Friday 05 December 2008

Background

Environmental change is a recurring theme in Isaiah's prophecy(see also Isaiah 32:15-20).In this passage, a forested land (the famous "cedars of Lebanon" -Isaiah 2:13) can become, in the prophet's vision, a rich land forgrazing animals or raising crops, whilst an inhabited area canbecome agriculturally unprofitable.

Isaiah eventually widens this theme of the transformation of thenatural order until it has cosmic significance so that hopeultimately depends on "new heavens and a new earth" (Isaiah 65:17).All such transformation he associates with the creation of a socialorder based on justice and righteousness.

An English patriotic song (often sung as a hymn at weddings, andthe theme tune of the Women's Institute) reflects the same ideas,but focuses not on the eastern Mediterranean, but on England.WilliamBlake's Jerusalem pictures a humanity freed from theinterrelated chains of imperialism, commerce and war (symbolised bythe "dark satanic mills" of the arms manufacturers), living in a"green and pleasant land".

In the early 19th century, it might have been possible to dismissBlake's ideas as mere romanticism, but in today's age of ecologicalcrises few would doubt that the survival of the natural environmentcalls for profound social adjustments and radical changes inattitudes and policies. Even Isaiah's expectation thatenvironmental change will happen within a short space of time isechoed in dire warnings of global warming.

To Ponder

What might you do to reduce your carbonfootprint?

How do you respond to the often-heard phrase thatone single person cannot make a significant difference?