Isaiah’s Dream
Today we begin the season of Advent, a season of marking the days as we remember the birth of Jesus and await the second coming of Christ. One of the words we associate most with Advent and Christmas is “peace.” “Peace on earth, good will toward men,” the angels say in the old King James version of Luke’s story about the birth of Jesus. We sing joyously in Christmas carols of Jesus “the Prince of Peace.” However, the mood in our country today and around the world is probably closer to the feeling expressed in the song, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, who mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear….Bid envy, strife, and sorrow cease, fill all the world with heaven’s peace.”
November 30, 2014
Isaiah 2:1-5, Isaiah’s Dream
Doug Scalise, Brewster Baptist Church
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Mourning, tears, grief, disappointment, anger, frustration are some of the emotions being expressed and experienced in our country this week. In the wake of the violence and mistrust that is such a part of our national life which has been seen most recently in Ferguson, Missouri, but has been played out in community after community across our land for years, peace is something that is desired yet elusive.
In the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter one is filled with words of judgment and doom on God’s people because of their sin. The prophet says the people’s injustice, corruption, evil, indifference, selfishness, and lack of caring for the widows and orphans is going to result in devastation and destruction. Sadly God’s charges against the people then are still an accurate description today. After the judgment and gloom of chapter one there is this vision of a future of peace in chapter two.
“The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
Isaiah’s prophecy beautifully expresses the dream of peace with justice among nations and all people seeking to live in according to God’s ways. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed his message to the nation of Judah and its capital of Jerusalem from around 742 until 701 B.C., during the critical period when the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire. During most of Isaiah’s lifetime, Judah lived under the threat of Assyrian domination. The word Isaiah saw is a dream of the time when God’s promise of salvation will be a reality, not just for the house of Jacob, but for all nations. This dream of peace and an end to conflict is all the more poignant because it was first expressed to people who were facing a serious threat of invasion by a far superior military foe. For the Jewish people, that dream surely must have seemed totally shattered a little more than 100 years later when the Babylonians came and conquered Jerusalem and reduced the Temple to ashes.
Isaiah’s dream of peace with justice between nations still has very relevant appeal as the Israelis and Palestinians continue to kill each other, as fighting, injustice, oppression and blood shed are a part of the lives of millions of people in nations small and large around the globe including our own. Isaiah’s hope that history will reach a climax in the reign of God that will transform the existing conditions from violence and conflict to unity and peace seems as appealing as it does unattainable. When we contemplate how elusive true peace is even within our own families or our immediate relationships with people with whom we have a great deal in common, the dream of peace that Isaiah longs for and envisions seems impossible. But certainly there is no hope of peace or even improvement if God’s people do not speak with the prophet of God’s will for an end to war and violence. Isaiah says such a time will only be possible when God is universally recognized and obeyed and God judges the disputes between nations and resolve their differences so that peace can be established and maintained.
Until that day comes, we are to do what we can to help God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and God’s will is for Shalom, for peace and harmonious relationships. People are easily distracted from the hard work of peace, forgiveness, truly seeking to understand another person, and reconciliation. Robert Wuthnow, director for the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University said: “We are in some ways a very religious country, especially compared to Western Europe. But we’re of two minds, and the other mind is that we really are pretty secular. We are very much a country of consumers and shoppers, and we’re quite materialistic. And as long as we can kind of paste together a sense of control through our ordinary work and our ordinary purchases, we’re pretty happy to do that.”
It’s quite ironic that the day after we give thanks for all our blessings Americans went out spent over $9 billion dollars in stores buying more stuff most of which we don’t really need. In a Peanuts comic strip Lucy and Linus have a wishbone and are going to pull it to make a wish. Lucy explains to her younger brother that if he gets the bigger half of the wishbone his wish will come true. Linus says, “Do I have to say the wish out loud?” Lucy replies, “Of course. If you don’t say it out loud it won’t come true.” So Lucy goes ahead and makes her wish first. “I wish for four new sweaters, a new bike, a new pair of skates, a new dress, and one hundred dollars.” Then it’s time for Linus to make his wish. He says, “I wish for a long life for all of my friends, I wish for world peace, I wish for great advancements in medical research.” In the final scene, Lucy takes the wishbone and throws it away, saying, “Linus, that’s the problem with you. You’re always spoiling everything.”
As we try to make sense of the world in which we’re living as we approach Christmas in the coming weeks, Lucy and Linus represent two different ways of experiencing the season, of looking at life, even of praying. One is turned inward and the other outward. Everything Lucy asks for is for herself; Linus has a greater, other-driven sense of vision. Lucy is materialistic. Linus is spiritual. Lucy thinks small, Linus like Isaiah, dreams big.
One of our family’s favorite Christmas movies is the 1947 classic Miracle On 34th Street. Maureen O’Hara portrays a single mother who is trying to cope after her dreams of a happy marriage had been dashed. She is working full-time and caring for her young daughter played by Natalie Wood. Her life experience has made her cynical and hard. She has no trust, no faith, no dreams, no stories that touch her heart, nor does she share any with her daughter. Through the help of friends she slowly has to learn to believe again even when people and life let you down. She also has to teach her daughter to believe as well, even though she thinks “it’s silly.” As the film concludes the mother and daughter, accompanied by “Uncle Fred,” the attorney who has befriended them are returning to the city from a Christmas morning party (in worship we watched the final 2:20 of the movie – in which little Suzie enthusiastically comes to “believe.”
In life things don’t usually turn out as neatly as they do in a movie. However, the need to have faith and to believe in people and in God is vital to meaningful life and peaceful relationships. We may not be able to get the Palestinians and Israelis to sit down together and to negotiate a just and lasting peace; we may not be able to bridge the racial divide between so many whites and blacks in the United States, but we can ask ourselves in any arena of relationship, “How am I seeking to be part of the solution and not part of the problem of division, conflict, and violence?”
