration and reconciliation in the midst of the works of simple compassion which bear witness to the call of Christ to “Come, follow me“? Or are we waiting for the Christ of Revelation who will come as the Warrior of Faith dressed in the full armor of God to do battle with powers, principalities, kings and kingdoms and the dark forces within the heavens riding into battle with the angel armies prepared to confront the Enemy and his followers for one final conflict? Are we looking here and there wondering “Is this the One? Is this the One?” knowing that on that day, which no one knows which, He will appear and every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus the Christ is Lord indeed! Are we prepared? Are we ready?

So, when God spoke to Isaiah and Isaiah spoke to the people everywhere from royalty to commoner, the message was clear. He said, and I will paraphrase, “You are not who you think you are. You have not acted on your own. You have no true authority except what I have granted to you and that for a purpose that is not your own. But you have decided to act upon your own volition for your own purposes. You have taken advantage of the situation which I am using to redeem My people and you through them and claimed rights and privileges which are not yours for the taking. I AM responding with all righteousness.” To whom was God speaking? I would dare say, as in the prophetic paradigm, God addressed the “anti-Christ” of Isaiah’s day and the one which is yet to come. God called “her” out as the Queen of Babylon who loved luxury and incantations. She was vile in her heart and evil in her soul. The extension of justice to include even Babylon and other such nations who held Israel captive and under the threat of death and annihilation demonstrated the sovereignty of God over all the world, over all the earth and beyond. The identification of “the queen” with a definitive female image becomes of those “hard things” which God declared because it does not fit our image. Or does it? As we look at the world today and the transition of authority in family, community, governments, industry, social systems and nations from male to female (and dare I say to multi-gender by whatever designation is chosen), are we not aware of the move away from the created image by which God first moved to redeem all creation? Are we not at least entertaining the idea of the creation of an image of life which represents a false faith, a false belief, a false righteousness which stands against the God of creation and the Lord of Life in whose image it was created by and through from the beginning? Yes, I know that this reflection and perspective will not bode well with many. It will be rejected by many. The truth will remain, however, that God has warned us and sent into the world His Own Word that we might not only hear and believe (“Let those with ears to hear perceive the truth.“) but also see it and believe (“Let those with eyes to see be convinced.“). His first coming was as the teacher and prophet of the gospel for which He laid down His life that we might receive it as truth for ourselves and be liberated from the folly of sin which seeks to rule the world in which we live. His second coming will not be so generous and “the Way will be made straight,” “the Truth will be unequivocally known,” and “the Life which is promised in all its consequences will be granted.” Believe what you want to believe, mighty ones of God, and receive what it is that you have truly asked. The question is, has been and will be “Are you ready? He is the One who will come; there will be no other.“

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more real than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.