Love & Mercy - Isaiah 63:1-9 (Christmas 1A)

 In our journey through the lectionary texts, it brings us to this passage in Isaiah, which I’m not sure if it would normally stand out on its own, but here we are. 

We have brief words of thanksgiving from Isaiah, which seems appropriate today in all of our reflections we may be having about the year that was and the year we want to have. You may have had this week off of work, and are gearing up to return, and this week between Christmas and New Year’s is kind of time without structure, or liminal time. It just passes without any real organization. 

I wish it had been like that for me this week. As some of you know, my uncle died on Christmas Eve. I was planning to spend this week with Ali & Aaron, but I also knew that I needed to make the journey to see my uncle’s funeral. So I caught a ride with my parents and off to Wisconsin we went. 

But as I was traveling to a place where I had gone so many times as a child, lots of those memories came back. I had a wonderful childhood, especially around holidays, filled with love and excitement of all my dad’s siblings and their children. It was always a whirlwind tour, and I was lucky to have it - that my dad was able most - if not every year - to have the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day off to be able to spend with my grandparents. 

When we got home, however, we were tired. I am totally feeling that today. December really took it out of me, and I’m guessing that’s how many of you feel this morning. I didn’t expect so many of you with us this morning, but you all stick by this church pretty tightly. I love that. 

Our scripture today is like that. We have this triumphant celebration of salvation, but with an asterisk. The selection this morning is small portion of a larger section that goes until the end of the next chapter, 64, and in that section, it is a lament from the whole community. So this small first part, they are taking God’s blessings and remembering. 

Remember is an important word in the Bible. Before the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, Moses urged them to remember who was giving them the land. Before Christ died on the cross, he gave his disciples a symbol of his sacrifice and said, "This do in remembrance of me."

Maybe you have had a bad year. Yet there is always something for which we may be thankful. A boy in elementary school arrived late to school and was reprimanded for it. Later, he discovered that he had forgotten his homework, and he was scolded again. Then he began to feel sick, and ran in from the playground to go home. As he ran, he tripped and fell, breaking his arm. While he was on the ground, though, he found a quarter. While going home from the doctor's he told his parents, "This is the best day of my life! I have never found a quarter before!" We need to cultivate the spirit of that child so that we may remember the good things and be thankful, even when much has gone wrong. What may we remember and be grateful for on this thanksgiving day?

Isaiah mentioned God's "great goodness," which God expresses according to his compassion and lovingkindness (v. 7). The hymn writer said, "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done." God has done and still does so much for us. Paul even wrote in his letter to the church in Rome, "You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?"

The goodness of God is that he wants relationship with you and all of God's creation. How many times have we thought of God in terms of when we didn't get our way or when He didn't answer a prayer? How would you respond to a friend who maintained a relationship like that? 

Isaiah also referred to the fact that God had adopted Israel as his people and had become their Savior (v. 8). He did not do that because the Hebrews were the biggest and the best, but because of his grace. When was the last time you spent time thanking God for his salvation? It is all because of his grace. Think of where you would be, and what you would be, without him, and thank him for the difference he has made. Each of us are here because of some form of grace, whether we have realized it or not. God is working in each of our lives, whether even before we even consciously know it, or continuing on the journey and being sanctified, or grace's power over sin. Which do you think is stronger - God's grace, or the power of sin? There's nothing that God's grace will pass over. There's nothing you can do to stop God from loving you and offering grace to you.

Isaiah painted a beautiful word portrait of the empathetic love of God. He hurts when we hurt, he sends his angel to help us, and he even picks us up and carries us (v. 9). Only God knows how many times we have been in danger, and he has protected us. Some of us are alive to face a new year only because God has guided us out of some trouble. Certainly all of us can see the providential hand of God at work in our lives in some way.

Many times my wife and I have told our kids to say thank you when someone gives them a gift. God has given us many gifts this past year. Say, "Thank you, God." I hope you take time this week remembering how God has blessed you, not just this year, but all throughout your life. 

Amen.