lean We walk and live in the face of empires. And yet, we are told to persist - be faithful.
In the end, however, that courageous poetic tradition reached the conclusion that the empire was at best transitory and not to be trusted or feared. The theological grounding for this judgment is the undoubted sovereignty of YHWH over the nations; but that theological conviction was reinforced by the visible fading of the power of the empire. It is the assertion of YHWH's ultimate rule that clears the ground of fear, and opens the way for hope and new obedience. The capacity to offer a rhetorical assault against the empire and against the gods of the empire is crucial for the compelling force of the local tradition.
For now the ways of empires win the day and are able to control things. For now empires go along their way making the rules for how people are to live. For now people run around paying homage to the gods that seem to be able to keep us alive and in good condition. And yet, we are told of the ruler of all things who does not let the empires of the world and the values they hold dear be the last word. We are reminded that our God and God's Reigning power will never be stomped out. It is within that unstompable reality of God's Reign that God's people learn to move forward as though the empire is not the power of the day - and never will be. The prophets offer us such a reminder because we all tend to live with amnesia or else we simply slip into the ways of the powers around us as though they do win the day.
Connection:Hope is a wild and strange reality. First of all, it is not as real as what we are able to touch and see. It rests just beyond that. But hope has the power to pull us beyond what we touch and see so that we can take the leap to trust what is, once again, born of promise.
Even when we cannot see past this day, O God, you send us word of what is set for all of us no matter what the word of the day tells us. It is Your word of promise that somehow tickles us and takes us through the games of the gods of this world. We thank you for such a voice of hope. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment