The Lonely Judge

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Opening Prayer

Giving God, I thank You today for bread and wine, table and towel, book and song. Also, for courage and energy for the task.

Read ISAIAH 63:1-14

^[1] Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” ^[2] Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? ^[3] “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. ^[4] It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come. ^[5] I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. ^[6] I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.” ^[7] I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us- yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. ^[8] He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. ^[9] In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. ^[10] Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. ^[11] Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people- where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them, ^[12] who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, ^[13] who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; ^[14] like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.

Meditate

“God does not want to make us afraid; he sends us the message of judgment only so that we will reach … for the promise of God’s grace” (Dietrich Bonheoffer).

Think Further

The poster on the pavement brought me up short: “Sex before marriage? You’ll go to hell.” An elderly man was expounding this theme while a younger one distributed leaflets. Stopping to talk with him, I tried to explain my unease about such a narrowly focused, judgmental introduction to the Good News. “But without God’s judgment there’s no Gospel,” was the young evangelist’s cheery and confident response.

He was right in this, of course, whatever we may think of his methods. And the disturbing vision of God’s judgment that stops us in our tracks in verses 1-6 is also “right.” To understand this we must engage with it in a way that neither writes it off as distasteful Old Testament violence nor reads it only–as historically it has often been read–as pointing towards the redemptive work of Jesus. In fact there is nothing here about a life sacrificed to redeem others. This vision is unequivocally about the destruction of God’s enemies, even–perhaps especially–when they are his own people (10). We may hear it as a deeply human hymn of hope among God’s beleaguered people. And we may hear it as a powerful metaphor that expresses for all time God’s outrage at every death-dealing, oppressive manifestation of evil, and confidently proclaims that he has finally defeated evil’s power (5, cf. Rev. 14:19,20; 19:13-16). Here is both hope for the oppressed and fearful warning for all oppressors.

There is something more here, another surprising perspective. This song and its parallel in chapter 59 speak of a God who is appalled (59:16) at finding himself alone in acting to destroy injustice and oppression (5). Maybe we can hear these extraordinary words in God’s mouth as his urgent invitation to us to align ourselves with his purposes in doing battle against all evil.

Apply

Is there a place where you can join others in the battle against evil? Is it neighborhood violence, crime, sex-trafficking, exploitation of the vulnerable or needy?

Closing prayer

Almighty God, there is darkness all around me. Show me places where I can light candles of hope and point others to the way out of darkness in their lives.

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