ISSL Reflections January 8 2023 Isaiah 43:1–4, 10–12 Post 1

I.
Here we are at the beginning of a “new” year. Right? This past Sunday was “New Year’s Day.” It must have been so – didn’t we hear fireworks as the new year arrived? I wonder, are the fireworks to celebrate the start of a new year or the end of the year just past?

Well, in any case, as we come to this first week of this year we are presented with a word from the prophet Isaiah. And maybe not just any words, but very spirited and profound words with great claims for God and God’s people.

So as we start to find a path for ourselves in this year, take a moment to be still, to rest, to take several deep relaxing breaths, and then when you are ready to listen and hear the prophet speak, slowly read and hear his words to you.

II.
Isaiah 43:1-12 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

But now thus says the Lord,
       he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
       I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
       and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
       and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
       Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight
       and honored and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
       nations in exchange for your life.

Do not fear, for I am with you;
       I will bring your offspring from the east,
       and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
       and to the south, “Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
       and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
       whom I created for my glory,
       whom I formed and made.”

Bring forth the people who are blind yet have eyes,
       who are deaf yet have ears!
Let all the nations gather together,
       and let the peoples assemble.
Who among them declared this
       and foretold to us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,
       and let them hear and say, “It is true.”

You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
       and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
       and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
       nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
       and besides me there is no savior.
I am the one who declared and saved and proclaimed,
       not some strange god among you;
       you are my witnesses, says the Lord, and I am God.

III.
What did you hear?

Did you hear claims about who God is?

Did you hear promises of what life God desires for his family?

Take those two questions and read the prophet’s words again and when a word, a phrase, or a sentence gives you pause, then stop and stay with that word or image and take note of how it captures your attention.

How do you respond to that word?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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