Daily Worship

He will

James Cathcart January 12, 2020 0 0
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Isaiah 42: 1-9 (NRSVA)

1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
    he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
    or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
    until he has established justice in the earth;
    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
    and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
    I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
    a light to the nations,
7     to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
    from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord, that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have come to pass,
    and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
    I tell you of them.

The promise of Jesus was a promise of freedom, of justice, of renewal. An unfolding promise that did not rely on yelling and aggravation and intimidation, but rather upon endurance, patience, and grace. It is a promise that is still being fulfilled.

He will not cry —
for attention
for an excuse
for parley.

He will not lift up his voice —
in condemnation
in bitterness
in world-weariness.

He will not weary of the world.

He will not cry —
out accusations
out insults
out vilifications.

He will not lift up his voice —
over the weak
over the scared
over the heads of those who hear.

He will go ahead of us.

He will cry —
to the lonely
to the lost
to the stuck.

He will lift up his voice —
as praise
as warning
as invitation.

Inviting us onwards to join him.

PRAYER:

Willer of all that you will,
Speak to us
Today, and all days.
Amen.