God the Helper of Israel

Isaiah 41 – Mid week Holy Communion at Wing Church – 11 December 2014

Reading Isaiah 41: 13 - 20

¹³ For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.
¹⁴ Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
¹⁵ ‘See, I will make you into a threshing-sledge,
    new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
    and reduce the hills to chaff.
¹⁶ You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
    and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the Lord
    and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁷ ‘The poor and needy search for water,
    but there is none;
    their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer them;
    I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
¹⁸ I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
    and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
    and the parched ground into springs.
¹⁹ I will put in the desert
    the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
    the fir and the cypress together,
²⁰ so that people may see and know,
    may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Gospel Matthew 11: 11 - 15

Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
All Alleluia.

When the Gospel is announced the reader says

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.

All Glory to you, O Lord.

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Whoever has ears, let them hear.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Context — Babylon — exile — 6th C. To c39 concern for fate of Jerusalem. Leading citizens exiled — dispersed, no threat.

c40ff — setting Jerusalem — leading men able to return — Persians looked on with favour.

Sunday reading — “Comfort ye my People...” “A voice crying in the wilderness...” — c40 opening — time of punishment is passed Prophet’s role and message has changed.

Today — “The helper of Israel...” is God. Trial scene — “Be silent...” Accused no longer Israel — they have paid double for all their sins.

God opens accusation — claims to rule nations — subdues kings before him. God roused victor from the East — might be Cyrus Persian acting as agent of the Lord?

Idea of Servant introduced —appears 20 times c40-55 — Israel bidden not to fear — echoes of Jesus.

c41 today — “Do not fear...” oracle. Israel a “worm” or “insect.” Akkadian word might mean louse. God is the Holy One of Israel. Now called Redeemer — not necessarily in religious sense — bondsman, kinsman needing help.

Israel has important part to play in God’s purpose. But for us — parallels of redemption, suffering, power of God to rule despite all to contrary, not being afraid — taking our part in God’s purpose whole heartedly. Amen