Isaiah
64:1-9 -An appeal for the Lord to
return to save His people. This lesson comes from the third section of Isaiah
(chapters 56-66). It was written in the
period of 540-500 BC. The Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. The
exiles find a pathetic situation: Jerusalem is desolate and the temple has been
burned to the ground. The people are despondent and impatient for God to come
and do something about their condition. They feel that God is angry and has
hidden His face from them. He is accused of causing them to sin. The people
confess their sins and feel confident that God will not reject them for He is
the potter and they are the clay.
The word “polluted”
v.6 is a strong word. Here is substance for the doctrine of man’s total
depravity. The whole human race is polluted by sin. But Isaiah goes beyond sin
too humanity’s goodness. Even good works are considered as ‘pollution.’ Our righteousness is as
filthy rags. In modern times there is great concern over pollution. Even the
rain that now falls is considered, ‘acid rain,’ which destroys crops, forests,
and lakes. The source of all pollution is sin. If even people’s goodness is
pollution, it proves how desperate we are for a Savior.
Here we see the victory of faith. The Jews are in a desolate
situation. They are overwhelmed with their sin. They feel God has absented and
hidden himself. “Yet” v.8 they hold
on to God and place themselves in his hands. He is still their God and they are
his people. In our time of personal and national distress when we thing God has
forsaken us because of our sin, we need to go back to our basic faith: God is
the potter and we are his pot. With the
Lord comes forgiveness Vv.6-7 as well as deliverance. V.7[1]
Lord God You
promise to help and comfort those who call upon You in the day of trouble.
Grant to us Your deliverance in Christ Jesus by the power of Your Holy Spirit
that we may not be overcome in adversity but be strengthened to live
confidently in Your love and peace. Make us to know that in all things You work
for the good for those who love You and that nothing can separate us from Your
love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives, and rules with You and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen [2]
[1]
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John R. Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing,
Lima, OH
[2] A
Prayer for Deliverance, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House,
St. Louis
Image: Advent © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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