Luke, Evangelist (transferred)
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 declared and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses, says the LORD.
I am God, and also henceforth I am He;
there is no one who can deliver from my hand;
I work and who can hinder it?
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Isaiah 43 comes to us from the time of defeat and restoration, exile and homecoming. After being destroyed through their hubris, Israel lost their home (~500 BC) and lost all hope. But now God is bringing hope to a people and time that considered hope simply unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteThis text begins with a summoning - God calling all peoples, including the Gentiles who worship a multitude of gods. And make no mistake, you are among those God is calling together today! God is inviting you to enter God's presence and give God your attention and truly hear God.
Could you name a time when you felt like you were in God's presence?
What helps you to feel close to God?
God then proclaims to us all that God is God, and there is no other. Israel experienced a foretelling of their homecoming from the land of exile and enslavement, and as the promise comes true in a way that convinced Israel with awe in this God who has no equal.
Martin Luther's explanation of what it means to have no other God's before God means to fear God above all else, love God above all else, and trust God above all else.
If there was one thing you feared too much, trusted more than God, or loved more than God, what might that be? Today, may you let God truly have first place in your life!