The Song of Mary Over the holidays we have time again to think about images of Mary, the mother of Jesus and also the subject of our text this morning. Traditionally, what is our picture of Mary? An innocent virgin, humble servant, surprised and disturbed by what she hears from Gabriel, frightened by losing the young Jesus who has stayed behind in Jerusalem. She is the patient mother at the wedding at Cana wisely telling the stewards to do whatever Jesus tells them and ask no questions. She is the mourning figure standing beneath the cross while Jesus is crucified and, finally, a widow adopted by John at the end.…

1. Luke has been called the writer who most presents Jesus through the eyes of women and the Gospel starts from the beginning with two women – Elizabeth and Mary. Not just two women but women in very difficult circumstances. One with no child late in life and the other with a child early in life but unmarried. There are several miracles in the Bible related to a woman not having a child. Sarah and Abraham, Rachel and Jacob, Rebekah and Isaac, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, Samson’s mother, and the Shunammite woman and her elderly husband. To be without a child is not only to be without a family or security…

I feel somewhat like I do when the kids and grandkids leave for home after a short visit. I wish I would have had more time with them.  However, I know they will be back and we will have more. On the other hand, at this stage of life I doubt if I will have another opportunity to teach Isaiah and that makes me regret we do not have more time. We barely skimmed the surface and next week we move on to the next series of lessons. As we have seen over the last several weeks, we cannot just jump into the assigned text without stepping back and seeing…

This morning we are in Isaiah 58 and, like last week, it helps to have a little context.  In Isaiah 55 the Lord invites the people to come to him and be healed. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.” “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.” “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Then in Chapter 57 he rebukes…

This morning we are looking at Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant. Let’s begin at the end of chapter 52: 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—     his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being     and his form marred beyond human likeness— 15 so he will sprinkle many nations,     and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see,     and what they have not heard, they will understand. Chapter 53 Who has believed our message     and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender…

Last week we looked at the character and role of Cyrus who had been anointed and called by God to liberate the Jews from their captivity in Babylon.  He is even referred to in the text as the (lower case) messiah and savior. He was a conqueror and king.  He was a military genius. But he was only a precursor, an opening act, for the real Messiah and Savior.  It is the king and conqueror who sets them free from their temporary exile but it is the Servant who sets them free from their captivity to sin and restores them not only to Jerusalem but also restores the whole world.…

It is safe to say if there were an album titled, “The Best of Isaiah” this chapter would be included. It would be in “The Best of the Old Testament” and even “The Best of All Literature.” While many, if not most, of us recognize it from singing or hearing it performed every Christmas as one of the high points in Handel’s “Messiah” it also contains some of the most quoted and memorable verses in all of Scripture. This is why I am reluctant even to address it this morning in the usual way.  What can anyone say about the incomprehensible – especially the incomprehensible that became flesh and dwelt…

Several weeks ago when we were told what the lessons were for this time I looked up where we would be on the Sunday before the election and uttered a little prayer, “Lord, please make it have nothing to do with the election or with political figures.” I checked out Isaiah 46 and was relieved to know it was all about idols and false gods and how there is only one God. What a relief! But then I knew there had to be some context for Chapter 46 since this is a passage where Isaiah is predicting an event, the deliverance of Judah from Babylon, that would not occur for…

Last week we looked at God’s judgement on nations surrounding Israel – especially the nation of Tyre.  What is the common denominator in their sin and their eventual downfall?  It is pride. Pride expressed as splendor, idolatry, insolence, fame and haughtiness.  What is their punishment? Shame, humiliation, and eventually destruction. Their promise has been perverted by their pride. I have been reading David French’s new book, Divided We Fall, this week and he quotes John Adams speaking to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia in 1798. While our Country remains untainted with the Principles and manners, which are now producing desolation in so many Parts of the World: while she continues…

As we have said, Isaiah is the prophet to Jerusalem and Judea while Micah is the prophet to both Judea and the Northern Kingdom. However, in chapters 13 – 23 Isaiah stretches his vision and issues a whole series of oracles and prophecies against some of the kingdoms of the world.  While the major sin of them all is pride expressed as splendor, idolatry, insolence, fame and haughtiness, it takes different forms. For some it is pride in their military strength, for others it is their economic power, and for others pride in their political systems. In each case the punishment is the same: shame, fear, destruction, devastation, bringing low,…