Links for today’s readings:
Jul 15 Read: Isaiah 44 Listen: (5:12) Read: Psalms 110-111 Listen: (1:57)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 44:1-5, 23
1 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and will take the name Israel.
23 Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
shout aloud, you earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees,
for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
he displays his glory in Israel.
Reflection: Commitment Embodied
By Erin Newton
I have been part of multiple churches in my life. With each one, there have been a variety of ways to become a member. Two required classes. Others required a written statement of faith. Another, an interview. One didn’t do anything for membership; it was assumed that those in attendance agreed to be members. The concept behind these methods was to establish a relationship between the person and the congregation and its staff.
Leaving a church has also been done through a variety of methods. One church only noticed when we stopped our tithe. Most we simply met with the pastor. One required more steps and involved the congregation.
The methods of joining and leaving simply reflect the idea of commitment. How would you define “commitment”? Maybe you think of the words: agreement, perseverance, unwavering, steadfast, staying true to one’s word, or mutuality?
Isaiah 44 speaks of God’s commitment to his people and their reciprocal commitment to God. God heralds the reality that he chose his people, he keeps his people, he protects his people, and he nourishes his people. He is the embodiment of what it means to be committed.
Israel, at this point in time, has her many flaws. But in the end, she still identifies as “the Lord’s.” The commitment (though flawed on the human side) is full of hope and encouragement.
So often we can think little of ourselves and too much of our failures. How could God love me now? We wonder. Isaiah 44 reminds us that God is fully committed—committed to us, to our well-being, to our future.
The hymn, “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go,” echoes the faithfulness of God that we see in Isaiah 44. This powerful hymn details the consistency of God and the pursuit God has for his people. Take a moment to read and listen to these words:
O love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Joy that seekest me thru’ pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow thru’ the rain
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
Love will not let you go. Give back to him the life you owe. Trace the rainbow through the rain.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
O God of hosts, show us the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. — Psalm 80.7
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: Weighed and Found Wanting
But there is more to the meaning of the phrase than an ominous warning. The writing on the wall is all about pride and gold.
Read more: Walk-on Roles
God is working even when you don’t see it. Much of what God does is outside of our limited knowledge…he is doing something we can’t see.
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