Lord Of All
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle B
A question that is often asked by parents of small children is: "How big are you?" Children are so cute, and generally they give the same answer as they stand on tiptoe and spread their little arms to illustrate how big they are. With arms outstretched and spread wide, they inform their inquiring parent that they are "soooo big!" What children are saying is: "I'm huge. Can't you see how large I am?" When parents ask their children this question, they do so because they want them to realize they are growing.
The exiles who once lived in Judah now dwelt as captives along the banks of the Euphrates River, surrounded by Babylonians who worshiped Marduk, Nebo, and other gods. These gods were part of the pantheon of Babylonian gods. If you had asked the exiles the question, "How big is your God?" the answer might have surprised you. Many of those in captivity felt that they were in this predicament because of the powerlessness of their God to secure the safety of the nation. Because of this, the Jewish community was in danger of losing its spiritual identity.
It is into this setting that Second Isaiah, the prophet of exile and comfort, steps. Nothing is known of the personal life of the prophet. His whole purpose as a prophet was to present God as the God who is active and present in the midst of human history. It was his job to call the people back to God and to remind them that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was not a figment of humankind's mind but was Lord of all.
Like those ancient exiles, we too live in a culture that has run amuck, a world that has tried to make God in its own image. In a time such as ours, we need the ancient prophet to remind us in no uncertain terms that God, the true God, is Lord of all.
Just as Second Isaiah reminded his people, we need to have our minds renewed to the fact that God is ...
Lord Over All Rulers
In order to show that God is over all earthly rulers, the prophet begins with a series of staccato-like questions. There is a sense of exasperation, for the prophet cannot believe that the people have so completely forgotten who God is. In language that is regal, God is depicted as sitting on top of the earth, high and lifted up. In the exalted position, those who inhabit the earth are seen as small insects. What is God doing in all of his splendor? He is engaged in creative activity, forming and stretching the heavens.
God is also engaged in another activity, and that is of observing the political activities of the rulers of the earth. He becomes involved in the political issues which confront those in exile in Babylon.
There are kings who are in power, but God in his sovereignty can destabilize and dislodge them from their thrones. Before him they are helpless. The prophet pictures God as blowing upon these earthly rules, and when he does so, they are helpless.
William Willimon tells the story of an acquaintance of his who visited Russia in the late '70s when the Cold War was at its peak. The man was sent as part of a delegation from the World Council of Churches to investigate and bring back a report on the state of the Christian Church under an atheistic regime. He was not impressed. He informed Willimon in a condescending manner that "the church is just a bunch of little old ladies praying." Willimon told the story in the early '90s when the statues of Lenin and Stalin were being removed or destroyed. Yes, little old ladies were praying, but God was observing, and he is Lord over all rulers.1
Alan Jacobs, in an article published in 1996, notes that one thing that Joseph Stalin, the ruthless Soviet leader, could not tolerate was laughter. In his paranoia he felt that people might be laughing at him. The very empire he created was dark, dingy, and grim. Even his parties and celebrations were dark and laughterless affairs.2
The good news for us on this Lord's Day is that our God reigns and is in control. He is Lord of presidents and kings, prime ministers, and sultans. He is over all rulers. This gives the people of God a reason to celebrate. It is time for joy. Joy is deep, belly-shaking laughter. God is over all the kingdoms of this world. Rejoice, because our God reigns. Break out in the songs and laughter of joy.
Are there any lessons for us so far removed from these ancient exiles and this ancient text? Yes, for the message of Epiphany is that God has disclosed himself in the world. These scriptures invite the church once again to reflect on God's goodness and his greatness. When the Church really focuses on Epiphany, she can become "God intoxicated" so that the life of the Church is ordered by joy which breaks forth in the doxology, "How great thou art!"
God is Lord over all nations and rulers; however, he is also ...
Lord Over All Gods
There were detractors in Isaiah's day who maintained that God did not see, care, or hear. These detractors proclaimed loudly that God was not interested in each individual. The problem with these detractors was that they were looking for magic, a genie in a bottle. They were seeking an immediate fix, a magical potion. Because of this, they became involved in the worship of idols.
This is a picture in miniature of people in our age. Fortunetellers, psychic readers, astrology charts, and horoscopes have become a way of life for many. When Ronald Reagan was president, his wife Nancy created quite a stir when the news media reported that Mrs. Reagan regularly consulted an astrologer for advice, not only on a personal level, but also on world matters. People become fascinated with other gods when the creation is worshiped rather than the Creator.
A group of clergy attending a meeting had a good laugh when it was reported that the Psychic Television Network had declared bankruptcy. One person in the group with tongue in cheek exclaimed, "With all of their supposed psychic powers, you would have thought someone would have been able to foretell the coming bankruptcy."
