I believe in prophesy
Some folks see things
not everybody can see
And once in a while
they pass the secret
along to you and me
– Joan Baez
Introduction
Often we can take a mechanical view of prophesy. That is, such and such a prediction will happen. While this may be true in some sense, the import of prophesy is not so much a magical foresight as a continuity with God’s presence, integrity, and wisdom. This allows ancient prophets like Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah as well as modern prophets like Gandhi, Hannah Arendt, and Martin Luther King, Jr. to speak to us now about our relationships with God and with each other.
In Second Isaiah there are four well known Songs of the Servant. I would submit that there are also four Calls to the People; all people need to attend the Calls, not just the People of the Covenant. We need to attend the Songs as well, but I think we get to decide if they are for us or about us or just about the mysterious servant. We should not just think that they are about Jesus and only there for their predictive value. For the Songs attend and decide to follow or not, and for the Calls attend and follow. Another difference is that each of the Calls contains at least one water reference. In the words of Isaiah we are called to be a people together, renewing our strength. We get to decide to follow the Servant or be the servant and be a light to the nations.
The format of these eight prophetic poems is Japanese renga. After the first 17 (5+7+5) syllables, the voice changes for the next 14 (7+7) syllables. The changes from 17 to 14 continue for the rest of the poem.
Calling Generations
Isaiah reference / Chapter 41
We are together
people renewing our strength
Draw near for judgment
From the beginning our God
has called the generations
Now it is your turn
I AM will hold your right hand
Yahweh will help you
You may seek the contentious
but you shall never find them
Then God spoke through me
I am right here to help you
Do not be afraid
Who has performed and done this
calling the generations
The poor and homeless
are desperate for water
None is to be found
I will not leave them thirsty
but will open up rivers
A Servant Song
Isaiah reference / Chapter 42
Here is my servant
My spirit is upon him
He is my delight
Even with his quiet voice
the nations will take notice
He will not grow faint
until he has established
justice on the earth
The mountains and the coastlands
are waiting for his teaching
God Calls Everyone
Isaiah reference / Chapters 42-43
Thus says Elohim
who created the heavens
and opened them out
I who gave the earth its shape
the earth and what comes from it
I give breath to all
and give my spirit to all
who live upon it
Listen to new things I say
before they even happen
I have given you
as a light to the nations
you are covenant
Bring those who sit in darkness
Let the prisoners go free
Ends of the earth will
sing to our God a new song
and let the sea roar
Let them shout from the mountains
and give glory to Yahweh
Thus says Elohim
who created you as one
and a multitude
I have called you by your name
Fear not / you have been redeemed
See / I am doing
something new / Now it springs forth
Can you not see it
Rivers will flow in deserts
there will always be a way
A Call to Flow
Isaiah reference / Chapters 44-45
I will pour water
upon the thirsty ground and streams
upon the dry land
I will pour my spirit on
your offspring and blessings too
There is only me
Yahweh is the first and last
Let hearts understand
I have brushed away your sins
like a mist / and redeemed you
Let heaven rejoice
and mountains break forth in song
Yahweh has done this
Remember / O Israel
you are the servant I love
The ends of the Earth
will turn to me and be saved
I will bring justice
God did not create chaos,
but created Earth for all
Yahweh teaches you
for your own good and leads you
in the ways you should go
Your life is like a river
Your bounty like waves at sea
A Second Song
Isaiah reference / Chapter 49
Hear me, O coastlands
Listen, O distant peoples
God called me from birth
He made me a sharp-edged sword
and hid me in the shadows
You are my servant
God said to me / I will show
my glory through you
I will make you a light to
nations / salvation for all
A Third Song
Isaiah reference / Chapter 50
God has given me
a well-trained tongue that I might
speak to the weary
with a word that will rouse them
God opens ears to these words
I have not rebelled
my face I did not shield from
buffets and spitting
My God is my salvation
therefore I am not disgraced
God is my help when
I lie in a place of pain
and walk in darkness.
My God hears his servant’s voice
I trust that God is near me
A Fourth Song
Isaiah reference / Chapters 52-53
Look at my servant
who will be great and prosper
will rise to great heights.
Many were astonished at him
since his appearance was marred
He will surprise us
teaching what we never heard
seeing new visions
Who sees the revelation of
our God and hears this new song
He grew among us
like a root in arid ground
with no special charm
There was no form to attract
no beauty to win our hearts
He was despised and
we held him of no account
from whom others hide
a man of suffering who
knew human infirmity
Yet we accounted
him stricken / struck down by God
for our transgressions
By his wounds we are healed
His punishment made us whole
We all strayed like sheep
and we turned to our own way
Our sin weighed on him
He did not open his mouth
like a lamb to the slaughter
There was no justice
he was cut off from the land
of living humans
He had done no violence
There was no deceit in him
He was God’s servant
and poured himself out to death
He is with the great
Through him God’s will does prosper
and many will find reward
Come to the Water
Isaiah reference / Chapter 55
God’s steadfast love
shall not depart from you
whoever you are
Though the mountains may fall down
and the hills be turned to dust
Come to the water
Come to the One who is life
the One who is love
All of you who are thirsty
come without any silver
God will place new stones
One will set new foundations
This love will be yours
Terror shall not come near you
Bend your ear so you will live
Life comes with playing
and you will fear none but One
Receive bread and wine
Getting whatever you need
even though you cannot pay
Why spend silver on
what will not fill or nourish
what fails to flourish
Waters flowing from above
Give attention / come for love
Let all who seek come
All who have nothing come too
Come to the water
where there’s always forgiveness
abounding in steadfast love
Let everyone come
for this is living water
this life of the One
God’s way of living will come
to your spirit in good time
You will be led forth
in peace and go out with joy
The mountains and hills
will break into song for you
and the trees will clap their hands
Reflections and Connexions
At some point in the writing of the Book of Isaiah this section, Come to the Water, was likely meant as a conclusion to the whole book. In Isaiah 2 after the consolations, the calls to all of humanity, the songs of the servant comes this invitation to a party. The hearers are free to do anything they want but why would they want to follow any other path. “Why spend silver on on what does not fill or nourish?” One amazing part of this vision for me is that it was very likely written during the Babylonian captivity to a people who had only know the life of that captivity. It could speak now to those who are following the ersatz religion of Christian Nationalism because their false prophets are speaking mostly about fear and loathing and what others are doing and getting wrong. The poor folks – both the Babylonian captives and the captives of Christian Nationalism – have been cut off from what God is offering to everyone. They don’t know what they don’t know and that they don’t know.
What is being offered here is similar to what Jesus is offering in the Sermon on the Mount and the reign of God – making a connexion with God now. There are no prerequisites or special words to say or things to believe or do but simply to be open to the love that God is already sending. Jesus teaches that at heart the community being offered is this ultimate and daily criterion. It is the union and communion between people and creation and the connectedness to God and each other. Rivalry, control, greed, and violence are not necessary, but justice, mercy, forgiveness, and nonviolence will show up soon. This gospel only flourishes in the realm of freedom. It is an invitation not an imposition. It is a new imagining, a living parable, perhaps even an attractive alternative. Come to the water.
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