and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea.
The Prophet Isaiah never heard of Charles Darwin; he knew nothing of the "law of tooth and fang" or "survival of the fittest." He did not suppose the savagery of the jungle should be mimicked by human society.
In this famous passage Isaiah looked for the peaceful cohabitation of apparent opposites. Predator and prey partake equally of nature's resources without fear of hunger or deprivation. They might even enjoy one another's company.
It's certainly an unusual vision, and especially challenging to our predatory customs. The American way of life is based upon a balance of opposing factions. Without that balance, we suppose, there is only tyranny. We want a three-way tie between the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of government. A two party system should not be controlled by one party. Labor is matched by capital, theoretically resulting in an egalitarian society where no one is too rich or too poor.
We assume conflict is natural and inevitable. We celebrate this vision of balanced opposition with an endless cycle of athletic contests: baseball, football, basketball, golf, tennis, hockey, etc. If anyone misses the point we'll add competitive fishing, cooking, dance and beauty (contests). Competition is life! It's vitality! It's reality!
It's exhausting. Many old men sit hour after hour in front of the TV, slavering as they consume ever more competitive visions.
Isaiah certainly knew of savage human beings. The threat of Assyria hovered over Jerusalem like an ominous cloud for centuries. It's soldiers and rulers subdued neighboring nations, maintaining buffer zones against Egypt and Babylon with murderous efficiency.
But in Isaiah's visionary future, "There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea."
Isaiah's vision sets the tone for our Christmas season. We hope for a day without war, without competition, when every child will have a new toy; and every adult, a home with food and drink. It's almost within reach and yet always out of reach.
"Look with favor, on our petition, and in our trials grant us your compassionate help...." (Today's collect)
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.