The Creator wants his creation to look up to him and remember by his power he created. God is letting the Jews in exile and us know that he is the transcendent and the "Holy One" who is Lord of all.
God is Lord of all rulers and gods but also God is ...
Lord Over All
The exiles have been fearful about returning to Jerusalem, but God comes to allay their fears by promising them that he will give them his power for their weakness, and they will have his strength for their weariness. God is preparing the hearts of his people for his entrance. God does this by revealing his oneness and uniqueness.
In the spring of 1998, a series of tornadoes ripped through the southeastern part of the United States, spreading death and destruction. The day after one of the deadly tornadoes hit, the National Public Radio program All Things Considered aired a story about the Church of the Open Door, whose building had been destroyed by the storm. The children's choir was rehearsing when the storm hit. The pastor saw the tornado coming and hurriedly gathered the children into the main hallway of the church. Terrified, they huddled while the winds destroyed their church. In an effort to calm the children's fears, the pastor led them in singing, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Some of the children were injured but miraculously none were killed. A deeply moving part of the broadcast was the report of a little girl who said, "While we were singing, I saw angels holding up the hallway. But the winds were so strong that the angels shouted out 'We need help!' and some more angels came and helped them." This is quite a story! That little girl will never forget what she saw. She will always believe that there were angels watching over all those children that day.
You and I may have trouble accepting what the little girl reportedly saw. Yet, when we reflect that our God is Lord over all, the story seems very plausible. The Lord who created all is the Lord who rules overall -- even nature.
When people realize their own powerlessness, it is then that they will be open to the power that saves -- God's power. Kierkegaard's statement, "The purity of heart is to will one thing," reminds us that there must be no distraction in the human heart. The human heart, when it has divided loyalties, is confused and chaotic. Out of his own experience Augustine reminds us: "Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee." God, like a forceful wind, sweeps away all obstacles to his Lordship. This forceful wind which is the Divine Breath fills the heart that is purified with hope and love.
This Old Testament lesson reminds us that quick fixes, magical cures, and false gods do not get the job done. But to those who surrender their lives completely to God, the prophet has a word of deep encouragement. It is this: God is the one who does not faint or grow weary, but God gives power to the faint and strength to the powerless.
The God of Second Isaiah is our God, and God is Lord over all. God will renew and restore his people around his Lordship.
____________
1. William H. Willimon, Peculiar Speech: Preaching to the Baptized (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1992) p. 20.
2. "The Man Who Heard Voices," Alan Jacobs, Books and Culture (January/February 1996), p. 25.
The exiles who once lived in Judah now dwelt as captives along the banks of the Euphrates River, surrounded by Babylonians who worshiped Marduk, Nebo, and other gods. These gods were part of the pantheon of Babylonian gods. If you had asked the exiles the question, "How big is your God?" the answer might have surprised you. Many of those in captivity felt that they were in this predicament because of the powerlessness of their God to secure the safety of the nation. Because of this, the Jewish community was in danger of losing its spiritual identity.
It is into this setting that Second Isaiah, the prophet of exile and comfort, steps. Nothing is known of the personal life of the prophet. His whole purpose as a prophet was to present God as the God who is active and present in the midst of human history. It was his job to call the people back to God and to remind them that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was not a figment of humankind's mind but was Lord of all.
Like those ancient exiles, we too live in a culture that has run amuck, a world that has tried to make God in its own image. In a time such as ours, we need the ancient prophet to remind us in no uncertain terms that God, the true God, is Lord of all.
Just as Second Isaiah reminded his people, we need to have our minds renewed to the fact that God is ...
Lord Over All Rulers
In order to show that God is over all earthly rulers, the prophet begins with a series of staccato-like questions. There is a sense of exasperation, for the prophet cannot believe that the people have so completely forgotten who God is. In language that is regal, God is depicted as sitting on top of the earth, high and lifted up. In the exalted position, those who inhabit the earth are seen as small insects. What is God doing in all of his splendor? He is engaged in creative activity, forming and stretching the heavens.
God is also engaged in another activity, and that is of observing the political activities of the rulers of the earth. He becomes involved in the political issues which confront those in exile in Babylon.
There are kings who are in power, but God in his sovereignty can destabilize and dislodge them from their thrones. Before him they are helpless. The prophet pictures God as blowing upon these earthly rules, and when he does so, they are helpless.
