Dear friends,
I pray this finds you well. Today’s word from Isaiah was the word I needed to hear. It’s working on my heart and calling me to trust. I hope it will do the same for you.
Today’s worship service is available for viewing here:
If you prefer to listen only to the sermon, you may do so here:
https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson/my-word-a-sermon-for-the-6th-sunday-after-pentecost
The sermon is based on Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65.
Isaiah 55:10-13
10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Psalm 65
1You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; to you shall vows be fulfilled.
2To you, the one who answers prayer, to you all flesh shall come.
3Our sins are stronger than we are, but you blot out our transgressions.
4Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your courts to dwell there! They will be satisfied by the beauty of your house, by the holiness of your temple.
5Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation, O hope of all the ends of the earth and of the oceans far away.
6You make firm the mountains by your power; you are girded about with might.
7You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the clamor of the peoples.
8Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.
9You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; the river of God is full of water.
You prepare the grain, for so you provide for the earth.
10You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
11You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths overflow with plenty.
12May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, and the hills be clothed with joy.
13May the meadows cover themselves with flocks, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; let them shout for joy and sing.
Everyone who thirsts come to the waters. (Isaiah 55: 1)
Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. (Isaiah 55:3)
Seek the Lord; call upon God.(Isaiah 55:6)
Isaiah 55 begins with an extended invitation to drink of God’s mercy, to listen for God’s voice, to look for God and trust that God is near. It’s an invitation to see clearly that God’s intention is to make good on God’s promises to feed you, to satisfy you, to release you from the burdens of fear and shame.
Why accept the invitation? Why trust God? Why believe that this word of hope and healing is for you and for all this beloved world?
Our reading this morning picks up with God’s case—God’s evidence and argument–for entrusting one’s life to God. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
God says to the doubtful, to the ones who’ve been wounded in the past and find it so hard to believe, to the despairing, to the weary and resigned…you can count on my word.
My word is balm for your spirit.
My word is peace for the nations.
My word is rest for all who labor.
My word is forgiveness and freedom from every demon that refuses to let you be.
My word is victory over sin and death; unconditional love; hell redeemed and emptied of its power; abundant life everlasting.
This is what my word is accomplishing even now. This is where the world is headed. This is what I give you even in the midst of this wilderness time.
From your place in my heart, God says, you will go out in joy, my beloved. You will see the world through eyes of grace. You will see me in every blooming flower and in every broken heart. You will go out in joy so that others might see me in you. And at the end of the day, I will lead you back in peace. I will lead you to still waters. I will lead you through death to life.
I will lead you home to me.
And all creation will praise; all creation will celebrate my grace at work in you. The mountains and the hills will sing. The trees of the field will applaud. There will be no more thorns to tangle you up, no more briers tugging at your spirit. The cypress and the myrtle will grow instead—raising your praise to the heavens, filling the world with the fragrance of life, strong and sturdy and ever-growing.
This is a wilderness time for the church and for the world. We are thirsty for good news, hungry for signs of life. Today, God invites us to come. Call out to the one who answers prayers. Rest in the peace of the one who satisfies you with beauty, who saves you with word made flesh.
Let us pray.
O hope of all the ends of the earth and of the oceans far away, call us to you. Still our clamor so that we might hear your voice. You, who make the dawn and the dusk sing for joy, open our mouths to sing your praise, lift our voices to give you glory.
You, who provide for the earth, help us trust that you provide for us. You know our needs. You know our hearts. You give us the dreams that inspire us and lead us to love as you love. Help us to trust your provision. As you soften the ground with heavy rain, soften our hearts that we might see ourselves and our neighbors as you see us—gifted, empowered, and loved with a love that will never let us go. Amen.