Links for today’s readings:
Jun 8 Read: Isaiah 3-4 Listen: (4:34) Read: Psalms 97-98 Listen: (2:19)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 3.4-8
1 See now, the Lord,
the Lord Almighty,
is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah
both supply and support:
all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
2 the hero and the warrior,
the judge and the prophet,
the diviner and the elder,
3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank,
the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
4 “I will make mere youths their officials;
children will rule over them.”
5 People will oppress each other—
man against man, neighbor against neighbor.
The young will rise up against the old,
the nobody against the honored.
6 A man will seize one of his brothers
in his father’s house, and say,
“You have a cloak, you be our leader;
take charge of this heap of ruins!”
Reflection: Pillars of Society
By John Tillman
When a person is praised as “a pillar of society,” it should mean that they do good that supplies and supports the community. But when I hear this term, I’m usually reminded of crime and courtroom dramas.
When someone is described as a “pillar of society” on a police procedural show, they are usually the villain, using the term to deflect suspicion of criminal activity. “How dare you make such charges against a pillar of society!”
Isaiah wrote at a time when people would say to him and other prophets, “How dare you make such charges against the pillars of society!” Jerusalem and Judah saw themselves as God’s nation and God intended them to be pillars of wisdom and righteousness. Their kings claimed to be heroes and warriors. Their judges and prophets promised peace and safety. Their leaders declared a golden age. But it was all a smokescreen for corruption, greed, and wickedness.
Pillars of society should lift and hold things up. Instead, they pushed things down. Rather than supplying and supporting the community, they despoiled and degraded the vulnerable. Instead of elevating others, they crushed them. Instead of maintaining justice, they manipulated it. They plundered the poor to enrich themselves. (v 14) They were “grinding the faces of the poor.” (v 15)
Do we not see ourselves, our communities, our cities, and our nation in this passage? Don’t we see the poor being ground down? Corrupt leaders declaring their righteousness? Wealth accumulating in the houses of those who oppress the poor? Brazen parading of such sins? These are the sounds of pillars cracking.
God promised to knock down false “pillars of society” in Isaiah’s day. May he do it in ours. There is a courtroom where God sits as judge. There, corrupt pillars will crumble. What kind of pillars are you celebrating or leaning on? What pillars will be left?
When God knocks down false pillars, there will be widespread panic and instability. We cannot completely avoid these natural consequences, but God promised that the righteous would “enjoy the fruit of their deeds.” (v 10) We must stand ready to be true and virtuous pillars in the house of God as he intends, regardless of what happens around us (Rev 3.12; Gal 2.9; 1 Tim 3.15). We must be pillars of wisdom and righteousness, that uplift instead of crush and supply instead of steal.
Take care what kind of pillars you are celebrating and what kind of pillars you are becoming.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
You strengthen me more and more; you enfold me and comfort me. — Psalm 71.21
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: Hope Amidst Destruction
Amidst collapsing kingdoms there are always a core of survivors. May we be among them. The hopeful. The faithful. The remnant.
Read more: Ways of Canaan, Ways of Christ
The way of the world is the way of Canaan…idolizes brutality…lusts after promiscuity…sacrifices others for…personal advancement.
