Read Isaiah 40:21-31
My grandfather was a
wonderful man. He fought in the Navy during WWII, and was even an amateur boxer
on the side. When he returned from the war he received his calling into the
ministry and became a Methodist pastor. My grandfather lived and served during
one of the heights of Christianity in America. He served in a time in which it
was a given that you would go to church on Sunday mornings, attend the dinners
and the Bible Studies. He served at a time in which so many felt a call to
ministry that there was no shortage in dedicated and well trained ministers. He
served when blue laws still existed and businesses were not open on Sunday.
Churches did not have to compete against work or soccer practice or dance
recitals. He was able to experience the beauty of our churches all around our
state from Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore, to Richmond, to even our area,
serving in Bedford, at Hurt for a year, and even at Bethlehem, the church
Heather is now working at. Everything wasn’t roses for my Papa though, he also
served during one of the most volatile times in our recent history. My
grandfather fought for the desegregation of our schools and for it received a
lot of backlash. The KKK burned crosses and his yard and the local gas station
refused to serve him.
I say this because like many of you, my grandfather
served in a very different time than I and many in the younger generations have
ever known. For us it is just a given
that everyone would go to the same schools, restaurants, and even bathrooms,
and it blows our mind that it wasn’t always the case. Our generation has grown
up not hearing about the boom of the church; but have steadily seen its
decline. We get frustrated that Chick Fil-A isn’t open on Sunday because we
always seem to crave it when we can’t have it, and soccer tournaments that took
us out of town for the weekend and away from worship was just the way it was.
So as we here about all of the lamenting about the fact that the church is not the
way it used to be, or that like most mainline denominations, the United
Methodist Church is in a statistical decline, we are kind of like, “so what,
that’s all we’ve ever known.” The generational differences in the church now
tell the story similar to that of the exile of the Israelites that we hear about
in our scripture from the words of the prophet Isaiah.
The Israelites faced many hardships throughout their time
in the Bible, there was slavery in Egypt, their wandering in the wilderness,
many battles and wars, and struggles with leadership and authority, but what
may be one of the pinnacle events of the Israelites history is the Babylonian
Captivity. Babylonians came and conquered Jerusalem, destroying the Temple, and
then took many of the Israelites to Babylon, especially the well-educated and
skilled workers, while leaving others behind to fend for themselves. While in
captivity, many of these Israelites were actually treated rather well, but they
still had no power, no freedom, no authority, and their religion was one that
was sometimes tolerated, but often mocked. Then Cyrus of Persia attacked
Babylon, freeing the Israelites who had been in captivity for about 70 years.
One thing that many people do not realize about the book
of Isaiah, is that portions of the book were actually written at different
periods of the exile. The first section of Isaiah is from before the Babylonian
exile and has many strong words and warnings for the people of Israel. The next
portion of the book is written while the Israelites are captives in Babylon.
Finally the last part of the book is written after the Israelites have returned
from exile back to Jerusalem. Our scripture for this morning most likely is
written in the last days of the exile while the Israelites are preparing to
head back to Jerusalem.
We have to remember though that it has been 70 years
since any of the Israelites have been in Israel. If there were any of them that
were their when Jerusalem fell, they would have been children, teenagers, or
young adults. Their memories of Jerusalem would be extremely nostalgic. They
would remember the good times they used to have, they would remember the
stories that their parents and grandparents would tell them about the great
Kings of Israel. Most importantly they would remember the Temple and how life
in the city center around the events of that sacred place. Sadly, one of the
burning memories of their youth would most likely also be seeing that mighty
Temple crumble to the ground.
That memory of the Temple crumbling would serve as a
reminder that the Jerusalem they were returning to would be nothing like the
one they used to know. There would be no King waiting for them, no set economic
structure, no jobs, farms or vineyards would have had no one taking care of
them. Most importantly there was no Temple. No center of faith, no place to
gather in the presence of the Lord. No place to offer sacrifices for atonement
of sin. This new Jerusalem that they were heading towards was not like the one
of their youth. It would take a great deal of work. That is if they ever arrive.
Remember they still have to make it back in the first place, here are so people
in their 80, 90s and 100s traveling miles and miles in the scorching heat with
no real source of water or food, that’s tough enough for someone in their 20’s.
While being free from exile was certainly a joy, the journey back to Jerusalem
and the work that awaited them when they arrived certainly did not seem to have
much hope.
