Sunday Stretch: Vol. 118 - Lent III

Start off your week with a grounded take on Bible, prayer, the world, and your life ...

Hi Readers,

It’s the third Sunday of Lent already, and also t-minus TWO DAYS away from my new book release. As you might imagine, everything feels exciting and scary all at once.

In the midst of this - and in the midst of the ever-swirling news cycle and prioritization and acceptance of government cruelty and capriciousness here in America - as always I am grateful for the steadfast presence of the Bible texts. Specifically this morning, we have one of my all-time favorite passages, from the Prophet Isaiah.

So let’s get to it.

Quick note for Twin Cities readers: I’ll be preaching and sharing an adult forum this morning at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Worship at 9:30, Forum at 10:45. Would love to see you there! Find more upcoming events, including this week’s book launch here.

Bible Stories

Isaiah 55:1-9

Is. 55:1 Ho, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

³ Incline your ear, and come to me;

listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

⁴ See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

⁵ See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

Is. 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found,

call upon him while he is near;

⁷ let the wicked forsake their way,

and the unrighteous their thoughts;

let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This passage from Isaiah is, as I mentioned above, one of my favorites in all of the Bible - and holds within it one of central truths of Scripture that I keep close to my heart.

It’s also a great example of Law & Gospel, but inverted, such that the “gospel” section apparently comes before the law. There is a beautiful and inclusive invitation in this passage’s opening lines:

Ho, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

It’s a gospel vision of invitation that turns upside the world and our own societal focus on consumerism and capitalism. Instead, ho! Come everyone who thirsts. All who are hungry, eat! The invitational lines remind me of Jesus’ first sermon, in Luke 4, where he quotes Isaiah 66 - promising release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. This is the very definition of grace, undeserved favor that is grounded in God’s prevailing love.

Questions to Ponder

The “law” portion of this passage is at the end, verse 8-9: “⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

But I’ve always found this portion to be as much Gospel as it is Law - to be set free from thinking that God’s thoughts are only on the same level as my own. How do you