Isaiah 4:5-6 Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed, over all the glory there will be a canopy. It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.
Our ancestors in the faith who lived thousands of years ago had a much different relationship to nature and the elements than we do. We have roofs and insulation and heaters and air conditioners. We walk from one climate-controlled room to another climate-controlled room and mostly think nothing of it. But not true for our ancestors in the faith who lived in the desert and the mountains of the Near East. Shade and comfort and shelter from the elements were profoundly important to them.
And so it was those metaphors they used to understand God's role in their life. God is the canopy that preserves life. God is the shade from the heat of the day, allowing us to breathe more easily. God is the shelter from the rain and the storm. Maybe today God is the wise investment advisor, the ever-stable Dow, the job that's always there, the car that doesn't need a mechanic. I admit it's not quite as poetic, but whatever your metaphor: God is the present protector and comfort, the preserver of life.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information and full calendar. Invite friends and family and come yourself to hear the Word proclaimed through Vivaldi's "Gloria" this Sunday during both our 8:30 and 11:00 worship services: Education Hour at 9:45.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment