Epiphany
January 21, 2020
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
I must admit describing rejoicing as how people exult when dividing plunder would not have been my pick as a metaphor. It probably does describe well jumping with joy when unexpectedly gaining something desired or even needed. It does not deal with that something being taken is the spoils of war.
A lot of novels have been published recently about the World War II, I guess because its 75th anniversary was observd a few years ago. Plunder was practiced even to the extent of removing gold teeth fillings from those who died or were killed in consecration camps. There is a big difference between celebrating an abundant harvest resulting from a lot of hard work and positive weather and celebrating what can be taken from people either displaced or killed. How do we remove the rod of oppressors without becoming oppressors ourselves?
Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, help us learn how to deal with oppressors in ways that protect all and refocus oppressive behavior toward positive work. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.