Monday 19 December 2022

Psalm 34:1-6, 21-22

Background

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, reports the number of people being forced to flee their homes stands at the highest level since records began. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and other emergencies, from Africa to Afghanistan and beyond, have pushed the figure up and now there are over 100 million displaced people in the world. Food scarcity, inflation and the climate crisis are exacerbating the hardships many of these people face. 

The prophet in Isaiah 40 spoke to a people who had been displaced. They had been taken from Judah into captivity and exile in Babylon. Despite the business opportunities and economic prosperity some of them experienced, it was still difficult to live in a land not their own. They were surrounded by people who worshipped other gods and were at risk of losing their religious identity. How were they meant to interpret their loss of land and military defeat? What did this mean for their faith in God and how could God be with them in a strange land? 

Today's Bible reading says: "A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.’" (v. 3) Twice in this passage Isaiah speaks of a voice calling out to God’s people. The first voice reminds listeners of God’s faithfulness and paints a picture of God travelling back from exile. These are words of hope: God is faithful and has not forgotten or abandoned them but will lead them home. The second voice gives the people of God a reality check; they are not faithful but inconstant and mortal, but the word of God, the promises of God, will stand forever. 

The words from Isaiah 40:3 are used in three of the gospels to describe the person of John the Baptist as he prepared the way for Jesus (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:2-4; Luke 3:3-6). Both Isaiah and John the Baptist spoke words of hope yet also of challenge; they contained words of promise but required people to be willing to trust and to step outside their comfort zones.  

To Ponder:

• We are bombarded with many conflicting voices today, with 24-hour news channels and on social media. What strategies do you use to discern which voices to listen to and which to disregard? 
• Many voices today speak about the dangers of immigration, and displaced people are not always made welcome. What can we do to be voices of hope for those today who are forced to live outside their home country? How can we speak out against prejudice and discrimination?

Prayer

Faithful God, I pray for all who find themselves far away from home. May they experience friendship and support. Help them to know that they are not alone. Amen.