Many scholars would agree that the book of Isaiah is not only one of the greatest religious
writings ever, but is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever across all genres. It has been a
great pleasure for me to revisit this book of the Old Testament on Wednesday evenings at
church. I am approaching the mid-point of the book and will reach chapter forty on November
13.
If Isaiah is a mount Everest of the Bible, then chapter forty is the summit of the mountain. One
of the greatest audio/visual renderings of this chapter is in the movie “Chariots of Fire.” On the
Sunday he is supposed to be running, but is not, Eric Liddell is in church reading from Isaiah forty
while we see visions of the frustration and futility of human effort. The book of Isaiah reminds
us how small and insignificant our lives really are. Isaiah chapter forty reminds us that in spite of
our apparent insignificance we matter to God.
You may disagree, but our modern times seem to be adding to our sense of frustration and
futility. It is easy to despair concerning so many things. There is an overwhelming sense that
nothing we do matters. Will our vote on election day change anything in Saluda, Richmond, or
Washington? Does it matter who wins the election? I doubt it. Does living for Christ matter
anymore or did it ever matter? Perhaps morality and decency is just an illusion. The world has
always been corrupt and personal behavior has no effect on our culture or community. Can
anything be done about the world economy? The rich will keep on getting richer and the poor
will keep on getting poorer. The erosion of the middle class will continue for the rest of my life
until it will be a distant memory. Conversely, a greater number of Americans will continue to
depend on the government for assistance until we end up looking like the Russians. Sounds
pretty pessimistic, yet there is plenty of reason for pessimism when nothing seems to be
working.
Fortunately for us Isaiah lived and ministered in times even more precarious and depressing
than our own. Spanning the reigns of four kings, Isaiah experienced both the best of times and
the worst of times during his lengthy ministry. He knew the prosperity and abundance of the
longest reign of any king in Jerusalem, and he knew the misery and degradation of a city under
siege by a foreign enemy. Like the apostle Paul Isaiah could say he knew how to live in plenty
and how to live in want. During these years it would be understandable that even the man
known as the “Prince of Prophets” might lose his way and begin to despair. I can only guess, but
it seems to me that more than once he must have gone home looked in the mirror and asked
himself “what’s the use?”
If Isaiah had such thoughts he kept them to himself because they don’t show up in the prophetic
masterpiece he left behind. What is apparent is his belief in the futility of life. The life of the
king, the prince, the priest, the warrior, the widow, the merchant, the peasant, and the orphan,
all humanity amounts to nothing in the presence of almighty God. Isaiah does not preach the
futility of all life, but rather the futility of all life lived apart from God. “Surely the nations are
like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales…” “Before him all the nations
are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.” Yet, “he tends his
flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms…” ”Those who hope in the Lord will
renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary…”
As the apostle Paul remarked: “if we have hope in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most
to be pitied.” Fortunately our hope extends beyond this world. Our confidence is not in the
things we can see, measure, hold in our hands, or count in our bank accounts. Our life is in
Christ. Our hope is in God. Our past is covered by the blood of Jesus. Our future is in the hands
of our Father in heaven. Therefore we do not lose hope, and hope does not disappoint.
Blessings, Pastor John