Peace. Here is Your God

I was watching a panel discussion on CNN the other evening, hosted by Anderson Cooper. The topic was all the challenges facing Barak Obama upon taking office. They spoke of how he would have to deal with the growing crisis of terrorism based out of Pakistan and how that affects Afghanistan and Iraq. And of course there is Iran and its intention of gaining nuclear arms. Israel are of course prepared to bomb them if that becomes a threat. How will a new president tackle those issues, as well as the new militancy of Putin's Russia. And of course there is the financial meltdown and what he needs to do in order to save the world economy, let alone the big three car makers. And there is health care. Everyone had advice. And of course as they named issue after issue it became apparent he would have to be superman to take on all these issues. And yet, the expectations are there.
Here in Canada, as long as politicians will play nice and learn to share their toys, we usually give them a pass.
I wonder if Mr. Obama could help us with that one?

When you look out at the world's leadership he is about the only hope for sane and strong leadership.
What a world!
What a job!

Last week we read Isaiah complaining to God: "If only you would tear open the heavens and come down!"
This week we read God saying to Isaiah to tell the people to get ready. God is on His way.

You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;

If you remember the earlier chapters of Isaiah, you can only imagine that hearing a word from Isaiah is not something for which they would have lined up to buy tickets. The early chapters of Isaiah are warnings from God of impending doom and judgment.
But now judgment has been executed and the exiles abroad as well as the remnant in Jerusalem are told, 'help is at hand. God is on His way.' But this time He is not coming with judgment. He is coming to save the day.

I remember as a young boy of maybe seven or eight going with my family to see a movie which might have been Fort Apache with John Wayne. I am not sure that is the one, but it was something like that.
In any event, the Apaches had surrounded a few our favorite heroes and if something didn't happen soon, they were done for.
And of course came the great cliché of cowboy movies....the arrival of the cavalry, just in the nick of time.
Yes, I know how inappropriate all of that was and is, given what we know of the real history of our native populations,
but I still remember the cheers in the theater that day when the cavalry came riding over the ridge, uniforms neatly laundered and the bugler riding at full gallop and still able to play without smashing all his teeth in.

Isaiah says to a faltering nation, "Here is your God! He is coming with power and yet gentle like a shepherd of Israel."
Oh man, do we ever need to hear that now!

So what happened in Isaiah's time?
There was no flash of lightning accompanied by the trumpet of Gabriel.
God did not appear on the horizon or even on any mountain tops with legions of archangels.
Nothing like that happened.

So what did happen?
God had already begun to work in the heart of man named Cyrus, emperor of Persia... modern day Iran.
And working for Cyrus as a cup bearer was a man named Nehemiah.
God made use of Nehemiah's good work ethic and devotion to God to persuade Cyrus that the city of Jerusalem needed rebuilding. And so the remnant returned to Jerusalem and the city was rebuilt.
God uses ordinary people most of the time.

I have not given up the idea of a trumpet blast and a host of angels descending like the cavalry.
I would really like to see that.

But I am reminded and am sent here to remind us all that God has come both in strength and in amazing gentleness, like the shepherd of Israel. Jesus, born in humility and yet King of Kings.
And even when our communities are not sure they even want to call a Christmas tree, a Christmas tree, we still say with boldness, "Look Here is your savior...it is Jesus, He is God With Us."

Be at peace.
This is the peace of God...Jesus born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, crucified and resurrected in Jerusalem.
He is our hope for peace in the world.
He has come.
He will come again.

Preached December 7, 2008
Dr. Harold McNabb
West Shore Presbyterian Church
Victoria, British Columbia

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