June 15, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“‘Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?‘ says the LORD.

‘Or will I who deliver close the womb?‘ says your God.

‘Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her, so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance.’” (Isaiah 66.9-11)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

We find a powerful image presented here about Jerusalem. It is not just a city set on a hill which cannot be hidden. One of the world’s oldest cities, especially in the Middle East region as it is known today, Jerusalem was an “oasis” in the wilderness. The “Gihon Spring” at the foot of Zion was a life-giving source for the region. As the city grew around it, its fortifications became significant as did its prominence for power as a crossroads between eastern and western civilizations and cultures. Early records indicate its presence in some form as early as 3000 B.C. By 2000 to 1700 B.C., we know that it was ruled by a king named Melchizedek and named “Salem.” There were many iterations of the word in the surrounding cultures ranging from salaam, meaning peace, to shalim, meaning breast or udder. Perhaps it was this sense of Jerusalem which Jesus used to speak to those who “hungered and thirsted for righteousness” as He spoke of being “a fount of living water from which a drink would sate the thirst of those who did.” John recorded this description in the conversation between Jesus and the Woman at the Well. There is John, chapter 4, the dialogue mentions “we worship on this mountain (Mt. Gerazim near Sychar) while you worship in Jerusalem (Mt. Zion).” Jesus declared in response, “The day is coming when the true worshippers of God will not worship on this or that mountain. Rather, they will worship God in spirit and in truth as that is God’s true nature and desire.” Are we hearing the first allusion to the New Jerusalem which had long been prophesied as we read in Isaiah 66? The nurturing and nursing mother at whose breasts the true children of God will suckle is proposed as Jerusalem. She is the honored mother and wife of the eschatological groom reflecting the image of God and Israel as “husband and wife” in spiritual terms. While poetic in nature as this image is, it is a spiritual truth declared by God concerning the future of His people. We can read from the prophets the disdain God had, as in Amos, for how the leaders of Jerusalem and Israel had allowed “her” to be prostituted among the nations. In today’s terms, Israel and Jerusalem were trafficked to foreign rulers who stripped her of dignity, sacredness and righteousness. It was a vile image and remains to this day. In today’s current culture and climate, Jerusalem is being fought over and against as a political and military venue of power in the region. Reflecting back to the Samaritan woman from Sychar who confessed to Jesus “I have no husband,” we hear Jesus reply, “You have spoken the truth; the fact of the matter is that you have had five husbands and the man you are living with now is not one of them.” The implications for the woman are transformative as we consider the prophet utterance concerning the spiritual welfare of Israel, Jerusalem and her counterparts (as those in Samaria and beyond.) In her confession, there is restoration. She is remade and reborn and becomes one of those who will worship “in spirit and in truth.” She is, from the Jesus perspective, not defined by her Jewishness or the lack of it, but by her faithfulness to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. She becomes an evangelist of the gospel. Where once she “nursed” her household (to which she was more like a slave than a “significant other”) and the city (as she carried water to help support herself and the man with whom she lived) with water from one of Jacob’s wells, she now is supplying “living water which flows out of the well of spirit and truth.” This is the true reality for Jerusalem, Israel, the Temple and the Church. Reducing them to a lesser status in order to serve the needs of humanity and their various agendas profanes them all. Such profanation distorts their true identity and brings down the wrath of God upon them at His hand (and through the hands of whomever He choses.) The good news is that day will come when the New Jerusalem will take its place as God’s justice will rule and reign. There, the true worshippers of God will find rest and provision that is pure and unending. Word to wise, or those who wish today to be wise, we must remember their identity as God has always seen it and protect it, honor it and give ourselves to it. We must prepare ourselves as “bridesmaids” for God’s true bride and be ready for the day of the Groom’s return to take her to Himself.

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

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more 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 but as righteous works leading others to call Jesus Lord in faith, hope and love. AMEN.