December 7, 2008

The prophet Isaiah wrote a long time ago to people halfway around the world. And, in fact, there is not just one prophet who wrote this book, but two prophets from two different times who contributed to this important piece of our prophetic tradition. First Isaiah, chapters 1-39, was written by the prophet in the years 742 to 701 before Christ. It was written during a time when the Assyrian Empire to the north was breathing down their necks and eventually invaded them and took them over. It was a tumultuous and fearful time and Isaiah's task was to interpret this invasion for the Israelite people. The Israelites are blamed for their downfall - for not being faithful enough, for being haughty and uncaring toward the downtrodden. Sprinkled throughout the first 39 chapters of Isaiah are hints of a Messiah who is to come and a righteous remnant who will return to restore Israel. There are inklings of hope in the first part of this prophet book, but a lot of warning of approaching destruction.

Today we start what is known as Second Isaiah, chapters 40-66, written 200 years later, during the time of Cyrus of Persia. Completely different time in history; the Babylonians from the east have invaded southern Israel and deported many of the leading citizens to Babylon for fifty years. Many people remained in southern Israel during that time, but the economy was disrupted and they were an occupied people. Again, some prophets interpreted these events to be a judgment on the people of Israel, saying that they had brought these catastrophic events on themselves. Yet, Second Isaiah says otherwise. Instead, as Professor Kathleen O'Connor writes, Second Isaiah is "exquisite poetry" that "emerges in the decades after the invasion like a healing, life-creating song. It seeks to bring back to life a people crushed under a shroud of death?" Second Isaiah "imagines a nation restored, a city rebuilt, and a people reunited..." (Feasting on the Word, by Bartlett and Taylor, Eds. p. 27)

It is important when reading the Bible to always put the words into context. They have a different meaning when we know the historical situation or the cultural context of the words. "Comfort, O comfort my people" has even more impact when you compare it to the other prophets like Jeremiah or Ezekiel who simply accuse the people of bringing this catastrophe on themselves. When we hear that Isaiah used the words of a voice crying out in the wilderness, we remember this when John the Baptist comes many years later, heralding the presence of God's Messiah. Images of God's comfort and consolation contrasted with waiting and wandering in the wilderness is an image that has been around for a very long time.

But the Bible is not just about a time long ago. It is meant to speak to all people in all times. We, as people of faith, are challenged to listen to the words in their original context, and then place them in our lives and listen for their meaning.

The words for today speak of God's compassionate voice to those who have had everything taken away - to people in all places who have been disrupted and displaced, invaded and trampled, removed to foreign lands and stripped of their dignity and basic livelihood. And it is not just political oppression but it is the despair of disease and economic despair, personal grief and violence.