ISAIAH 43:16-21
THE BACKGROUND
This passage from Isaiah was written during Babylonian exile. God’s people had been displaced from their homes in the Promised Land, and were living hundreds of miles away. The outlook was hopeless. There seemed to be no chance of ever returning home. But then, God spoke these words to Isaiah.
THE DETAIL
- “Thus says the Lord” is a cue from Isaiah that these words are not his, but God’s. Isaiah is merely the messenger. (v. 16a)
- God reminds His people of a former time. It was another hopeless time, when the Israelites were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. Conventional thinking would place the Israelites there forever. But God rescued his people, exterminating the Egyptian army in the process. (vv. 16b-17)
- As soon as God recalls this saving act, He tells them to forget about it. Why? Because He’s going to do it again! He says “What’s the matter? Can’t you see it happening before your eyes?” (vv. 18-19)
- And God will provide water for the journey, just like He did on the journey from Egypt. He is so worthy of praise that even the wild animals honor him! (v. 20)
- Why is He doing this? Because He loves His own, so that they might praise him. (v. 21)
THE TAKEAWAY
God is capable of doing the impossible. He reminded those hopeless souls in Babylon that he loves them, and will save them. He reminds you and me of this still today.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
When our lives seem hopeless, we need to remember that God is in control. We need to keep the faith—God’s got this!
PHILIPPIANS 3:4b-14
THE BACKGROUND
The church in Philippi had been established by Paul. Later on, after Paul left, some Jewish Christians insisted that these Gentile Christians must be circumcised like their Jewish Christian brethren. The question in today’s passage is about what is important; what is it that “saves” us. Is it our ritual traditions or something else?
THE DETAIL
- Paul starts out by stating that if anybody has “Jewish bragging rights”, it should be him. (v. 4b)
- He rattles of his list of qualifications for these “rights” (vv. 5-6)
- Then, Paul states that these qualifications are worthless. I love The Message’s translation of verse 7: “…I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash… all the things that I thought were important are gone from my life.”
- He says that compared to the value of knowing Jesus, everything else is rubbish. (v. 8)
- The righteousness discussed in verse 9 has to do with how we live our lives. Paul is saying that he no longer lives his life trying to obey the Law of Moses. Instead, he lives his life based on faith in Jesus. Then, his life-actions become an embodiment of God’s mercy and justice in the world around him.
- The next verses are interesting, in that even Paul finds his faith journey continuous. He is ever struggling, ever striving, ever improving in faith and hope. Verses 13b-14a are a beautiful summary of this struggle: “…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on…” (vv. 10-14)
THE TAKEAWAY
I’ve heard people brag about being Lutheran their whole lives, or being “Baptist to the bone”. Paul is talking, at least a little, to them. What matters most is having a sincere faith; a faith that recognizes that there is no end to the improvement that we can make. We must be like Paul, straining forward in faith to the heavenly call of God.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Each denomination has unique ways of expressing their faith and ways of praising God. Each is precious to those of that denomination. But we must remember that what is most important in our relationship with God is our faith. All the detailed practices of our particular denomination aren’t exactly “rubbish”, as Paul calls it, but they are not as important as faith.
JOHN 12:1-8
THE BACKGROUND
Jesus is preparing for his entry into Jerusalem. He stops in the nearby town of Bethany, where his dear friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha live. They have prepared a banquet for him.
THE DETAIL
- The clock is ticking. Jesus has less than one week to live. What lies before him is clear. The mention of Lazarus prepares us for the subject at hand—death. (v. 1)
- They are going to have a nice dinner. And yes, [formerly dead] Lazarus is in attendance. (v. 2)
- Mary does something astonishing. She tenderly anoints Jesus’ feet with an extremely expensive perfume. She is preparing him for his death. (v. 3)
- Judas is present, and objects to the extravagance. He claims that the money should be spent on the poor. But the Gospel writer sees through this ploy. (vv. 4-6)
- Jesus tells Judas to leave her alone, that she is preparing him for his burial. (v. 7)
- The last verse is sometimes quoted by rich people today to justify not giving to others in need. But Jesus’ words reflect Deuteronomy 15:11—“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land’.”
THE TAKEAWAY
This entire passage foretells of Jesus’ impending death. Lazarus looming presence is one indication. The nard is another. Judas is beginning to stem out of line, but that’s not the main point of this story. Jesus is about to suffer and die for our sins.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Isn’t it ironic that some use Jesus’ words to justify not giving to the needy? Yet, Jesus’ partial quote of Deuteronomy 15:11 indicates that he was saying the exact opposite.