Promises and Pledges

“Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’ So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, ‘We will do everything the Lord has said.’ So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.” (Exodus 19:3-9. NIV).

Israel was still in the wilderness when Moses went up on the mountain to hear the Word of the Lord. He heard the promises God made, conveyed them to the people, and the people pledged loyalty and obedience. It was a time of great decision-making as well as rejoicing. They remembered how God had delivered them from Egyptian bondage. Just recalling was as if ‘carried on eagles’ wings’ with God’s protection.

God was renewing through Moses and the people the promise He had made for the nation to Abraham centuries before: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3, NIV). A firm promise from God was renewed. The people made a unanimous pledge of loyalty : “We will do everything the Lord has said!” (Exodus 19:9).

Can’t you just imagine the scene: Moses descending from Mt. Sinai from a fresh encounter with God, refreshed, energized, enthusiastic. He called the elders together and gave them the word from God. And when the people heard they responded positively with their pledge to follow God. In the emotion of a high spiritual time in our lives, it is easy (like the Israelites) to make a pledge we fully intend to keep. But when the going gets tough, the battles of life rage, and the enemy attacks from every side, it is easy to forget the pledge made at a high moment of spiritual insight. Our responsibility to be priests to others (representing God to them, leading them to a right relationship with God) and to do ‘all the Lord has commanded’ often fall into minor priority. Today is an important day in our nation—voting day. How much have we prayed for insight on how to vote? How much do we pray for our elected officials that they will walk worthy of their calling and seek God’s guidance? May we take time today and every day to earnestly seek God’s blessings on our nation, to turn this people into His ways, to remember His promises and our pledges. The Lord still speaks with authority. Let us hear and heed Him.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Servant Song II in Isaiah

“Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother He named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me a polished arrow; in his quiver He hid me away. And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” (Isaiah 49:1-3, ESV) [Read Isaiah 49].

Edward Dalgliesh in writing about what scholars call the “Servant Songs” found in Isaiah, writes: “These songs reiterate the role of Israel as the chosen servant of God, the nation that would evangelize all nations, whose endowment by the Spirit would provide the enablement for that mission and the concomitant suffering attendant upon the people of God addressing a sinful society, and the ultimate success of the divine mission by His faithful servants.” [Holman Bible Dictionary, Nashville, 1991, p. 719]. Very closely associated with Israel being the chosen nation and servant for giving the Good News to “the coastlands and people afar” is the very-present anticipation of the Messiah’s coming from restored Israel. Listen to what Spirit-inspired Isaiah writes in 49:26b: “Then all flesh shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” The covenant of Israel as Savior/nation was made with Abraham of old: “…all the people of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3b NIV); and again in Psalm 132:12 to David: “If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, then their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.” Malachi 3:1 reveals that God, according to His promise, will send the promised Messenger of the Covenant: “Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, ‘behold, He is coming,’ says the Lord of hosts.” As Jesus instituted the Last Supper the night before His death, He said: “This is My blood of the New Covenant which is poured out for many.” His death on the cross established that all covenants be sealed by blood. It was a restatement of the Old Covenant, but fulfilled in a new and complete way through Jesus Christ. And He gave us, believers and accepters of the New Covenant, the task of being reconcilers and evangelists, of bringing others to the knowledge of the continuing covenant. “Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:7). The Covenant is in place. The Servant Song is strong and inviting. We have a marvelous part in helping to bring those who are afar to the Light of His shining. Isaiah had a word for it in anther place: “Arise, shine, for Your light has come!” (Isaiah 60:1, ESV). What joy is ours to participate in the Servant role!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, September 22, 2010