William Willimon tells the story of an acquaintance of his who visited Russia in the late '70s when the Cold War was at its peak. The man was sent as part of a delegation from the World Council of Churches to investigate and bring back a report on the state of the Christian Church under an atheistic regime. He was not impressed. He informed Willimon in a condescending manner that "the church is just a bunch of little old ladies praying." Willimon told the story in the early '90s when the statues of Lenin and Stalin were being removed or destroyed. Yes, little old ladies were praying, but God was observing, and he is Lord over all rulers.1
Alan Jacobs, in an article published in 1996, notes that one thing that Joseph Stalin, the ruthless Soviet leader, could not tolerate was laughter. In his paranoia he felt that people might be laughing at him. The very empire he created was dark, dingy, and grim. Even his parties and celebrations were dark and laughterless affairs.2
The good news for us on this Lord's Day is that our God reigns and is in control. He is Lord of presidents and kings, prime ministers, and sultans. He is over all rulers. This gives the people of God a reason to celebrate. It is time for joy. Joy is deep, belly-shaking laughter. God is over all the kingdoms of this world. Rejoice, because our God reigns. Break out in the songs and laughter of joy.
Are there any lessons for us so far removed from these ancient exiles and this ancient text? Yes, for the message of Epiphany is that God has disclosed himself in the world. These scriptures invite the church once again to reflect on God's goodness and his greatness. When the Church really focuses on Epiphany, she can become "God intoxicated" so that the life of the Church is ordered by joy which breaks forth in the doxology, "How great thou art!"
God is Lord over all nations and rulers; however, he is also ...
Lord Over All Gods
There were detractors in Isaiah's day who maintained that God did not see, care, or hear. These detractors proclaimed loudly that God was not interested in each individual. The problem with these detractors was that they were looking for magic, a genie in a bottle. They were seeking an immediate fix, a magical potion. Because of this, they became involved in the worship of idols.
This is a picture in miniature of people in our age. Fortunetellers, psychic readers, astrology charts, and horoscopes have become a way of life for many. When Ronald Reagan was president, his wife Nancy created quite a stir when the news media reported that Mrs. Reagan regularly consulted an astrologer for advice, not only on a personal level, but also on world matters. People become fascinated with other gods when the creation is worshiped rather than the Creator.
A group of clergy attending a meeting had a good laugh when it was reported that the Psychic Television Network had declared bankruptcy. One person in the group with tongue in cheek exclaimed, "With all of their supposed psychic powers, you would have thought someone would have been able to foretell the coming bankruptcy."
The Creator wants his creation to look up to him and remember by his power he created. God is letting the Jews in exile and us know that he is the transcendent and the "Holy One" who is Lord of all.
God is Lord of all rulers and gods but also God is ...
Lord Over All
The exiles have been fearful about returning to Jerusalem, but God comes to allay their fears by promising them that he will give them his power for their weakness, and they will have his strength for their weariness. God is preparing the hearts of his people for his entrance. God does this by revealing his oneness and uniqueness.
In the spring of 1998, a series of tornadoes ripped through the southeastern part of the United States, spreading death and destruction. The day after one of the deadly tornadoes hit, the National Public Radio program All Things Considered aired a story about the Church of the Open Door, whose building had been destroyed by the storm. The children's choir was rehearsing when the storm hit. The pastor saw the tornado coming and hurriedly gathered the children into the main hallway of the church. Terrified, they huddled while the winds destroyed their church. In an effort to calm the children's fears, the pastor led them in singing, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Some of the children were injured but miraculously none were killed. A deeply moving part of the broadcast was the report of a little girl who said, "While we were singing, I saw angels holding up the hallway. But the winds were so strong that the angels shouted out 'We need help!' and some more angels came and helped them." This is quite a story! That little girl will never forget what she saw. She will always believe that there were angels watching over all those children that day.
You and I may have trouble accepting what the little girl reportedly saw. Yet, when we reflect that our God is Lord over all, the story seems very plausible. The Lord who created all is the Lord who rules overall -- even nature.
When people realize their own powerlessness, it is then that they will be open to the power that saves -- God's power. Kierkegaard's statement, "The purity of heart is to will one thing," reminds us that there must be no distraction in the human heart. The human heart, when it has divided loyalties, is confused and chaotic. Out of his own experience Augustine reminds us: "Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee." God, like a forceful wind, sweeps away all obstacles to his Lordship. This forceful wind which is the Divine Breath fills the heart that is purified with hope and love.
This Old Testament lesson reminds us that quick fixes, magical cures, and false gods do not get the job done. But to those who surrender their lives completely to God, the prophet has a word of deep encouragement. It is this: God is the one who does not faint or grow weary, but God gives power to the faint and strength to the powerless.
The God of Second Isaiah is our God, and God is Lord over all. God will renew and restore his people around his Lordship.
____________
1. William H. Willimon, Peculiar Speech: Preaching to the Baptized (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1992) p. 20.
2. "The Man Who Heard Voices," Alan Jacobs, Books and Culture (January/February 1996), p. 25.
