Monday 31 March 2014

Background

The suggested passage ends rather oddly at verse 21, and you mayfind it helpful to read on to the end ofthe chapter.

It is a vision of the glorious future God promises for God'speople. Of course it is an idealised picture, of untroubled peopleliving to an immense age, of a land untroubled by conflict in whichhouses and farms are destroyed or occupied by an invader, and(verse 25) in which nature is no longer 'red in tooth and claw' (achange which would involve a transformation of the digestivesystems of carnivorous creatures!). But it is a vision whichresonates with our longings. Who does not long for a world in whichthere is no infant mortality or other premature death and in whichwar does not exist?

The vision focuses on Jerusalem, God's city, and is addressed tothe people of Israel. In Revelation chapters 21-22 it is taken up andgiven a wider application. Notice however that it is a this-worldlyvision, of the world we know re-made and transformed by God, not aheavenly, spiritual realm. Work and relationships, birth and death(even if long delayed, compare verse 20a), are continuing features.What is portrayed however is a gift of God; it is not described asa human achievement.

To Ponder

• "The former things shall not be remembered or come to mind" (v.17). Is this always possible - or even desirable? Why?

• To what extent is this vision something to be worked for, orentirely a gift to be waited for, as the passage seems tosuggest?

• What might today's world look like if this vision cametrue?