It's not over until the Lord says so!

By Rev Majaha Nhliziyo

Today's Readings: 

Psalm 9;

Isaiah 4:2-6;

Ephesians 4:1-16;

Matthew 8:28-34.

Verses of the day

Isaiah 4:2-6

"On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed over all the glory there will be a canopy. 

It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.  Isaiah 4:2, 5-6

 

In my reflection on this passage I see a writer who loves his nation and its institutions as shown by his choice of 'pet names' like the branch and Mount Zion. Isaiah is referring to Israel or Judah and Jerusalem.  However, he cannot avoid the reality of the extent of decay that his nation is suffering. It has gone to the point of no return, to the situation that gave rise to the names like 'a land flowing with milk and honey'. Let us be reminded that milk is particularly good for the young ones while honey presupposes that water and flowers are in abundance. 

Isaiah knows that this beautiful state of affairs belongs to the past and to the Dreamworld. Isaiah also knows, because of his stubborn hope, that it's not over for his beloved city and nation until the Lord says so. It is that stubborn hope and faith that God can create, smoke something new and glorious out of the downward spiral of self-destruction.

Isaiah can thus see the beautiful, glorious and fruitful 'branch' arising out of the old and failed tree. His language conjures up images of fire and smoke which indicate the presence of God. And, since God is present it cannot be over for Israel and Jerusalem. The positive images of pavilion, refuge and shelter from the heat, storm and rain now come flowing again as Isaiah concludes his message.

Now, what about us today, almost, I dare say, parallel with Isaiah in terms of purposeful existence, a sense of destiny and rare depth of natural resources? 

Where are we getting it wrong to find ourselves in mass displays of poverty in the hot and cold pandemic driving winds? It is not hard to see why the mention of our name now raising ridicule. What happened to the "Milk and Honey for All" as promised in 1980? 

And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on-going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighbourhood.

Matthew 8:32-34

This story comes close to giving us an answer as to the cause of our predicament. It is a story of how a community was so focussed on their business agenda to the point of neglecting one of their own who was living by the graveyard. They even missed the fact of his miraculous healing. When a nation fails to care for its citizens, especially the vulnerable ones then we are in trouble. The church, as the agent for God’s mission, should strive to be the symbol of hope and act in unity in preaching and demonstrating a message of Hope.  Amen.

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalms 9:9-10.