Have You Not Heard?

This week's sermon is based on Isaiah 40, a truly wonderful chapter in an inspired book. There is great wisdom and pathos in the exhilic literature. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked or "cherry picked" for the verses that are comfortable and uplifting. The text asks a number of times, "Do you not know, have you not heard?", calling us to confront the information that we already have about YHWH and G-d's place in our lives. We are really no different from those believers long ago who had forgotten G-d and had gone on to worship other god's. This lead to the ruin of Jerusalem and the exile of the leadership to Babylon for two generations as a punishment. What is it in this day and age that we are ignoring? Are we already in exile for our worship of idols of our own making? The amount of information that we have is staggering, but we make little use of it, nor do we see the knowledge going to wisdom in any meaningful manner. We have forgotten the active role of YHWH in our lives, and all of the good that happens through YHWH's grace. The writer(s) of Isaiah ask us to consider how we're caring for the widow and orphan and stranger. We know that we are supposed to do this (we would want it done for ourselves) yet we spend our time and money on things instead of investing in people and relationships. Do you not know, have you not heard? It's not that we don't know, nor is it that we haven't (in large measure) heard what it is that we are supposed to do. YHWH gave us free will and we use it for our own advancement and comfort. thus we move farther away from YHWH and further into exile. This week, listen to what YHWH might be saying to you. Jehovah is active in the world and in your life. It's time to tune in to the messages and to act accordingly. If we all do this, then the world becomes more peaceable and welcoming - it becomes more like heaven. Peace for the journey, Dan