African American LECTIONARY COMMENTARY - FIRST
SUNDAY OF ADVENT/WORLD AIDS DAY - Sunday, December 1, 2013
Raquel S. Lettsome, Lectionary Team
Commentator
Lection – Isaiah 59:14-16 (New Revised
Standard Version)
(v. 14) Justice is turned back, and
righteousness stands at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public square,
and uprightness cannot enter. (v. 15) Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from
evil is despoiled. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no
justice. (v. 16) He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was
no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness
upheld him.
I. Description of the Liturgical Moment
I wrote in the 2012 African American
Lectionary commentary for World AIDS Day:
Advent, from the Latin word adventus
("coming"), is the liturgical season characterized by expectant
waiting and preparation. During this season, we celebrate Christ's coming into
the world while expectantly waiting and preparing for his promised return. We
are reminded that God is faithful, a fulfiller of promises made. We rejoice
that God is Emmanuel, God with us, and that God's presence among us brings
light, joy, and hope even in our darkest situations. Perhaps that is why the
consistent message given to humans during this season is "fear not"
or "do not be afraid" (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:12, 30). This is the
message of the liturgical season and this is the message to the church as we
observe World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day, established on December
1, 1988 by the World Health Organization, is an opportunity for the church to
combat the fear, prejudice, and discrimination that affect those living with
HIV. This is particularly significant for African American churches since the
CDC reports that African Americans comprise 44% of all new HIV infections. By
raising awareness of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, supporting those living
with the virus, and commemorating those who have died, we show Christ's
redeeming love and demonstrate that God is with ALL of us, thereby giving hope
to those infected with a disease that is often viewed as hopeless and outside
the presence of God. The theme for World AIDS Day 2013 is "Getting to
Zero."
II. Biblical Interpretation for Preaching
and Worship: Isaiah 59:14-16
Part One: The Contemporary Contexts of
the Interpreter
I did not grow up in a big gift-giving
household. I received presents on two occasions: Easter and Christmas. On
Easter, I received a basket with a chocolate bunny and candy. On Christmas, I
received the exact gifts my father and I agreed upon from my wish list. There
were no birthday gifts, graduation gifts, or special achievement gifts. But I
could always count on Christmas and Easter.
No matter how rough the year was,
regardless of my father's employment status, if he said yes to a gift on my
list, then I got it. Early Christmas morning, I was sure to find it under the
tree with my father sitting nearby watching me open it. As a matter of fact,
there was no promise my father did not keep. If he was not sure about his
ability to deliver, I would get an "I'll think about it" or a
flat-out "no." If he said yes, then I may not have known the details
of how it would happen or how he would overcome the economic obstacles but I
did know he would show up and do what he said.
Although my father is gone, Christmas
still reminds me of my daddy. It reminds me that I have another Parent and not
even death can take this One away. I have a Parent who will show up on time and
do whatever was promised. This is just as sure as the presents I received
during my childhood Christmas mornings because God proved God's faithfulness
(on the first Christmas morning) way before I came on scene.
Part Two: Biblical Commentary
The Scripture passage for this Sunday
falls within the section of Isaiah commonly called Second Isaiah (chapters
40–66). Written during the time of the fall of Babylon, this section of Isaiah
expresses the hope and expectation of the exiled Jews' return to Palestine
after the Babylonian captivity. Moreover, Isaiah's writings seek to show them
how God has and will intervene in the course of human history to restore
justice and righteousness.
Verse 14: This verse acknowledges the
wrongdoing of the people of God. Isaiah personifies the ideals of justice
("rule that should guide"; also denoting "fair play")1 and
righteousness (right relationships between humans that promote well-being and
right relationship between humans and God). Neither is present in the life of
the community. It is not that they are absent, but that they have been actively
rejected. Justice is "turned back." Righteousness, which is linked to
justice, "stands back." The cultural environment is one that does not
desire either, to be present, let alone set the standard for public discourse
or interaction. Without justice and righteousness, truth does not have a leg to
stand on and therefore it "stumbles" or "staggers,"
blocking the way of uprightness, which "cannot enter."
Verse 15: This verse paints an even
grimmer picture. Truth has not only stumbled, it is now completely absent. Evil
is so rampant that any who turn from it are captured or robbed. Although evil
seems to have the upper hand, there is Another who is watching over this course
of events.