Paul wrote to the Christians struggling to be a faithful church in Ephesus, “I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” How different is any person’s life in attitude, speech, and behavior who seeks to do these things with God’s help? How much bad behavior would be prevented by first asking ourselves these questions: “Is this worthy of Christ? Is it humble and gentle? Does this reflect patience and forbearance? Does it embody unity and peace?” Most people would have avoided some painful or regretful moments or choices if they’d ask themselves these questions before they acted or spoke. Jesus said, (Matthew 5:9), “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” There is a great need in the world for peacemakers. I read a lot of articles and stories this week in the aftermath of the grand jury decision regarding Officer Darren Wilson and Michael Brown. The view I appreciated the most was written by former Patriot and current New Orleans Saint Tight End Benjamin Watson. He wrote: “At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts:
I’M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.
I’M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from the safety of movie sets and music studios.
I’M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I’m a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon as a “threat” to those who don’t know me. So I will continue to have to go the extra mile to earn the benefit of the doubt.
I’M EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protests, and law breaking only confirm, and in the minds of many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment.
I’M SAD, because another young life was lost from his family, the racial divide has widened, a community is in shambles, accusations, insensitivity hurt and hatred are boiling over, and we may never know the truth about what happened that day.
I’M SYMPATHETIC, because I wasn’t there so I don’t know exactly what happened. Maybe Darren Wilson acted within his rights and duty as an officer of the law and killed Michael Brown in self-defense like any of us would in the circumstance. Now he has to fear the backlash against himself and his loved ones when he was only doing his job. What a horrible thing to endure. OR maybe he provoked Michael and ignited the series of events that led to him eventually murdering the young man to prove a point.
I’M OFFENDED, because of the insulting comments I’ve seen that are not only insensitive but dismissive to the painful experiences of others.
I’M CONFUSED, because I don’t know why it’s so hard to obey a policeman. You will not win! And I don’t know why some policemen abuse their power. Power is a responsibility, not a weapon to brandish and lord over the populace.
I’M INTROSPECTIVE, because sometimes I want to take “our” side without looking at the facts in situations like these. Sometimes I feel like it’s us against them. Sometimes I’m just as prejudiced as people I point fingers at. And that’s not right. How can I look at white skin and make assumptions but not want assumptions made about me? That’s not right.
I’M HOPELESS, because I’ve lived long enough to expect things like this to continue to happen. I’m not surprised and at some point my little children are going to inherit the weight of being a minority and all that it entails.
I’M HOPEFUL, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it’s a beautiful thing.
I’M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I’M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that’s capable of looking past the outward and seeing what’s truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It’s the Gospel. So, finally, I’M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.”
I appreciate Benjamin Watson’s articulate perspective. I want to encourage you to be thinking about peace. How peaceful are you feeling today? Why? What about your relationships within your family? Or your relationships with other people at work, school, or church? What about relationships with people who are different than you are? Do we have any? We may not have much influence on peace on an international scale, but how might you and I act and speak in ways that encourage peace with justice? One thing we all have in common is our need for the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus.
The Christmas season is when we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace, and we pray that everyone in our family will get along peacefully. We all have hopes and dreams about how this season will be, we wonder if this year it will be, “Bah, humbug!” or “Peace on Earth Good will toward men and women and children.”
As we approach the stress, joy, grief, celebration, loneliness, and excitement of Christmas my prayer is that God will visit us through worship, angels, dreams, music, prayers, scripture and story in a way that lifts us out of our present experience so that God may dream the Lord’s dream for us within us this Christmas season.
Prayer: Lord, so many people are in pain,
Teach us the way to peace.
When people around us don’t agree and think differently,
Lord, teach us to listen and understand.
When we see people getting hurt,
Lord, teach us to speak up.
When we see people who are hungry and poor,
Lord, teach us to give to them like you give to us.
When we see people treated poorly because of their skin color or language,
Lord, teach us to be an example of love.
When we see war and conflict around the world,
Lord, teach us how to make a difference and bring peace.
When we see pain,
Lord, teach us to bring healing.
When we feel low and things don’t seem to be going well,
Lord, teach us to talk to our friends, our family and to you.
When we stop and see all you have given us.
Lord, teach us to be thankful.
In our lives, our neighborhoods and the world
Lord, teach us to pray and teach us the way to peace.
~ from Litanies and Prayers for Peace and Justice, posted on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America website
Blessing: Lord, we pray for the power to be gentle, the strength to be forgiving,
the patience to be understanding, and the endurance to accept the consequences
of holding to what we believe to be right. May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred. We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence. Help us to devote our whole life, thought and energy to the task of making peace, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfill the destiny for which we were created. — from the Week of Prayer for World Peace, 1978
Isaiah’s Dream, Isaiah 2:1-5
Questions for Reflection or Discussion
- Why do you think peace has proved so elusive throughout human history?
- Why do people yearn and long for peace? What are the benefits that come with peace?
- How peaceful are your most significant relationships (with family, friends, at work)? If we struggle to live peacefully and in harmony with those we have a great deal in common with; should we be surprised that people of different nations and religions with very different world views have such a difficult time even sitting down to talk, much less finding peaceful solutions? What do you think can be done, if anything, to help in situations of deep and lasting conflict (such as between Israel and Palestine or Sunni and Shia Muslims)?
- Isaiah’s magnificent prophecy beautifully expresses the promise and longing for peace with justice among nations. How do we go on believing when what is described seems more like an impossible dream than a likely reality?
- When Jesus was born, the angel proclaimed, “Peace on earth and good will to all people.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” What can you do to be more of an instrument of God’s peace on a daily basis?