Thursday 17 June 2010

Background

Here we have a really good example of 'levitical' preaching,where the preacher begins to recount the deeds of God in the past.Like a jazz song it takes an old theme and makes music with a newrhythm. Often read on the Sunday after Christmas, this passage isat a point of change, a time to think of reconstruction andrestoration.

In three brief verses the sermon calls us to remember the loyaltyof God to the people of Israel through the age-old covenant. Eventhough they have been wayward - "but they rebelled" - God is loyalbecause "surely they are my people". There is something deeplygracious in this passage, which gives further support for theprofound theology of grace which runs through all parts ofMethodist doctrine.

There are echoes here too of John's prologue (the beginning ofJohn's Gospel), in that grace and truth came in Jesus (John1:14). This is no messenger, nor an angel. The effectivecomponent here is Jesus' presence. There is the wonderfullyliberating thought that God did not send a committee, a delegationor letter, but came in Jesus Christ. The same thought is here inthis passage, with the crucial sense of the presence of God amongpeople which makes the transforming difference.

The grace of God is seen in the key words 'saved', 'redeemed' and'carried'. To be saved is to be brought back within the originalpurposes of God for God's people; to be redeemed is to be liberatedfrom the forces which would have enslaved them; and to be carriedis to know the supporting, healing grace of God in times ofconflict and oppression.

All of God's dealings are characterised by loyalty and goodness andthe passage requires justice from the people - "children who willnot deal falsely". Divine presence and human ethics go hand inhand, even when God's people are in exile. The presence of Godencourages God's vulnerable people to remember God's graciousacts.

To Ponder

When are the times when you have been 'carried'by God's grace?

How would you begin to recount your experience ofthe grace of God?

God's presence makes the difference. Where do youneed to perceive that presence most in your community?