Isaiah notes that it is YHWH (the Lord),
the God of Israel who is not blind to what is going on. The Lord sees it. While
the NRSV translates the Lord's reaction as "it displeased him," the
Hebrew Bible captures the gravity of the situation. This situation was not
merely displeasing, "it was evil in his eyes." The evil noted is the
absence of justice.
Verse 16: Not only is there no justice,
there is no one to intervene. The Lord is "appalled" or astonished by
this fact. However, the situation is not met with judgment but with Divine
compassion. God's displeasure does not evoke punishment but the Divine
presence. Through the strength of God's own arm, God brings victory. The
absence of righteousness among humans in this instance is no big matter. God's
own righteousness will sustain him.
The season of Advent is a time to renew
our hope in God. It is so easy to put our trust in people and let situations
control our outlook. We can be discouraged and even frozen in fear and apathy
by the evil we see. Indeed, we know all too well about the absence of justice
and are made to feel that it is just us (we are alone in this fight).
Righteousness is often hard to find. So often, things appear insurmountable
when we cannot figure out how to overcome and are confronted with our physical,
mental, financial, and moral weaknesses.
As we commemorate another World AIDS Day,
we are reminded again of our inability to eradicate that which seeks to destroy
us. However, just because we cannot do everything does not mean we cannot do
something. Nor does it mean that the something we do is worthless. We can seek
to bring justice, righteousness, and truth back into the public square, into
the places of our communal discussion. We can begin in the church to combat
lies and prejudices with truth, and we can advocate for justice and righteousness
in the care and treatment of those infected with HIV/AIDS. We can refuse to
allow truth to stumble in our pulpits, or justice to be turned back from our
sanctuaries, or righteousness to stand far from our pews, or uprightness to be
blocked in our vestibules.
Indeed, we can look around to see what
needs to be done. We may feel there is no one to intervene and our displeasure
can easily turn to despair. Yet this passage reminds us to look up and not just
around, to put our hope in God. We are encouraged to expect God to intervene
when humans fail. This is the message and hope of the Christmas season—that God
does show up at our moments of greatest need. God does not leave us to our own
devices, but even God's displeasure gives way to divine action on our behalf.
Celebration
The celebration in this lection is found
in verses 15b-16. When it seems like no one cares or is taking note of the evil
that is going on, God sees and God acts. God does not leave us to our own
devices but personally gets involved and steps in. When we look around for help
and there is no one, we must remember to look up because there is One, whose
strength is sufficient, and when human hands are unwilling this One can bring
victory with his own arm. This One is altogether righteous. Expect this One to
step down into your situation, into your problem, into your home, into your
church, and into your life.
Descriptive Details
The descriptive details in this passage
include:
Sounds: Lies being told; truth not
getting a hearing; arguments; fighting; confusion; sighs of despair; moans;
pleading for justice; prayers for people to do what is right; cries of the
oppressed and abused; the laughter of those getting away with injustice and
unrighteousness;
Sights: Unfair balances; kangaroo courts;
God looking from heaven with displeasure; God looking for someone to rectify
the injustice; a strong arm; a foot coming out of heaven as God steps down to
earth to do it Godself;
Smells: Perfume and aromas of rich food
of those who have; poverty; decay and rot of those who are struggling; and
Tastes: The bitterness of despair; bile
of hopelessness; and small tastes of hope.
III. Other Suggestions for Preachers and
Teachers
Songs
For a list of hymns for Advent (or any
topic) with free downloadable recordings, go to: www.LNWhymns.com.
Quotations
I tremble for my country when I reflect
that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.—Thomas Jefferson2
I'm for truth, no matter who tells it.
I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against.—Malcolm X3
I have always found that mercy bears
richer fruits than strict justice.—Abraham Lincoln4
The moral arc of the universe bends at
the elbow of justice.—Martin Luther King, Jr.5
Notes
1. j.b.p. (1996). Justice. In D. R. W.
Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.),
New Bible Dictionary (D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I.
Packer & D. J. Wiseman, Ed.) (3rd ed.) (634). Leicester, England; Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
2.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff157225.html#iQo8dD7vIWROGKlG.99.
3.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/malcolmx385966.html#r9ImBb44tS7epFkU.99.
4.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/abrahamlin133231.html#6qVVmqMfkAM7sDSX.99.
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