While all of this is going on, we have to remember that a
good portion of those “returning” to Jerusalem are not actually returning, but
going for their first time. If the exile lasted 70 years then that means any of
the Israelites who are 70 and younger were Israelites born and raised in
Babylon. The grew up with Babylonian schooling, listening to Babylonian music
and hearing stories of the Babylonian culture on a daily basis. Babylon was not
foreign to them like it was for their parents or grandparents, Babylon is all
they know. But they have certainly heard
stories of this place called Jerusalem, this holy city. They have heard about
the great Temple. They have heard the Jewish scripture read to them, and have
heard their loved ones sing the songs of Zion. This younger generation heads
towards Jerusalem conflicted in a way different than that of their elders. They
are leaving what they know, to go somewhere that they have only heard legends
about. They go in the tension of trying to honor God and the heritage of
Israelites before them, while trying to stay authentic to who they have grown
to be.
Our scripture are words from Isaiah to the people in the
middle of this tension, it is a message of hope in the midst of this struggle,
that God is with them, and that through them God will work to extraordinary
things. This message is different than that which we often hear in our society
today. It is not a call for the young to step up, it is not calling upon “the
future of the church” it is a message of empowerment to older members of the
Jewish people. “Have you not known? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning.” These words from God
through the prophet Isaiah are a reminder to the people. You have seen me in
work. Have you not known me before? Do you not remember the great city and the
Temple in which I dwelt amongst your people. Have you not heard me speaking to
you through my prophets even all these years you were captive? It is a reminder
they are the ones who remember the times of great prosperity in Israel. It is a
reminder that they are the ones the ones who remember the heartbreak of its
demise, and it is a call for them to be active in the ministry of rebuilding
Jerusalem. It is not that the work will be easy and it does not mean that
Jerusalem will be just like it was before. God says work done not through the
Spirit of God will be impossible. Those who do not know the Lord, who have not
experienced his truth like many of the youth returning to Israel with their own
plans in mind, will surely fail. He says, “Even youths
will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait
for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like
eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Now we shouldn’t act like this is some false dichotomy
where all the youth will fail and all the more experience with succeed, this is
not what the Lord is saying. But God is saying that all of those who wait and
call upon the Lord, shall run and not be weary, shall walk and not faint.
We find ourselves in the Church in our own kind of exile
story. The Church and the prosperity it enjoyed while my grandfather served,
and that many of you grew up in is no more. In essence our Temple has been torn
down. Church is no longer the epicenter of society, it is no longer a given
that people will come. Other things now compete for the time and space that was
once owned by the Church. For many who lived through this decline this is
something to be lamented. Like the Israelites in exile who remember the glory
of the Temple in Jerusalem; many of us remember the height of Christianity in
America and weep that we are no longer there. While at the same time, like the
younger generation in Babylon, our younger generation has known nothing else
other than this state of the Church. While others lament, our younger
Christians have found ways to live their lives faithfully not in spite of the
world around them, but through it. There is certainly something to be learned
from this younger generation, there is a reason there is a push for younger
clergy, and outreach to families and their kids, but have you not heard, have you
not seen?
Just because we have something to learn from a younger
generation, it does not mean they should not also learn from us. Many of you
have lived and seen extraordinary change in our society. Many of you have seen
what it was like for a Church to be on fire for Christ. Many of have seen what
Christians can do when they pull their resources and work together. And all of
you who still call on the name of the Lord are called to still do it. God does
not let you off of the hook just because you have already lived a full life.
God does not let you off of the hook because you have already served. God does
not let you off the hook because Church isn’t like it used to be when you were
younger, and God does not let you off the hook because you think you have
nothing to offer now. Have you not heard? Have you not seen?
God is calling you, just as the Israelites were called as
they returned back to Jerusalem, for there is work to be done. And though you
have toiled through the pain of exile, though you have worked throughout your
life, it is still you who God is working through. But God gives us hope.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can walk and not be weary, we can run
and not faint. God gives us the strength and the power to do extraordinary
things that would tire even the athletes who played last Sunday night on the
biggest stage. Because we have experienced God working in our lives, we know
what God can still do with our lives.
So as we gather together in an almost exilic state,
gazing at what lies ahead for the future of this church and the Kingdom of God,
how are you going to respond? Will we attempt that journey towards the New
Jerusalem, or quit because we have gone far enough. Are we going to continue to
serve and lead, or hand the responsibility off to the next generation as their
problem to deal with. Will we sit and remember what things used to be like, or
will we work together with our brothers and sisters and knowing that through
the power of the Holy Spirit we can transform this church and this world into
something greater than we have ever experienced? Do you truly believe this is
possible? If not, may God’s word through Isaiah be a reminder, Have you not
heard? Have you not seen? If ever you
have heard or witnessed the power and majesty of God, then remember through
Christ all things are possible. And he will lift us up on eagles wings, and we
will walk and not get weary, we will run and not faint.
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