Thursday 10 April 2025

Psalm 2:1-8

Background
Our reading today continues our journey through the middle section of the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. This part of the books is sometimes referred to as ‘Second Isaiah’ (40:1-55:13). It probably dates from the years of the Babylonian Exile, after Jerusalem and its Temple were destroyed in 597 BC and the leaders of the people were forced from their homes by their enemies. This disaster had been repeatedly predicted in ‘First Isaiah’ (1:1-39:8) but in this central section of the book, God’s people are offered the hope of a return and a restoration of Israel.

Today’s passage contains three different sayings that all begin with a command for God’s people to 'listen'. In the first (vs 1-3), God seems to be speaking to those Israelites who have remained faithful and continue to 'seek the Lord'. This, and other clues in the text, suggest that others had been tempted away from the worship of the one true God during this period of disaster and exile. To encourage them, God reminds the listeners of Abraham and Sarah’s faithfulness (v. 2), and the gift of children to them late in life (Genesis 11:26-25:11). God also promises renewal, with a return to something like the paradise of the Garden of Eden. Another prophet of the Exile, Ezekiel, has a similar vision (Ezekiel 47:1-12).

In the second saying (vs 4-6), God repeats promises found earlier in Isaiah that deliverance and salvation will be for all people everywhere (Isaiah 49:6). There is also the cosmic assurance that even though the earth and the heavens should disappear, God’s mission will continue. We find a similar message on the lips of Jesus (Matthew 24:35).

The third saying (vs 7-8), again addresses those who remain ‘righteous’ in this time of trial. There is a suggestion here that others are tempting the people to abandon their worship of a deity who could not protect them from exile and disaster (v. 7). Again, we might think of how the passers-by mocked Jesus on the cross for similarly remaining faithful to his mission in the face of apparent failure (Matthew 27:38-44).

To Ponder:

• How might our knowledge of the climate crisis affect our reading of God’s promise in these verses to make even the “desert like the garden of the Lord”?
• Does the assurance that God’s salvation will never end even though “the heavens vanish like smoke” comfort or concern us? Why?
• These sayings all contain a command to 'listen'. What might the Lord want us to hear today?

Prayer
Righteous God, whose promises stand for all time, help us to listen to your voice this day, that we might know your assurance of your salvation; in the name of Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Geoffrey Farrar
The Revd Geoffrey Farrar is the Superintendent Minister of the Richmond & Hounslow Circuit in south-west London. He has pastoral charge of Barnes, Putney and Roehampton churches. He is currently studying part-time for a PhD at the nearby University of Roehampton, looking at the impact of the Maccabean Revolt on responses to Jesus. He lives in Putney with his partner and their adopted son.