May only truth be
spoken and may only truth be heard. Amen.
We
had something a little different in place of the psalm today, and not just
because it was a hymn, although singing it was definitely appropriate. A
canticle is a hymn or song of praise from the Bible, similar to a psalm but
specifically from texts outside of the Book of Psalms. Today’s lectionary
called for Canticle #3 which is an excerpt from the scroll of Isaiah dubbed the
Song of Thanksgiving. It goes like this:
“Surely, it is God
who saves me;
I will trust in
him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my
stronghold and my sure defence,
and he will be my
Saviour.
Therefore you
shall draw water with rejoicing
from the springs
of salvation.
And on that day
you shall say,
Give thanks to the
Lord and call upon his name;
make his deeds
known among the peoples;
see that they
remember that his name is exalted.
Sing the praises
of the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known
in all the world.
Cry aloud,
inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy,
for the great one
in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.”
Line
2 says: "I will trust, and will not be afraid". These words were
spoken by the prophet Isaiah to the people of Judah and Jerusalem more than
2700 years ago, when the Assyrian Empire was the dominant power, and Judah
lived in the shadow of its might. Foreign invaders, political instability, and
crises of one kind or another formed the context of Isaiah's proclamation. The
people to whom he was sent and those for whom this book was originally composed
lived in a world that was unpredictable and out of their control.
Not
much has changed, in my opinion. While the headlines are different now than
almost 3 millennia ago, the news of the day reminds us that always there are
events happening on a scale far beyond our reach and our ability to control
them. Whether the threat is widespread, such as the worldwide economic crisis,
or whether it is personal, such as illness, the loss of a job or the death of a
loved one, it is no small thing to stare the menace in the face and say,
"I will trust, and will not be afraid."
I
don’t know about you, but one thing that I tend to do when I’m afraid is sing.
The palms can be a great source for prayer and strength during times of fear.
And I absolutely love it when the psalms are sung or chanted. The reason
today’s canticle is called the Song of Thanksgiving is because Isaiah is
calling the people to sing praises of thanksgiving to the Lord.
The
first song in this passage is sung by an individual, offering thanksgiving for
deliverance by the God who is "my salvation". Although the individual
is not identified, the end of the song hearkens back to the deliverance from
Egypt, quoting Exodus 15:2: "The Lord God is my strength and my might; he
has become my salvation".
The
image is one of a great warrior, one who is strong enough to defeat even the
armies of Pharaoh in order to free the people from slavery in Egypt. To anyone
who is caught up in fear, this echo from the Exodus and all the events
attending it is a reminder that earthly powers cannot defeat the power of God.
The
second song offers a refrain of Thanksgiving to the "Holy One of
Israel", the one whose "name is exalted", and who "has done
gloriously". Isaiah calls on the people to lift their voices in praise to
God: "Give thanks...sing praises...shout aloud and sing for joy!" This
is a communal song, as if a whole choir has joined voices with the soloist who
sang in the first two verses. No longer is there a lone voice singing out
against fear, as though whistling in the dark, but rather a chorus of voices
offering praise for all that the Lord has done.
"Make
known his deeds among the nations," they will sing, and "[the Lord]
has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth". This reminder of
past experiences with God, how the Lord has already acted for the benefit of
God's people, is a strong defense against the grip of fear. So, also, is our
association with a community of faith that witnesses to God's saving deeds. How
much easier it is to "trust and not be afraid" when a whole community
is present to join together in the refrain!
The
verse that ties these two songs together is addressed to the gathered
community: "With joy you will draw water from the wells of
salvation". In its historical setting, the verse probably refers to a
ritual activity, most notably during the Feast of Tabernacles. As it connects
the two songs, however, the verse is a reminder that God's salvation is
fundamental to life, as basic to survival as the water that falls from the sky
and springs forth from the earth. God's offer of salvation is what the Lord
"has done gloriously" to be made "known in all the earth";
it is this saving power that makes it possible for God's people to choose a
stance of trust instead of fear when the day brings situations and events
beyond their control. The "wells of salvation" suggest an abundant
supply, spilling over to soothe tongues that are parched from fright,
moistening lips so that they might sing melodies of praise to "proclaim
that [the Lord's] name is exalted".
Next
Sunday brings an end to the Christian calendar and moves us into the season of
Advent. As dark nights grow longer and our fears of what’s happening in our
lives grow stronger, we wait – like the people of Isaiah's time – for
"that day" when God's salvation will come to us in all its fullness. "Do
not be afraid," the angel will say, "I am bringing you good news of
great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord". We are drawn toward that future,
ready to "shout aloud and sing for joy" together with the whole
people of God who will proclaim, "Great in [our] midst is the Holy One of
Israel".
Here
are my questions for you this week: Is it easier to say to a person who is
struggling with their faith, “you just have to believe” or is it easier to say,
“let’s pray”? Is it more effective to say to someone, “trust in God with all
your heart, and all your soul, and all your strength” or is it more effective
to say, “let’s sing Amazing Grace together”? We sing of the coming of the Emmanuel,
of joy to the world, of the baby tucked away in the manger, of shepherds
keeping watch by night, and angels from the realms of glory. It is in the
singing that we can come to believe the words "I will trust, and will not
be afraid".
Amen.
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