Description
Navigating the Season of Lent is sometimes a difficult journey because it takes effort and time to examine our relationship with Jesus. Christians over the centuries have used this time to deepen their relationship with God through engaging with the Bible narrative that follows Jesus as he walks towards Jerusalem and the Easter events.
This week we look at an older journey from the 6th century BCE. In Isaiah 55:1-9 the Israelites are also on the journey. They have lost their temple and home in Jerusalem to a powerful army and are in exile in Babylon. Todays Old Testament reading comes in the second section Isaiah called Deutero—Isaiah. This section begins at chapter 40 with ‘comfort, comfort all my people” and finishes with this beautiful song in Isaiah 55.
In Isaiah 55 the people of Israel had been in exile for four or five generations, since 578 BCE. Now this new generation yearn to be returned to the land of Israel that was given to their ancestors (as told in Exodus). The Isaiah of this later period speaks with hope and joy to the people living in exile, using vivid imagery that brings promise and confidence.
As you read through Isaiah 55 you will hear the positive and affirming tone, reflecting key elements of God’s character. Firstly, in verses 1-2, we hear about a God who is generous and gracious, with an invitation to come to a table with an ‘all you can eat and drink banquet’ that will not cost anything. Secondly, verses 3-6 tell how God is close and can be found. Thirdly, in verses 8-9 we see a God who remains as God – way beyond what we can imagine or control. We are instructed to seek God while God is near, because God’s gracious love and mercy calls us into a covenant relationship.
There are key words to focus our attention: come, listen, see, seek. Isaiah calls the people to respond in faith to Gods invitation. In Isaiah 55:1-9 the responses are in the imperative verbs of the text: listen, come, see, seek. These action responses are not to earn God’s grace, but rather to live out its call. This Season of Lent reminds us that we are not passive observers of God’s grace, rather it is something that we can respond to with our whole selves, and that we can come with joy into God’s reconciling presence.
