before these two stumps of smoldering brands
the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans,
and of the son Remaliah,
because of the mischief that
Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah,
plot against you, saying,
“Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force,
and appoint the son of Tabeel king there.”
Thus says the LORD:
This shall not stand, it shall not be!
When I studied at Saint Louis University in the late 1960's I sometimes visited people in the suburbs who would not visit the friary where we lived. They were afraid of the area. The friars routinely walked to and from school throughout the year. Nor did we keep to the daylight hours. In four years I remember only one skirmish and that was late one night, with some white boys from East Saint Louis who were cruising our impoverished neighborhood. It was scary for a few minutes but nothing came of it.
I have noticed that, the farther people live from danger, the more they exaggerate its threats, and the more frightened they are.
I have observed that same fear among people who arm themselves with guns, locks, and security. They are rightfully afraid, but of the wrong things. They should fear the visiting children who poke around the house looking for whatever they might find. Children are all the more curious when told, "That gun closet is locked; don't touch it!"
They'll find the key, and open it.
Fear often thinks badly and acts stupidly.
The Lord saw that irrational fear in Jerusalem when Israel and Ephraim formed an alliance against Assyria. Because Ahaz, the king of Judah in Jerusalem, refused to join the alliance, they attempted to force him by attacking the holy city. They would not trust God to protect them, nor did they suppose God would protect Jerusalem against them.
That is, they reckoned without God. which is never a good idea. As Isaiah had predicted, not only did their assault fail. They were soon overrun by Assyria, which also failed to capture Jerusalem.
God's faithful people act as if there is a God who cares about them. They spend time in prayer with him, enjoy his presence, ask for his guidance, and invoke his help in every situation. Although they can see no further ahead than anyone else, they know God sees far beyond the horizon. He knows the future and the past, and shepherds them continually.
In this world there will always be trouble. We know that; we expect it; we have no argument with it. There's little point in saying, "It shouldn't be that way."
We live in a nation founded on deistic principles of the Enlightenment; our founding fathers supposed that God does not and should not interfere in human affairs. We pray for that nation despite it's unstable foundation. And we ask for God's protection over it and our loved ones. Cities, states, and nations rise and fall; but we remain because the Word of God abides forever.
We can see farther than our fearful neighbors, and what we see is beautiful.
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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.