Saturday 21 June 2025
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” (v. 8)
Background
This passage reflects this week’s theme 'One in love, one in splendour'. The majesty and holiness of God are clear. At the same time God’s love is evident: we see Isaiah’s woe at his sinfulness blotted out and washed away.
Isaiah was a Hebrew prophet in the 8th century BC. With the possible exception of the Psalms, the book of Isaiah is quoted in the New Testament more than any other book in the Bible. In his book The Fifth Gospel: Isaiah in the history of Christianity Professor John Sawyer claims Isaiah is quoted 46 times in the gospels, 30 times in Paul's writings and 30 or more times in the book of Revelation.
It's no surprise then that theologians have always found Isaiah important. Saint Jerome suggested Isaiah should be called an evangelist not a prophet because he described the mysteries of Christ and the Church so clearly. Reformation figures such as Martin Luther found Isaiah’s proclamation of the eternal word of God (Isaiah 40:8) very important for Bible-centred faith. More recently liberation theologians have seen in Isaiah a prophet of peace and justice while feminist theologians draw positive female imagery from chapters 40-55 and 56-66.
Alongside God’s splendour, holiness and swift forgiveness, today's passage is also about Isaiah’s calling. Isaiah’s response "Here I am" (v. 8) is reminiscent of Moses (Exodus 3:4) and Samuel (3:4). In her book Calling in Context Susan Maros suggests there is a common understanding of what a typical calling looks like. She identifies five stages: God as caller, whose task is to call, with the individual as the one who is called, and who then recognises that call, and the call is confirmed. This is similar to what we read in Isaiah. But God can call individuals to him in different ways. This is important – if God only calls people in one way there’s a risk the call might be missed, the test failed. Alternatively, God’s call may be ignored if the listener is waiting for the five stages.
To Ponder:
- In what different ways does God call people in the Bible?
- How has God called you in the past and how is God calling you now?
Prayer
Holy and glorious God, you blot out our wrong-doing and call us to join in your work. Help us to answer your call. Amen.
Bible notes author: Dr Tom Lunt
Dr Tom Lunt is a Methodist local preacher, prison chaplain and lecturer. He lives with his wife Liz in East Sussex.