Monday's thoughts

In the New Interpreter’s Dictionary scholar Richard Clifford writes about Isaiah 40-55 which is a section of Isaiah called “Second Isaiah”.
“One reason why Second Isaiah can be called the legitimate successor of Isaiah of Jerusalem is that he held the same view of the judgment process and regarded his commission as continuing the commission of First Isaiah. In Second Isaiah’s view, divine judgment was an ongoing process continuing into his own day. Like his prophetic predecessor, he felt called to monitor the progress of judgment and invite the people to play their part in its current phase. For Second Isaiah, a new stage had been reached: The earlier phase of punishment and destruction was over, and a new phase was about the begin; restoration. Second Isaiah received the commission to preach consolation in the same divine assembly where First Isaiah had heard the commission to announce devastation.”
I have approach this three set sermon series on the Prophet Isaiah with the understanding that there were three basic writers included in the prophet’s work.
1st Isaiah (before the exile) Chapters 1-39
2nd Isaiah (during the exile) Chapters 40-55
3rd Isaiah (after the exile) Chapters 56-66
The prophet has three different tasks and it approaches three different era’s of Israel’s cultural and political life.

Second Isaiah has the same kind of assignment we have today. It is our job sometimes to convey to people that the worst is over and it's time to celebrate the best that can be. In the worst of times we can be ones who call people back to the best. Jurgen Moltmann developed an entire theology called "the theology of hope". It is his position that how we think about something is what makes it happen. If we think the worst it will be bad. If we think the best then things will happen for the best.

What do you think about this idea? How relevant is it and how necessary is it today?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow the congregation to read your thoughts and respond to them click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster