8 March 2005

From "The Prophetic Imagination."

The poet engages in the kind of guerrilla warfare that is always necessary on behalf of oppressed people. First, the hated one must be ridiculed and made reachable, for then she may be disobeyed and seen as a nobody who claims no allegiance and keeps no promises. The big house yields no real life, need not be feared, cannot be trusted, and must not be honored.

When Israel was in Babylon, it is interesting to hear the words of Isaiah and how the gods of that powerful nation were made into nothing. It was the beginning of a new way of seeing the power of God in the midst of a captive situation. Even today, it is important for us to take a look around at all the claims of greatness that are made by the powers that be and deny them their images of grandeur they love to enjoy at the expense of others. Prophets work at reminding us of how fallible and broken are those who claim to be in control of the world. They also encourage us to stop our adoration of the life the powers of this world try to feed us. Reality is, "we don't have to take this anymore." Our God gives us a vision for life that does not need to follow the unjust and warring ways of those who say they are in power. From that vision, there is a life full of hope into which we are always invited to come and begin to live...again.

Connection: Learn how to laugh at what is said by those who claim to rule the day. It may help us all to re-view where things in our day are going.

Lord of all that is, inspire us to see in the powers around us the many ways that we are led that are contrary to the life you promise within your blessed Reign. Turn us into critics who measure the world against your promises and not the promises of people who seek to rule for their own benefit. Amen.