Friday 03 February 2012

Background

Traditional scholarship divides the book of Isaiah into threeparts, with many shared themes but dating from three periods ofIsrael's history. This chapter ends the second part, reflectingfrom exile on the sufferings of Israel and the promise ofreturn.

Many times Isaiah has brought us back to his vision of the momentof return. Now he turns his attention to 'the morning after': whatwill life be like in this renewed kingdom?

Centrally, it will depend on "an everlasting covenant" (v. 3), andthe content of this is God's unshakeable love for David.

The Old Testament tells the story of David 'as is', warts and all.God loves him unshakeably despite all that goes wrong in his life:the violence, the deceit, the immorality (2Samuel 11-12). Things have gone badly wrong for Israel too, andsexual immorality is a common image for their sin (Hosea2); but God's promise is to love them despite all this. Hencethe assurance of mercy and pardon for the wicked who repent (verse7); this is, first of all, Israel's story of a relationship thatsurvives despite everything because of the solid rock of God'slove. God loves where humans would be quick to condemn.

Generally, the Old Testament refers to David as a great king (Jeremiah 30:9), but here, Isaiah focuses on twodifferent aspects. He was a witness and a leader, to "the peoples"(v. 4) - not the people of Israel, but the other nations, theoutsiders. Is this going to define Israel's role - is this whatGod's covenant love is for? Verse 5 suggests so, and the lastwriter whose work is included in Isaiah comes back to this themeover and over again (eg Isaiah56:3-8). Even though Israel has had such a hard time withdominant foreigners, the call is to witness and lead. God includeswhere humans would be quick to exclude.

And beyond this, there is to be a renewal of creation itself. WhenAdam and Eve disobeyed God, their punishment was partly thehardship of labour to produce their food (Genesis3:17-19). In God's generosity, the land will be fertile andbeautiful once again (verses 12-13), and exploitative economicsystems will therefore be obsolete - there will be no shortage, sono need to exchange hard-earned cash for daily food and drink(verses 1-2; similarly inJohn4:10). God offers freely where humans would be quick to seekprofit.

And at the root of all this is God's word, as effective as rainsoaking the ground (Psalm 65:9-10). God's word was the tool ofcreation in the beginning; now God's people are reassured that theyneed not doubt its ongoing power.

To Ponder

Are there ways in which we can make sense todayof God's challenge to the economic status quo? If so, what arethey?

"Why do you spend your money for that which isnot bread?" (v. 2)