Common Goals
Isa. 61:1-9
Sometimes, we want the same thing but have different plans on how to get there.
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. - Isa. 61:1-9
When we are able to see the plans through God's eyes, or His own words, they make sense.
Who wouldn't want the destruction restored, wealth to return, immigrants to be employed in their labors, and captives to be freed?
These are examples of liberty, and we know that it is what God wants for His people.
Now, one could argue that Isaiah is a prophet not for all the people but for the Jews, but the message could apply to all of us.
If God were to implement this plan today for the world, what would it look like? What would the goal be?
We believe that we all don't want the same thing, but I wonder if that is true. We may want the same thing but feel there are different ways to achieve them.
We have tried some ways, and now we are trying other ways. But if we don't believe we are all on the same page, we will fight each other and destroy God's vision for us.
That happened in Isaiah's day, and it can happen again.
The key, I think, is to trust God and trust God's people to know what they need.
This is hard, because we all think we know, and we think it is obvious. I have made that mistake in trying to help the homeless and the hungry.
I learned to ask them what they want and need. Then, and this is the tricky part, without judging them, help them get it.
Many times that is not what you would think is good for them.
More to come...
The phrase about foreigners tending their vines sounds all too contemporary, like a repetition of history. Our leaders need to read this!
The problem remains a problem until we listen to God. And history has shown, when God sends someone to fix the problem, we kill him.