March 30, 2015

​”Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.” Isaiah 42:1-4

“Thankfully this great announcement in the book of Isaiah is up front with its source: “Who says?” God says! God, the Lord, the Creator, the Heaven-Stretcher, the Earth-Spreader — not just some smooth-talking schmo…” “There in G*d’s Garden”, devotional booklet.

In the Old Testament, G*d was in the business of speaking directly to the people. The Prophets proclaimed directly to the people what G*d was telling them – telling them to tell the people. In the New Testament, G*d speaks directly to us through Jesus. But G*d speaks to us in other ways as well – through the New Testament prophets. Who were the New Testament prophets? New Testament prophets would include Saul, later named Paul. They would also include Peter – and of course one of the many John’s of the New Testament.

I have a child who always wants to know where I have heard the facts that form my opinions. He always wants to know “Where’d you hear that?” If the information I am giving him is not from one of his “sources”, then he views it with a lot of skepticism. We live in an age and a society where anyone can pretend to speak with authority, especially over the internet. I find myself needing to always be diligent about knowing from whom exactly the news, advice or information is coming – but my son is not so diligent. He believes only his sources, and he doesn’t matter how reliable they are.

As Christians we belive that the bible is the norm and the primary source of information for the truth of G*d and G*d’s promises. It is in Jesus that we believe we have received the most important teachings of the Bible directly from G*d. And it is in Jesus that many believe G*d has fulfilled Old Testament promises. “Here is my servant…my chosen”, G*d says. Take time this Holy Week and the upcoming season of Easter to return to the source of truth about G*d – who speaks to us through the ages in the words of scripture.

Pastor Dave