Lent Week 3

Psalm: Psalm 63:1-8
Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-9
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Welcome to the third week of Lent. I hope the last few weeks have been a time of growing closer to the Lord. I must admit the Scriptures during this season of Lent have not be easy to exegete or to find connections between the four readings. Indeed, in Luke this week, we have a strange parable from Jesus concerning Jerusalem  and Isaiah 55 is a vision of the restoration of Israel after the exile. 1 Cor 10 is an exhortation to persevere through temptation and not follow the example of the Israelites in the Exodus and our Psalm doesn't much relate to any of the other three readings. So, much like last week, it is a struggle to place these scriptures along side each other. But that is OK; we can still discuss one or two passages each week.

First, our reading from Isaiah. It is best to place this chapter within the larger work of Isaiah to fully grasp its meaning. Isaiah 55 is in the last chapter of what scholars consider to be 2nd Isaiah (1st Isaiah being ch. 1-39, 3rd Isaiah, chapters 56-66). This section of Isaiah contains what are called the 4 "servants songs" of which we are familiar with as the New Testament writers pulled from these words and applied them to Jesus at his trial and death. Isaiah 53 is the last of the "servant songs," and declares that the "suffering servant" of the Lord will save us. This child of god will bring such joy that even the barren one will shout for joy at the Lord's salvation! (54:1) Chapter 55 continues this theme of hope and restoration and implores all of Israel to come back to the blessings of the Lord.

All of 2nd Isaiah presumes the idea of exile and restoration. The people know what it is like to be thirsty and hungry and yet have no money to buy what they need. But the Lord, in his mercy, offers them a chance to return to him and experience a great abundance. The Lord also offers them a great vision of what what the future kingdom will be like for those who return to the Lord. The nations will turn towards Israel and the Lord. Rather than being carried into exile by a great force, the nations will come to them out of adoration. But our reading from Isaiah also ends with these words of caution:

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts."

God is still sovereign and things may happen not as we would want them to. The people of Israel did not want exile. They probably would have rather stayed in the Promised Land, rather than leave and then look forward to restoration. Yet the hope of Isaiah is always that God has a plan to work out his salvation and restoration for his people. Even in the midst of exile, even in the midst of a Suffering Servant who looks defeated, God has a plan of hope and restoration.

Perhaps that is where the connection with Luke 13 comes. For although the closing of this section says that the fig tree will be cut down if after one more year it can't bring forth fruit. Even after three years when fruit should have come but didn't, Jesus says to give it one more year.  Jesus actually says some interesting words in verse 8, "Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer." Jesus plans on personally working with the fig tree, digging around the trunk, working the soil and adding fertilizer. This is the image of an active participate in the life of the fig tree helping it produce fruit. In the midst of exile, or hopelessness (a tree that has had four years of barrenness) the Lord has come to provide hope and life.

I don't actual recall ever hearing a sermon preached on Luke 13:1-9 and in fact I don't even remember it! But I think it has a great message. First, it presents Jesus as a gardener tending to the trees. Who wouldn't like the image of Jesus as a gardener?! The fig tree can represent Israel, and by extension the Church--the New Israel, and it can also represent the individual person. God cares about his creation and wants to see it flourish in relationship with him. Chapter 13 is also a call to repentance and coming to God before the axe has to cut down the tree. And finally, the passages speaks of the mercy of the Lord as he waits and works in the lives of believers and the Church as a whole. So really this passage ought to be preached on more often and I am glad that the Lectionary had us read it.

During this season of Lent, let us follow the words of Isaiah and find our thirst and hunger relieved by the Bread of Life.  And let us follow the words of Luke and repent and turn again towards the Lord. Let God once again renew our hearts, our minds and our spirits. I pray this would be so this week.

Grace and Peace.