As many of our churches, and our families, face the uncertain prospect of the corona virus in this area, having, or hearing, a word from God can be challenging. It is not that God does not speak which makes this work hard, but instead, the challenge is found in how do we differentiate the voice of God from the voices in our world who are either offering fear or offering pragmatism?
As Lent continues, I am finding myself asking the same question over and over, in one form or another: How do we find space to listen to God when every, single, moment of our day something else seems to be occupying the room, and energy, and by extension our faith? I wonder how are we going to be faithful to God in such uncertain times?
Even in a quiet, still, room, such as the one I am in now, the noise of our culture is not easily silenced. I find my mind being drawn away over and over again.
If you find yourself in that exact place, the this is where our reading from Isaiah 50 becomes helpful for us. For in Jesus’ passion we find the courage to speak, the willingness to be the church, and the ability to discern what God is calling us to do, to say, to become, and to believe in an uncertain time.
It is not that we do not want to be faithful, or practice faith, but as I said, it can be hard for us tonight.
Move 1- instructed tongue
Our reading begins in verse 4 of chapter 50 with the affirmation that the Sovereign Lord has given the speaker “the tongue of a teacher,” from the NRSV, or in the NIV, we hear this same clause translated as an “instructed tongue.” There is a lot going on in those two words.
This concept frames much of what is to follow in the pericope.
Let’s think for a second what the “tongue of a teacher” or an “instructed tongue” sounds like in Isaiah’s mind and how it is applicable to us. . . What could it mean for us in Lent this year?
Pressing into the text a bit, I find that this is the only usage of the word in this form in the scriptures. That conclusion tells us that what God is doing here, or what God is associating with this passage has not, and will not, happened before or again in scripture. This person, the speaker in the text, the one we associate with Jesus, is being given something important.
He is first being given knowledge. When this root word is used again, it is identified with being a disciple or a being a teacher. The one who communicates information out of a place of authority and wisdom.
Then when that idea is combined with the word we have for ‘tongue’ we hear something very important. This word means “language” or “speech.”
God is giving this person a place of authority over others, of wisdom in subject matter, the language to speak about what they have discerned from God directly. They do not need an intermediary; God has revealed something to them directly and they are sharing it in the rest of the passage.
Move 2- The passion
It is in the passionate suffering of Jesus where the knowledgeable speaker, the one who knows all things, because God has gifted them with this knowledge, transfers, gives us the same wisdom to act and to live.
He gives us this revelation, this wisdom, this teaching, so that we might offer it to others. It is not something we hold back on; the spirit of this text means that we willingly do so—even when the life we know becomes more and more uncertain.
We are able to speak, we are called to speak, because of what happens later in this text in the life of the Christ. That ability to minister, that we receive from this text, comes with a great price to the Messiah. I am not going to re-read the list of passion-associated events or symbols. You know them already and you trust in them. But think with me about it once again:
He endures for us.
He suffers on our behalf.
He is resolute. While he could walk away or stop the suffering all together. He stands fast because God is with him.
He is confident as he suffers—a reference to his triune nature.
All of these aspects help to define the person from our text—the Messiah—the one who has the divine knowledge and offers it to us as we believe in him.
Move 3-
So, because the Messiah stands in for us, and blesses us with knowledge in this way, we must then receive and accept the confidence of God to stand together as the church, even in an uncertain time such as this. We are God’s people and that knowledge is more important than any other knowledge we might gain in our lifetimes.
Sure, we are anxious. Not affirming this would be foolish. This word from Isaiah 50 does not minimize or trivialize that fact in any way. But as this sermon is being written, and preached to an empty room, that is a reality for us. Things have changed in this context. But again, the affirmation of this text, that Christ is with me, giving me knowledge, understanding, and long-term presence can provide hope for us. It should provide hope for us, and I believe, it was meant to do so.
That presence makes sense to me and it helps frame the struggle of this text. I have heard it said quite often that we will be only 1 degree away from the virus before this is over and that is a scary proposition.
But in the midst of that, we will be close to Jesus who suffers for us. He ensures that we are safe and that we do not feel completely alone. He is resolute. He is confident and he asks that we accept who he is in that way for us.
Conclusion
So now as we come to the end of this message, it is time for us to reflect, to wonder, if you will, about what God is saying to us in Isaiah 50?
He has given you what you need to address these cultural issues. We may in fact feel uncertain, but the presence of God with us, provides a way for us to be together as the body of Christ.
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