Fear not!
Today’s Reading is from Isaiah 8:1—9:7. This passage set the stage for yesterday’s sermon. Please listen to my Advent Sermon: Fear not!
Non-interventionism
Wikipedia
Nonintervention or non-interventionism is a foreign policy which holds that political rulers should avoid alliances with other nations, but still retain diplomacy, and avoid all wars not related to direct self-defense.
Isaiah 7:1-25
King Ahaz of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) fears an attack by Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Syria. Against Isaiah’s advice and despite Isaiah’s assurance that Israel and Syria will not pose a threat, Ahaz seeks help from Assyria rather than relying on God.
Switzerland
Traditionally, Switzerland avoids alliances that might entail military, political, or direct economic action and had been neutral since the end of its expansion in 1515. Its policy of neutrality was internationally recognised at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
US Non-interventionism shortly before WWII
Between 1936 and 1937, much to the dismay of the pro-Britain President Roosevelt, Congress passed the Neutrality Acts. These Acts did everything they could to delay U.S. entry into a European war.
Yes, Palestinians Are an Invented People
In today’s reading Isaiah 62:1-12 the prophet shares God’s promise to Israel: “Your grain will no longer be food for your enemies, And foreigners will no longer drink your wine.”
For too long America has supported Israel’s enemies through a Two-State Fantasy. I have criticized President Obama for this twice. Now I find myself for the second time in one week supporting a position of Newt Gingrich: Yes, Palestinians Are an Invented People.
“I will speak out to encourage Jerusalem; I will not be silent until she is saved, And her victory shines like a torch in the night. Jerusalem, the nations will see you victorious!”, writes Isaiah.
Restore Hope!
Today’s Reading is from Isaiah 61:1-11. This passage set the stage for yesterday’s sermon. Please listen to my Advent Sermon: Restore Hope!
Newt Year in Jerusalem
At the Republican Jewish Coalition debate the other day, Newt Gingrich declared: “So in a Gingrich administration, the opening day, there will be an executive order about two hours after the inaugural address; we will send the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as of that day.”
The Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. Since 1998, the relocation of the embassy from Tel Aviv has been suspended by the sitting President semi-annually based on national security concerns as provided for in section 7 of the Act. Newt Gingrich obviously wants to stop this practice and finally enact the law.
“Arise, Jerusalem, and shine like the sun”, says the prophet in today’s reading Isaiah 60:1-22 and continues: “They will call you ‘The City of the LORD,’ ‘Zion, the City of Israel’s Holy God’.”
Gospel as News
Today’s Reading Isaiah 52:1-12 makes clear: “The gospel is not a theory or a doctrine or even a teaching; it is news: God is coming!” Read more of the reflection from enterthebible.org:
Sing to the LORD
Psalms are not limited to the Book of Psalms. You can virtually find them all over the Bible. Today in Isaiah 12 with an almost word-by-word quote from the song of Moses in Exodus 15. Praising God is a wonderful thing to do. What great things has God done in your life? What will you proclaim about God today?
Peace
Today’s Reading is from Isaiah 11:1-16. I preached about that on the Second Sunday of Advent in 2010. Please listen to my sermon titled “Peace”.
Swords to Plowshares
Many references are being made to this prophetic vision, e.g. Isaiah or Micah:
“He will settle disputes among the nations, among the great powers near and far. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.”
The United Nations have a statue using this image:
Wikipedia has a list that shows the dual-use nature of technology, which does not always clearly convey the intention of the phrase nor how it is used today:
- Radar was initially developed for detection of incoming bombers
- The Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed under the United States Department of Defense for military navigational purposes.
- Roman roads were designed for the rapid transport of troops
- the Autobahn was originally conceived and put under construction as a means for German artillery to get across Europe during WWII.
Heavenly Mortality
Conventional wisdom has that one does not die in heaven. Well the biblical narratives are a little more complex than that. Today’s Reading Isaiah 65:17-25 describes the new Jerusalem to be full of joy, and her people will be happy. But they will still be people and they will still die: “Babies will no longer die in infancy, and all people will live out their life span. Those who live to be a hundred will be considered young. To die before that would be a sign that I had punished them.” It is just a better version of life not entirely unrelated to what we know and desire. Heaven is comprehensible!
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