Monday 30 January 2012
- Bible Book:
- Isaiah
"You have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth." (v. 13)
Background
This passage is a dialogue between God's suffering people(verses 9-11) and God (verses 12-23). God's people are in exile inBabylon, struggling to maintain their identity and theirrelationship with God. So they challenge God to pay attention tothem - wake up and take notice of us!
Into the dialogue are woven memories of God's powerful pastactions. Creation itself is God's work, described very physically -stretching the canvas of a tent, laying the foundations of abuilding, defeating the primeval chaos dragon (verse 9;
Some of these memories provide a basis for Israel's passionatechallenge to God. God is powerful - so why is there no reaction toIsrael's suffering? Is God asleep? Or not care anymore?
God's response is just as passionate, and just as dependent onremembering God's own mighty deeds. God acknowledges that the wrathpoured out on the people, and describes their sufferingsgraphically - staggering like someone ill (verse 17), lost withouta guide (verse 18), flat on the ground like a trapped antelope(verse 20).
What do these memories achieve? Are they just memories of timespast? For the people, perhaps yes - this is how things used to be,but now it is all different. But for God, memory is an active,dynamic representation of how God is now. Nothing has changed - Godis still the God of creation and redemption, even if the peoplehave forgotten that the living power still wielded.
But now God's power is turned against those who have oppressed themand treated them like doormats (verse 23). No-one should treatothers in this way, and God reassures the people that theirsuffering at the hands of their uncaring oppressors will beavenged. And so God challenges them to stand upright once again(verse 17) - the verb in Hebrew is from the same root as theirchallenge in verse 9. "Awake!" they say to God. "Rouse yourself!"is the reply.
And power underwrites love. God's people can rest secure in God'slove, and hand overshadowing them to protect and comfort (verse16). This too is guaranteed by God's power - so why are they soafraid? Ultimately, God's power is a source of comfort; the peopleare safe now, even in Babylon, and they will be set free in God'sgood time.
To Ponder
Who are the 'doormats' of our society? And whoare the tormentors?
What are the memories that give you strength andhope for the future?